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The Clown of God
A once-famous Italian juggler, now old and a beggar, gives one final performance before a statue of Our Lady and the Holy Child
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
15 people are currently reading
1342 people want to read
About the author
Tomie dePaola
443 books902 followersTomie 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
September 13, 2023
Why I chose to read this book:
Shortly after reading The Worlds of Tomie dePaola: The Art and Stories of the Legendary Artist and Author (by Barbara Elleman), I realized that I haven't read near enough of his books, including this particular story, one of dePaola's first picture books.
Praises:
1. a heartwarming story of how Giovanni, a poor, orphaned boy who grows into old age, uses his gift of juggling to bring joy to others, and eventually, "offers to the Christ Child the only Christmas gift he has" and,
2. depicting his classic illustration style and careful eye for text placement, dePaola has diligently researched this ancient French legend and retold it to coincide with his own Italian heritage. Anyone familiar with Italy will recognize backdrops featuring Sorrento, Assisi, Venice, and Florence.
Overall Thoughts:
I appreciate how dePaola draws from his own personal religious experience to share books with spiritual themes for young and old alike. I continue to be in awe with his use of pencil, ink, and watercolor; this time, transcending me to the Renaissance.
Although suitable to read at any time of the year, this book makes a most poignant Christmas story.
Shortly after reading The Worlds of Tomie dePaola: The Art and Stories of the Legendary Artist and Author (by Barbara Elleman), I realized that I haven't read near enough of his books, including this particular story, one of dePaola's first picture books.
Praises:
1. a heartwarming story of how Giovanni, a poor, orphaned boy who grows into old age, uses his gift of juggling to bring joy to others, and eventually, "offers to the Christ Child the only Christmas gift he has" and,
2. depicting his classic illustration style and careful eye for text placement, dePaola has diligently researched this ancient French legend and retold it to coincide with his own Italian heritage. Anyone familiar with Italy will recognize backdrops featuring Sorrento, Assisi, Venice, and Florence.
Overall Thoughts:
I appreciate how dePaola draws from his own personal religious experience to share books with spiritual themes for young and old alike. I continue to be in awe with his use of pencil, ink, and watercolor; this time, transcending me to the Renaissance.
Although suitable to read at any time of the year, this book makes a most poignant Christmas story.
July 8, 2019
I found this book at my Uncle's house during our family reunion. He loves clowns and he was also a minister at a big church in North Carolina, so I know that they got this book when my cousin was young because he loves clowns. This also has a religious theme to it so this is like the perfect story for him. So, it was fun reading this to not only my niece and nephew, but other kids of my cousins. We set it up like a reading time at the library where I read a page and showed them the pictures.
The story is a tiny bit long, but it's good. An orphan can juggle and he finds a traveling show to join and learn from. He learns a new act and spends his life going about entertaining people all over the land. When he is an old man, everyone has seen him and they are no longer amazed by him. He ends up homeless once more and finds his way to a monastery with a Madonna and child where the child is grumpy and serious looking. He performs for the statue as his heart moves him too and then you need to read the ending for yourself. I don't like to spoil them.
The story is set at the beginning of the Renaissance. This is a famous old French legend that was part of the storyteller tradition. This is ink and watercolors.
The kids thought this was a fun story to read together. The story did keep their attention and the kids said that they thought it was a 3 or 4 star story with only my nephew saying it was only 2 stars just to be a prankster.
The story is a tiny bit long, but it's good. An orphan can juggle and he finds a traveling show to join and learn from. He learns a new act and spends his life going about entertaining people all over the land. When he is an old man, everyone has seen him and they are no longer amazed by him. He ends up homeless once more and finds his way to a monastery with a Madonna and child where the child is grumpy and serious looking. He performs for the statue as his heart moves him too and then you need to read the ending for yourself. I don't like to spoil them.
The story is set at the beginning of the Renaissance. This is a famous old French legend that was part of the storyteller tradition. This is ink and watercolors.
The kids thought this was a fun story to read together. The story did keep their attention and the kids said that they thought it was a 3 or 4 star story with only my nephew saying it was only 2 stars just to be a prankster.
July 17, 2019
The Juggler of Notre Dame used to be my daughters favorite Christmas movie so I was really excited to read this book and discover that it's the children's version of the French legend told by Anatole France. In The Clown of God an aging juggler thinks he has nothing left to offer God. The admiring crowds and delighted audiences have been replaced with homelessness and hunger. Although this was a story told and retold by storytellers of the Middle Ages, it's as relevant and alive today as it ever was.
Tomie dePaola has meticulously researched and recreated this poignant tale of giving -- whatever we have to give being what God values most -- and miracles. It's one of those books for the child in all of us. Beautiful!
Thank you Krista for the recommendation!
Review updated July 17, 2019 for administrative purposes.
Tomie dePaola has meticulously researched and recreated this poignant tale of giving -- whatever we have to give being what God values most -- and miracles. It's one of those books for the child in all of us. Beautiful!
Thank you Krista for the recommendation!
Review updated July 17, 2019 for administrative purposes.
August 25, 2013
“The Clown of God” is an Italian folktale retold by Tomie dePaola, famous for his “Strega Nona” books. This book is about how a young boy named Giovanni becomes a famous juggler all around Italy while learning the true meaning of spreading happiness around the world. “The Clown of God” is a truly touching story that children will love for many years.
Tomie dePaola has done an excellent job at both illustrating and writing this book about the true meaning of spreading happiness. Tomie dePaola’s writing is much more serious and dramatic in this book than in his “Strega Nona” series as he discusses the matter of religion and about the poverty that Giovanni has to go through in his life. Tomie dePaola has done an excellent job at creating sympathy for the main character Giovanni as he goes through poverty after his parents’ death and suddenly becomes a famous juggler after his special abilities are discovered and Giovanni’s touching story will help many children realize that everyone has a special ability that can bring happiness to other people if they care about the impact that their special abilities will have on the world. Tomie dePaola’s illustrations are much more beautiful than in his “Strega Nona” series, especially as he draws the characters’ expressions in a realistic way and the characters are drawn in a more fluid manner as the characters appearances are so smooth.
Parents should know that the ending of this book is a bit sad as it deals with the death of a person. I will not reveal who dies at the end of the book, but the idea of death presented in this book might frightened smaller children and parents should explain to their children about the issues of death before they read them this book.
“The Clown of God” is a truly heartwarming and touching story about the importance of spreading happiness around the world and many children will enjoy this book’s message about true happiness. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up due to the sad ending and the religious theme might confuse smaller children.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
April 6, 2018
A really well-told folk tale, with dePaola's beautiful illustrations accompanying it. A neat story about how even giving of your talents - just trying to make someone happy - can be a valuable gift.
November 24, 2017
Cannot read aloud to kids without ugly crying.
November 6, 2020
Loosely based on a French folk tale, we follow a poor street boy named Giovanni who has an incredible gift for juggling and grows up to be very famous until he becomes old and gives up juggling that no longer makes anyone smile, until one Christmas night. A beautifully drawn and bittersweet tale that certainly will put a smile on you at the end. A (100%/Outstanding)
March 19, 2018
This book is fun to read and story was very interesting. The moral of the story is really good and the Pictures were amazing!
September 27, 2010
A beautiful, slightly bittersweet traditional story from Italy, lovingly retold by Tomie dePaola. Giovanni is a young boy with a penchant for juggling. He grows up and shares his wonderful gift with others all around the country. But, years pass and times get tough, and soon he is not so steady with juggling and audiences are not so kind. Reduced to beggar status, Giovanni enters a church one night--only to be awoken by glorious singing. It is the celebration of the birth of the Christ child! But the statue of the Christ child looks so sad, so serious. Giovanni would do anything to make the child happy. And, in that selfless act, Giovanni rediscovers his life's purpose for one last glorious moment.
August 12, 2018
Wonderful presentation of this familiar tale!
November 28, 2013
This children's book is poignant, solemn and inspiring. The beautiful, colourful pages will captivate your focus and imagination. The writing is minimal and easy to understand. The religious reference does not detract from the story or theme. The story is profound and may require light discussion after a reading. Such conversation can bring added insight into the theme of a life calling, craft and what it means to give a gift of yourself.
This book is very much an example of such a gift.
A good choice for children under 10 and adult's who enjoy children's books.
This book is very much an example of such a gift.
A good choice for children under 10 and adult's who enjoy children's books.
May 6, 2012
Tomie dePaola is my favorite children's book author and artist, and Clown of God is one of his most amazing achievements. The author has several books with religious themes without being religion books. The story is heartwarming, and yet still brings me to tears all these years later, after so many reads.
October 24, 2012
I loved this book when i was younger and reading it again as an adult i still do. This is the story of a juggler Giovianni who becomes a famous juggler all through out Italy. He accumulates a rainbow colored set of juggling balls with one gold one. Through out the story his juggling becomes less popular and he has to stop juggling and begin begging for food. He goes to the church at christmas and does a juggling act for Jesus because he has noting else given him. When he gets to the golden ball that represents the sun in the heavens he realizes what this means and dies. This is a sweet story about Loving God. I would recommend this book for children 2-4th grade. The illustrations are very nice there is a good use of color and the expression of the clowns face fits with the emotions of the story.
