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The Stonecutter
A stonecutter wants to be everything he is not and has to learn the hard way that what he really wants to be is exactly who he is.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 1995
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Demi
180 books179 followersDemi (September 2, 1942) born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt, is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. During her career she has published over 300 titles.
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 18, 2011
This old Chinese tale is illustrated like a continuous silk painting by Demi. It tells the story of an accommodating angel who grants the wishes of a stonecutter in pursuit of a better life. With the fulfillment of every wish the stonecutter finds that there is always someone or something more powerful than every position he chooses. The story wraps around to conclude with the stonecutter realizing that he was happiest where he started and vows never to wish to be anything else again.
This is a great story for ages 5 and up. The children will appreciate the progressive journey and delight in their ability to predict the stonecutter’s next wish. The illustrations are small but detailed and best suited for a small read-aloud session.
This is a great story for ages 5 and up. The children will appreciate the progressive journey and delight in their ability to predict the stonecutter’s next wish. The illustrations are small but detailed and best suited for a small read-aloud session.
April 12, 2015
I saw this once and read in for a few minutes inside a book store. Then I kept on saying to myself that I'm going to write a short review about it here at goodreads but never got to (until now) because I kept on forgetting about it. Then I saw it again today and luckily I didn't forget anymore.
I just learned that this is based on a chinese folk tale. Supposed to be for children. I wonder how would I have taken this had I still been a child when I read it. Would I have remembered it all throughout my life as story which illustrates the pointlessness of ambitions? That being lazy is the way to live? With this as a possibility I think this is not a totally harmless book for children.
I just learned that this is based on a chinese folk tale. Supposed to be for children. I wonder how would I have taken this had I still been a child when I read it. Would I have remembered it all throughout my life as story which illustrates the pointlessness of ambitions? That being lazy is the way to live? With this as a possibility I think this is not a totally harmless book for children.
April 26, 2015
"The Stonecutter" contains the excellent message that sometimes wishes granted have us wishing for what we were originally doing. Appreciating what IS now, is important. The process is beautiful, the images incredible.
However, I do feel that values such as humility and kindness could have prevented the Stonecutter from experiencing loss of his wishes granted and would have been an equally meaningful story. It's not where this tale leads the readers. I felt it was important to impart the additional values along the way, describing how the stonecutter could have behaved in the different scenarios, as not to imprint a message of lack or loss into my daughter's mind. Rather, to build character.
A good story indeed, but one that comes with a gently warning.
However, I do feel that values such as humility and kindness could have prevented the Stonecutter from experiencing loss of his wishes granted and would have been an equally meaningful story. It's not where this tale leads the readers. I felt it was important to impart the additional values along the way, describing how the stonecutter could have behaved in the different scenarios, as not to imprint a message of lack or loss into my daughter's mind. Rather, to build character.
A good story indeed, but one that comes with a gently warning.
September 6, 2011
I really like the Demi books, they are often great books to read to your children. There is always a moral to the story.
July 5, 2014
Great children's story about being satisfied with who and what you are and not being envious of others.
April 13, 2025
A humble stonecutter's wish to become a wealthy man is granted by an angel in this picture book retelling of a traditional Chinese folktale from author/illustrator Demi. Soon enough the stonecutter discovers that a wealthy man is subordinate to the governor, and wishes to become a governor himself. So it goes, as the stonecutter is transformed by the (very patient) angel into one thing after another, from wealthy and powerful men to forces of nature like the sun and wind. Eventually however, he discovers that being a stonecutter is best...
