Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi

by Tomie dePaola

A biography of the wealthy young Italian who gave away all his possessions to become a wandering preacher and protector of animals.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Religion, Childrens, History, Nonfiction, Catholic

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1982

About the author

Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.

He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.

Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tomie dePaola tells the story of St. Francis of Assisi with wonderful illustrations suitable for all ages. I learned a lot about this saint that I didn't know previously. Since it is a lengthy text, I wouldn't recommend this book as a read-aloud in one sitting.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic dePaola: detailed images of a saint's life with hints of iconographic technique. Told in vignettes, this one would perhaps be best read aloud a few pages at a time. Similar to The Holy Twins, dePaola includes female figures from Francis's life, as he included Scholastica alongside Benedict. Clare's life is depicted, along with Jacopa, a holy woman whom Francis called "Brother." dePaola focuses on "simplicity, joy, the love of nature, and the love of Lady Poverty" in his selection of tales from the lives of these saints--not every story is included.

The full canticle is included at the end, along with a brief timeline, list of feast days, and dePaola's impressions of his visit to Assisi. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn about St Francis, but especially for aficionados of reading aloud and picture books.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork as always.
The book itself is interesting in it's subject matter and I like that it can be broken up into several readings. I also appreciated the fact that it highlights Sister Clare as well as being about Brother Francis.
As a non-Catholic I have mixed feelings when reading about the "saints". I think it is beneficial to know about them and yet we are not to venerate to idol status any person. Only God; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is worthy of our worship. With that being said, I think it is still important to highlight people who have dedicated their lives to God and His service. Not in a saintly way but instead in a way that shows examples to our children of what a Godly life can and should look like. Pointing out their redemption AND also their sins. And then pointing them to the One who was the only true sinless person, Jesus our Saviour, both God and man.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of text here, so while this book is illustrated, it's not really a picture book.

Near the end of the book, a lot of the pages tell mostly independent stories about St. Francis, though with some characters recurring from earlier.

There's a lot here about St. Clare as well, but the relationship between what would become the Order of Saint Clare and the Order of Friars Minor isn't clear.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: The life of St. Francis and also of St. Clare

Why I Read This: I was going to go on retreat and bring some picture books with me. I wasn't able to go on retreat, but I still read the picture books :)

Review: This was beautiful. Not exactly a storytime read, but a beautiful way to help a child understand the story of St. Francis. I love that each page spread is a story, so you can read one a day (maybe as a bedtime story?). Several of the stories I didn't even know, which was great.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad that I saw this one recommended on one of my Facebook book groups. It is a fantastic retelling of the high points of the lives of two saints (Frances and Sister Clare). This is a child's book but it is not something that I would attempt to sit down and offer a child in one sitting. Each page offers a story unto itself and you could read just one page at a time and have a nice discussion. It offers a wealth of information.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple prose in this lovingly told story of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare. Both were wealthy children of highly placed families who rejected all, including clothes, and followed the example of Christ. DePaola was famously a third level Franciscan. These short snippets reveal lives of devotion and deep faith.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book that I read to my children many times and that I read before I give it to my children as part of the Pop Sugar Challenge: a book that takes place in a monastery. St. Francis is a favorite of mine. He understood environmental tenderness centuries before that was even a thing.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

SO MANY WORDS. At least twice as many as we’re needed….

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful style of Tomie dePaola illustrations with the origin story of Saint Francis of Assisi and some of tales of his life as a monk of the Franciscan order.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic bio of St. Francis

[Benjamin Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book!

[Treasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

dePaola's telling of the story of St. Francis is simple and powerful, and his accompanying illustrations are perfect. Sometimes I am too ready to dismiss dePaola's illustrations - as much as I enjoy them, I tend to think of them as mostly amusing or decorative. But here he reminds me that his artistic skills are not limited to the entertaining illustrations found in books like Strega Nona but can extend to moving, poignant images, as well. I learned so much about St. Francis from this book and was reminded of many things I had forgotten. And because dePaola teases the reader by mentioning in the prologue a few stories that he does not relate in this book, I now feel the need to do some research so I can find out what he was talking about. And, thanks to his epilogue, now I really want to visit Assisi.

This wouldn't be a quick read to share with a child. But each two-page spread focuses on a separate story, so it would be easy enough to read it in sections. Or I could definitely see giving it to a child who is reading on his own - but not a beginning reader.

Such an enjoyable read.

[Vi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the books I bought when I was younger (when I was in grade school)and I just found it after my mom cleaned out our "bodega" along with Roald Dahl's The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me. I decided to read it again because I had forgotten the story of St. Francis. If I was to rate this book as a grade schooler (at the time I first read this book), I would give it a five stars because of (a) the way that the author portrayed the story of St. Francis and St. Clare and (b)the illustrations that the author included in the book were superb and beautifully drawn. The illustration that I loved the most in this book was when St. Francis received the Stigmata at Alverna.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction to the man who founded an order, and lived a life of poverty in Italy.

[Dree · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2nd grader's class play was largely based on this book. Costumes, backdrop, and the basic storyline of Francis' father disrespecting a beggar, Francis realizing he loves all creatures form poor people to birds to all animals, and then Francis saving Gubbio from the wolf. The story in the book includes for facets of his life, and much more religion, but is a good introduction to a man kids this age find fascinating.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

DePaola and Francis make a fabulous pair. Tomie's art is more sophisticated here than in some of his books (see the images of emaciated, dying Francis) but retains its soft, content, calming simplicity of line. He tells the glorious story concisely and sweetly. I feel very happy when I read this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed look into the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Beyond the statues that are often seen and a familiarity with his name, I really didn't know much before reading this book and this gave me a whole new sense of St. Francis' story.

This picture book is more appropriate those with substantial reading skills.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 25% - 33% about St. Clare.

There's a LOT of text in this book. Maybe not really a picture book? There is an illustration on every other page, though.

Lots of stories about St. Francis -- his birth, how he came to dedicate his life to God, etc.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi (Paperback)
by Tomie dePaola
This book is a reprint of a religiously historical story broken down for children

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomie dePaola writes beautiful stories and has amazing pictures to go with them.

[Finny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mommy says: Subject material is too dense at this point for a 7yo to enjoy.

[Sonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

With simplistic beauty, humble tales are told with tenderness and reverence.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like The Song of Francis better.

[Jane Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to the kids for class, but I enjoyed it so much I read it again at home for myself.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welp, I always thought St. Francis just hung out and took care of animals. Shows how much I know. He seemed like a pretty great guy, and I'm glad our new pope likes him too.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle telling of key moments in the life of St. Fransis.

[sch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homeschool. Handsome illustrations. Kids and I remain a bit skeptical about the stories.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations. Too wordy for PSR. Probably would be best to read a "chapter" at a time to little ones.