Brother Juniper

by Diane Gibfried, Meilo So (Illustrator)

Brother Juniper lives in the hills of Assisi with Father Francis and seven other brothers. Brother Juniper is the most generous of the brothers. He is so generous that he will happily give the robe off his back to someone in need—even if that leaves him with nothing else to wear. When Father Francis asks Brother Juniper to look after the church by himself one day, the other brothers are very worried about what they’ll find when they return. But with his kind heart and simple ways, Brother Juniper reminds them all what it means to truly look after a church.

This fresh take on the traditional stories of Brother Juniper is beautifully rendered in playful and expressive paintings, creating an unusual story that inspires equal amounts of laughter and goodwill.

Genres: Picture Books, Religion

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 20, 2006

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generally sweet, gently didactic story, graced by Meilo So's very much humorous accompanying illustrations, but while I have absolutely loved and appreciated Diane Gibfried's presented messages and how Franciscan friar Brother Juniper shows the true meaning of loving one's fellow man and that being kind, generous and caring is more important than one's material possessions (even and includung a church in which to worship), personally, I have found the a bit too constant emphasis on Brother Juniper as being foolish (and that there are rather too many depictions of him naked, almost as though he is supposed to represent a newborn, unclothed and naive) a bit strange (and no, not inappropriate in any manner, just a bit strange, for both Diane Gibfried's text and Meilo So's pictures have ended up leaving me with the impression that while Brother Juniper's generosity and loving kindness are indeed deemed acceptable and praiseworthy at the end of the story, at the end of Brother Juniper, after the people whom he had helped have come to thank him in front of his sullen and annoyed fellow friars, there is nevertheless a feeling remaining that Brother Juniper is both just too good to be true and more than a bit silly, a sensation that at least to and for me has not felt one hundred percent pleasant and positive). Still recommended is Brother Juniper, but with the I consider necessary caveat that some readers (some children) could indeed have the same mildly negative reaction as I have had and that this would need to be discussed (as I personally do believe that especially Meilo So's bright but somewhat satirical and caricature like illustrations make Brother Juniper appear rather as someone to ridicule, to laugh at and right from the beginning until the end of the story).

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really like the art, and the story is fine, and there's a bit of very gentle humor that leavens the lesson. So I'm rounding up a 3.5 star rating. I don't love it because I'm not fond of mixing concepts from make-believe and religion, even though I'm an atheist and actually know that they're the same thing.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This charming picture book tells the story of one of the friars in St Francis of Assisi's order. When the other brothers go out to preach, leaving Brother Juniper to watch over the chapel, he is so generous that they come back to find that he has given away EVERYTHING-- including the chapel doors and walls. They are angry at first, but come to realize how his actions have blessed the various recipients and, by extension, the entire congregation in their little village. The muted palette of the watercolor illustrations ties in well with the text, which is humorous and never didactic. A lovely story of generosity.

[Maureen Alden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is adorable! I was told it had a nice moral message and it does, but also in a way that very much catches a child's attention. Spoiler alert...Brother Juniper is so generous that he always gives whatever he has to the poor...even his clothes! So my six-year-old grandson squealed in delight to see several pictures of the backside of a naked Brother Juniper...because he gave his robe to someone who needed it more. Very sweet story.

[Dolly]

This book was selected as one of the books for the February 2018 - Kindness and Generosity discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a wonderful testament to generosity and the beauty of the Franciscan way of life. Give everything to the Lord. Right down to the church.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brother Juniper is generous to a fault! He gives away everything in the little monastery chapel, including the walls and the doors! However, the return was much greater than the investment, as the Bible says: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

[Kate Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite picture books, this is the story of a monk who is put in charge of a monastery while the other monks leave to pray and ponder why nobody comes to their church. Brother Juniper is humorously generous... and the monks are distraught when they return and find everything is gone. But then the surprise ending. So cute!!

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little story we read to emphasize the virtue of charity.

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there were more Brother Juniper’s in the world. Great pictures and wonderful story

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jumping Junipers! Oh, brother, where are you? Silly is is silly does. This Franciscan brother exemplifies the foolishness of God-Is-Love Incarnate stripping away the wisdom of the world, as naked as the day of birth and amazement.

[Zacaro Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa! true story;)