By sheer coincidence I first discovered this tale type a few weeks ago, in Pam Newton's The Stonecutter: An Indian Folktale , and mentioned in my review of that title that although the story had Chinese and Japanese variants, I had not encountered them. Now it would appear that I have! I found Demi's The Stonecutter to be a lovely retelling of this traditional tale, and I appreciated both her narrative and her gorgeous illustrations. I'm not sure about the use of the figure of the angel here—I suspect it would it have been a spirit or a fairy, in the original—but I did appreciate the brief reference to the angel's amusement at the stonecutter ending up where he began. I also appreciated the overall message, about having the wisdom to value our own work and lives, and not to assume that being someone else would make us happy. As for the artwork, it was absolutely gorgeous, with delicate figures painted in red, white, black and a few other hues, on vibrantly golden pages. I particularly loved the spread featuring the stonecutter as the sun, in which he appears very much as a dragon. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to those who admire Demi's artwork. It would be interesting to pair this with the Newton title, and see which young readers enjoyed more.
By sheer coincidence I first discovered this tale type a few weeks ago, in Pam Newton's The Stonecutter: An Indian Folktale , and mentioned in my review of that title that although the story had Chinese and Japanese variants, I had not encountered them. Now it would appear that I have! I found Demi's The Stonecutter to be a lovely retelling of this traditional tale, and I appreciated both her narrative and her gorgeous illustrations. I'm not sure about the use of the figure of the angel here—I suspect it would it have been a spirit or a fairy, in the original—but I did appreciate the brief reference to the angel's amusement at the stonecutter ending up where he began. I also appreciated the overall message, about having the wisdom to value our own work and lives, and not to assume that being someone else would make us happy. As for the artwork, it was absolutely gorgeous, with delicate figures painted in red, white, black and a few other hues, on vibrantly golden pages. I particularly loved the spread featuring the stonecutter as the sun, in which he appears very much as a dragon. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to those who admire Demi's artwork. It would be interesting to pair this with the Newton title, and see which young readers enjoyed more.
December 1, 2022
This is a rendition of a Chinese folklore, the story of a man who wished to be anything but himself. This wonderfully illustrated book teaches kids that being themselves is the greatest gift of all. There once was a man who was a stone cutter. Everyday he would go to the mountain, cut pieces of the mountain to make headstones and tables. He heard stories from people about a spirit that lived in the mountain that could grant any wish. One day he delivered a stone to a very rich man and as he was leaving he wished that he could be rich like that. He heard a tiny voice that said he would be rich. The stonecutter looked around and saw no one. When he walked up to where his house once was he saw a mansion with all the things he wished for. The next day was scalding hot. He came home early and saw a prince outside with an umbrella and he wished he was a prince. Once again he heard a tiny voice say “a prince you shall be”. All of a sudden he had an umbrella and servants carrying him around. This went on a few more times where he found something more powerful than what he currently was and wished to change. Each time the tiny voice granted his wish. On his final transformation he was a giant rock. The sun couldn’t beat him, the water couldn’t move him. He heard a noise and saw a man cutting a piece off of him and he wished he could be a man again. Once again his wish was granted and was a man once more and he decided that he never wanted to be anyone or anything other than himself ever again.
November 23, 2022
Another great work of art from Demi, this rich little tale about being content with the present is a timeless tale for all generations. This story is about an angel that grants a man wishes, but he can never seem to be satisfied in what he is granted. This is another beautiful book with traditional artwork elements from Chinese culture. I really enjoy Asian folklore in general, but the books by Demi are just marvelous to look at as well as read.
March 26, 2019
Gorgeous illustrations, and a perfectly reasonable retelling.
April 13, 2021
What an important lesson! Let's read this one often.
August 6, 2021
Beautiful tale of being content with the good life that we are given.
March 2, 2017
I enjoy Asian folk tales and I was not disappointed by this version of The Stonecutter. Each page is short and to the point with an illustration that reminds me of museum painting. I was fully invested in the story, enjoyed it, and afterwards reflected on the story's messages and how they might help me in my personal life. With all of this from a children's book I decided to read it to my own children.
September 21, 2015
This is a cute book about an angel who grants wishes to a stonecutter. But he becomes too greedy and asks for too many things. The lesson here is not to be so greedy trying to get everything and do not try to keep up with other people have and do not be jealous of what other people have. You will be happier this way.
July 30, 2012
interesting --
October 25, 2012
Good ending but way too many characters.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews