The Fourth Wise Man

by Mig Holder, Henry Van Dyke, Tony Morris (Illustrator)

Because he is helping others, a fourth Wise Man delays journeying with the other Magi to see the newborn Jesus, but thirty-three years later he has an unusual opportunity to meet his Savior.

Genres: Christmas, Childrens

30 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tony Morris' illustrations of this adaption of Henry Van Dyke's 100-year-old version of an ancient legend are worthy of 4 or 5 stars. They almost made me give the book 4 stars, but I did not care for the portrayal of the Magi as despising the fourth, or other Wise Man, a young enthusiastic Artaban who wanted to accompany them. Everything we know about the Magi and their journey to find and worship a baby king born to save the world speaks to men of finer and higher character than those portrayed in this book. In Van Dyke's version and presumably the legend, Artaban missed the rendezvous with the Three, but there is no allusion to them looking down on anyone which I have trouble doing.

Off to a disappointing start, the rest of the book mostly holds true to Van Dyke's version except that Jesus does not reassure Artaban in the end. Another unfavorable change. All-in-all, The Story of the Other Wise Man is better.

[Alex Hotovy]

Co-review w Clown of God

Also a book we read every Christmas. Beautiful and deeply moving—I struggled to get through reading this one to/with Bridge