January 3, 2018
I have long loved a movie I saw on TV many years ago - The Juggler of Notre Dame. Every once in a while I discover it again somewhere, and find to my delight that it's still as compelling, and emotionally charged as it was back when I first watched it in 1982.
It's not often a story can stay with you like that, for more than 30 years.
To discover that this tale is actually an old one, and then to further find the story told in a children's book by Tomie dePaola is priceless.
No matter what the telling, the story is one of heartbreak. And sacrifice. And giving to God. And the miracle at the end is a absolutely beautiful. This book tells the tale well, with the art and words combining to not make this story a thing of tragedy so much as a thing of holiness and hope. Read this one over the holidays and then couple it with the movie if you can find it.
It's not often a story can stay with you like that, for more than 30 years.
To discover that this tale is actually an old one, and then to further find the story told in a children's book by Tomie dePaola is priceless.
No matter what the telling, the story is one of heartbreak. And sacrifice. And giving to God. And the miracle at the end is a absolutely beautiful. This book tells the tale well, with the art and words combining to not make this story a thing of tragedy so much as a thing of holiness and hope. Read this one over the holidays and then couple it with the movie if you can find it.
November 5, 2024
Something about this book was profoundly beautiful to me. I'm on the verge of tears after just finishing reading. I feel like I just had a religious experience. Strange and fascinating children's book. I liked it a lot.
March 3, 2012
33 months - Picked this up at the thrift store for 50 cents. Certainly worth the price and O keeps requesting to read it. We have not delved into God and religion at all with her so her interest is either enjoyment of the story or she is trying to process the story's meaning. It is not unusual for her to request a book over and over until she understands a certain aspect of it... either something to do with the story or the usage of a new word which will often come up in conversation (used correctly) not long after.
For those not interested in the religious side of it, it is possible to adjust the wording slightly to maintain an interesting story without the references to "God". The story is enjoyable and sad, but, I don't know that I'd want to read it day in and day out unlike Stranga Nona which we can read repeatedly.
For those not interested in the religious side of it, it is possible to adjust the wording slightly to maintain an interesting story without the references to "God". The story is enjoyable and sad, but, I don't know that I'd want to read it day in and day out unlike Stranga Nona which we can read repeatedly.
Read
December 17, 2011This is the only book I've had the time to read this month! And it took me five minutes to read as I sat in the library!
Anyway. There is a beautiful color palate used in the illustrations, very in keeping with my idea of the time-period it takes place, with a mixture of messier/moodier water colors blended into the pages. The writing is simple and the repetition in the prose helps propel the story. The protagonist goes from young to old very quickly but such is life.
Anyway. There is a beautiful color palate used in the illustrations, very in keeping with my idea of the time-period it takes place, with a mixture of messier/moodier water colors blended into the pages. The writing is simple and the repetition in the prose helps propel the story. The protagonist goes from young to old very quickly but such is life.
January 14, 2019
I can't describe on how many levels I can't stand this book.
October 15, 2020
A very enjoyable story, not to be discounted because it is older!
November 30, 2019
Born in Connecticut to an Irish-Italian family, Tomie dePaola's work are often autobiographical or based upon stories that he has inherited and made his own. The Clown of God is based upon a French legend which tells the story of a juggler whose gift, in his old age, is spurned by people but more than welcome by Christ himself. Once told by Anatole France and now crafted with dePaola's own words and images, it is a masterpiece in both word and picture.
April 22, 2020
This is my favorite from Tomie DePaola. I bet he's now making Christ smile in heaven.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2025
why is this lowkey giving the substance. why is it lowkey serving whiplash. why is it lowkey kinda network-coded.
February 5, 2022
Was not expecting that for the ending
August 15, 2009
The Clown of God is beautifully-illustrated, well-written retelling of a French legend. The orphan Giovanni achieves great heights of fame through a juggling act that culminates in a rainbow of colored balls, with a golden ball representing "the sun in the heavens." At the height of his fame, some monks tell him his juggling "sings of the glory of God," to which he laughingly retorts, "I only juggle to make people laugh and applaud." As the years pass, Giovanni's popularity wanes until he is forced to stop juggling and beg for food. He returns home and falls asleep in the corner of the monks' church, awakening to see the Christmas Mass, as the townspeople bring gifts to lay before a statue of Mary and Jesus. When the church is empty he approaches the statue and performs a juggling act for Jesus. When he gets to "the Sun in the heavens," his heart stops and he dies. The monks, finding his body, discover that the child is holding Giovanni's golden ball and smiling.
