Pedro. Eine Ostergeschichte.

by Caryll Houselander

Petook the rooster witnesses the crucifixion of Christ and rejoices in the birth of new chicks three days later on Easter morning.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Religion, Fiction, Faith, Christian

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

Caryll Houselander (1901-1954) was a British Roman Catholic laywoman; a mystic, writer, artist, visionary and healer. Born in London in 1901, Caryll was the second of two daughters born to Willmott and Gertrude (nee Provis) Houselander. Her first book, This War is the Passion. written during World War II, launched her prolific writing career. Houselander's talents included painting and many woodcarvings.

Caryll's "divinely eccentric" life was principally a devotion to contemplating Christ in all and men and women and in all life circumstances. Maisie Ward (a friend of Caryll and author of her principal biography, Caryll Houselander: That Divine Eccentric (Sheed & Ward, 1962), states, "Her message can be summed in a single sentence; we must learn to see Christ in everyone." Msgr. Ronald Knox was quoted as saying about Caryll's writing style, " . . . she seemed to see everything for the first time and the driest of doctrinal considerations shone out like a restored picture when she finished it."

Though she remained a single woman throughout her life, Caryll was engaged for a time to Sidney Reilly, who was the model for Ian Fleming's character, "James Bond."

Caryll Houselander has been described as being a mystic in the tradition of Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila. She is best known for her works such as The Reed of God.

Caryll died of cancer on October 12th, 1954. Her bibliography consists of more than seven hundred written works including poems, short stories and articles, articles for juvenile publications and children's books (for some of these she did artwork for as well), articles for various Catholic publications, and, of course, her own books.

Reviews

[Beatrice Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overwritten to a fault. Even has a pronoun error. The illustrations are somewhat interesting in places but very much lacking in emotion. It's almost completely narrative. Nearly no dialogue at all. Jumps in time way too much in an obvious sort of way. kind of like watching one of those documentaries about rock bands that only have scenes with noteworthy events in them with very cliche dialogue. A lot of the narrative goes ultra-poetic and that's really a fault. The poetic words lack any emotion whatsoever because they are trying way too hard.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Proud and happy at the hatching of his first chicks, a rooster named Petook is at first disturbed when he hears that a young boy has entered the orchard where they live, in order to gaze on his hen-wife Martha and their brood. But when he actually sees the boy, his peaceful and loving manner convince Petook that all is well. Many years later, now a very old fowl indeed, Petook awaits the hatching of a new brood, and sees men being crucified on the hill behind his home. Although he doesn't know it, one of those men is the very boy who once visited Martha in the orchard. Cast down by a nameless sorrow, he eventually feels a sense of triumph and rejoicing when the new chicks hatch three days later, on Easter morn...

Originally published in the pages of The Children's Messenger, a magazine for British Catholic children, Petook: An Easter Story was then included in author Caryll Houselander's 1956 collection, Inside the Ark and Other Stories , before being made into a picture book by American children's author and artist Tomie dePaola in 1988. The picture book was subsequently republished as Petook: The Rooster Who Met Jesus in 2021. I was well familiar with Tomie dePaola's work when picking this one up—in fact, my recent project to read more of his books is the reason I sought it out—but I was unfamiliar with Houselander, an English Catholic artist, author and mystic. I'm glad to have been introduced to her, as I found the story here very moving. It highlights the significance of new life at Easter time by tying the story of Jesus, his youth and eventual crucifixion and resurrection to that of a very long-lived rooster and his hen and chicks. This is accomplished, not just through the parallel stories, but through the use of Jesus' lament from the Gospel of Matthew, inspired in this tale by the sight of Martha and her chicks, that he would have gathered Jerusalem to him as a hen gathers her chicks, but they would not. The accompanying artwork here is trademark dePaola, and has a lovely, gentle feeling in some scenes, and a brooding atmosphere in others, that is very appropriate. Recommended to anyone looking for excellent Easter picture books, with the proviso that readers and listeners will need to already know the Easter story, in order to get the most out of it. For my part, I think I will try to track down more of Houselander's work.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a rooster. He meets Jesus when he's young and he just fathered a bunch of chicks. Jesus watches the hen gather her chicks. Then years later, "He had just passed through an uneasy night. Everything had been steeped in moonlight, but all had looked strange and sad. He could see the distant hill of Calvary where the three tall trunks always stood..." And there it picks up a little of the Easter story but indirectly. The pictures show things in the distance, like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on that page, and then someone pointing (likely at Peter saying he was with Jesus, because then the cock, Petook crowed). The following page shows three figures on crosses in the distance. Then Easter morning he's sure that his new chicks will hatch. There's a page where the chick hatches out of the egg and in the background is a tomb that's white (empty). Cute story but also symbolic and the pictures in the background are a great Easter message.

[Clwseattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The simple yet elegant illustrations of Petook, a busy, nosy yet wise old rooster enhance the story. The afterword by the illustrator Tomie DePaola really captures the essence of Petook: An Easter Story:

"Petook's joy at the emergence of new life from the egg certainly echoes the joy of Christ's emergence from the tomb. It also breathes new life into the age old symbol of the Easter egg, helping the reader become aware that it is more than just the tasty chocolate treat we associate with Easter today. Without symbols such as this, Christianity becomes pale."

[Sharolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love just about everything by Tomie de Paola. His illustrations to this lovely children's Easter book are perfect. A beautiful tale weaving fiction with the most important story of all time. A great conversation book for children (and adults!) with lots of hidden detail to be found in text and illustrations such as a young Jesus encountering a mother hen, and going on to use the analogy of God as a mother hen in his ministry.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petook was a proud rooster in a farmyard where his wife, Martha the hen, was sitting on her eggs that would soon hatch. One day, a boy (Jesus, although not mentioned by name) was watching Martha gathering her chicks under her wings. Years later Petook could see three crosses on a hill but he didn’t know that one of the men on one of those crosses remembered the hen gathering her chicks.
This is a nicely written story with wonderful illustrations.

[JSL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun Easter story that my kids loved.

[Deidra Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wordy, but I appreciate the intent.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud to the kids. Sweet, and unique Easter story. Instant family favorite!

[Sheila Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable little fictional Easter Story.

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story about a rooster and Easter.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quiet book. Mindful.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a rooster named Petook who was present at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The story is okay but Tomie dePaola's illustrations are beautiful. A good picture book for Easter.

[Kylee Timmreck · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10⭐️

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

03/12: It's an Easter tradition now to read this one. It's our favorite Easter read. DePaola is so adept at subtly telling a story, with both words and illustrations. I wish they would reprint this one. It's wicked expensive. But at least it's available at public libraries.

Inside Cover: Petook is happy because he has just become the proud father of twelve chickens. But when he hears that a stranger has been seen in the vineyard near his wife Martha and her brood, Petook flies to their side. "When he got to Martha he knew that he need not have been afraid. It is true thta there was a boy there, but this boy was kneeling by the little brown hen with a look of wonder on his face..." Years go by... and Petook has grown old. Again, Martha is sitting on a next of new eggs. While Petook waits for the chickens to be born, he sees three tall crosses on a distant hill. And a body being lifted -- the body of the boy who years before visited Martha and her chicks, and later was heart to say: "Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you under my wings as the hen gathers her chicks, and you would not" Renowned religious writer Caryll Houselander has subtly conveyed the Easter message of "new life" in a beautiful story.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely Easter story. It must be read metaphorically, of course, since chickens don't live for 20+ years, but it was sweet all the same.

Petook is a rooster who is very proud of his beautiful chicks. A gentle boy loves them, too, and later teaches his disciples, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you under my wings as the hen gathers her chicks, and you would not."

Tomie dePaola illustrated this story by Caryll Houselander, and writes about her at the very back of the book. The illustrations are classic TdP.

The story made me think of my dear Waldorf students. The time they spend out of doors, digging in the dirt, planting seeds and feeding animals, is crucial for their formation as human beings and leads to greater understanding of the world. I think they would react very well to this story.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The message that this book was trying to convey was a good one, but unfortunately, I didn't feel like it did the best job. I'm not sure children would get the significance of the story and I felt that parts of the story were a little unbelievable. I did enjoy Tomie's illustrations though. I'm not sure that I would recommend this book.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whimsical Easter fable that reminded me of "The Tale of the Three Trees," another one of my favorites. I'm becoming obsessed with Caryll Houselander, and the fact that Tomie de Paola did the illustrations makes this picture book all the more enjoyable.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was okay, an interesting take on why eggs and chicks are associated with Easter. It was a bit wordy for a picture book, and some of the sentences were awkward, but my daughter enjoyed it.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is on my "Favorite Easter books" list. A beautiful story with Tomie DePaola illustrations.