As a Protestant I am certainly missing some of the meaning in this Catholic story, but the main point seems to be that our gifts and talents are to be used for God's glory. Even though the monks' statement that "if you give happiness to people, you give glory to God" goes a bit too far, Christians are called to care for others as an expression of our love for God (Matthew 25:40; 1 John 1:4:11-12). Although Giovanni defies this calling, seeking only personal acclaim, at the end of his life he devotes his talents to an act of worship toward God.
The main element that biblically-centered Christians may want to supply when they read this story is to make it explicit that God will accept our gifts only when we trust in Jesus' death, which opens the way for us to come to God (Hebrews 10:19-22). As the story of Cain and Abel illustrates (Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4), only gifts motivated by this faith will be accepted. Apart from faith in Jesus' sacrifice and genuine repentance from our sins, no gift can be accepted (Psalm 51:16-17).
This qualification aside, The Clown of God is a beautiful story for your Christmas basket or any time of the year.
As a Protestant I am certainly missing some of the meaning in this Catholic story, but the main point seems to be that our gifts and talents are to be used for God's glory. Even though the monks' statement that "if you give happiness to people, you give glory to God" goes a bit too far, Christians are called to care for others as an expression of our love for God (Matthew 25:40; 1 John 1:4:11-12). Although Giovanni defies this calling, seeking only personal acclaim, at the end of his life he devotes his talents to an act of worship toward God.
The main element that biblically-centered Christians may want to supply when they read this story is to make it explicit that God will accept our gifts only when we trust in Jesus' death, which opens the way for us to come to God (Hebrews 10:19-22). As the story of Cain and Abel illustrates (Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4), only gifts motivated by this faith will be accepted. Apart from faith in Jesus' sacrifice and genuine repentance from our sins, no gift can be accepted (Psalm 51:16-17).
This qualification aside, The Clown of God is a beautiful story for your Christmas basket or any time of the year.
October 22, 2017
This is an old story retold by the author.
A young orphan boy learns how to juggle, and using his skill he entertains people, thereby finding shelter and food for himself. He becomes a famous self-supported juggler until his old age. When he fumbles in his performance the people don't care about him anymore and he is again poor and alone. When he seeks shelter in a monastery something miraculous happens.
Wonderful illustrations.
A young orphan boy learns how to juggle, and using his skill he entertains people, thereby finding shelter and food for himself. He becomes a famous self-supported juggler until his old age. When he fumbles in his performance the people don't care about him anymore and he is again poor and alone. When he seeks shelter in a monastery something miraculous happens.
Wonderful illustrations.
May 25, 2012
3 stars for some ultimate confusion on my part towards the end.
Do I laugh at the scowling Jesus baby? Feel weird for laughing at a scowling Jesus baby? Not laugh at a scowling Jesus baby? Scowl along with the Jesus baby? Believe in the divine intervention power of juggling? Feel pity for the old man? UUUUGGHH!! Catholic limbo!
Do I laugh at the scowling Jesus baby? Feel weird for laughing at a scowling Jesus baby? Not laugh at a scowling Jesus baby? Scowl along with the Jesus baby? Believe in the divine intervention power of juggling? Feel pity for the old man? UUUUGGHH!! Catholic limbo!
December 15, 2016
Ellie read to us. Jacob loves this book. It reminds me of the story in the bible where a women puts in 2 coins and Jesus says she has given more than all the rest. The disciples question him saying that others have put in way more than this women. Jesus answered saying she has given everything she has to God...krb 7/18/16
Read for Christmas..krb 12/14/16
Read for Christmas..krb 12/14/16
January 14, 2018
Summary: A clown who travels the world grows old and finds joy.
Why I Read This: I had read half of this with a toddler once, but she got distracted and started crawling on me even as she recited the lines about the golden ball. So, I never finished. Now I've finally finished!
Review: I really love this book. I really love that I made it to the end. The ending just made me smile.
Why I Read This: I had read half of this with a toddler once, but she got distracted and started crawling on me even as she recited the lines about the golden ball. So, I never finished. Now I've finally finished!
Review: I really love this book. I really love that I made it to the end. The ending just made me smile.
April 28, 2019
I grew up reading many amazing children's books, and the work of Tomie dePaola, including The Clown of God, holds a dear place in my heart. The artistry is both engaging and spectacular, with a unique flow and beautiful vibrant colors, that catch your eye without overpowering the story. I cannot wait to show these books to my future children!
June 7, 2024
Has taken the spot of favorite DePaola book for me. An endearing, joyful story about how a lowly man learns vocation; that one’s gifts ought to be used for the glory of Jesus Christ, and only in so doing, can one feel fulfilled fully.
The way that Christ is in this book warmed my and my wife’s heart.
The way that Christ is in this book warmed my and my wife’s heart.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews