About this title: In this story, a master juggler gives the finest performance of his life before the statue of the Christ child, and a miracle occurs.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Date Published: 1978
ISBN-13:9780152191757ISBN:0152191755
Description: Good. Standard used condition. May have light reading or storage wear. All orders processed within 2 business days. Ships from Foxboro MA. read more
Description: Tomie dePaola. Very Good+ Wonderful copy! Pages are clean and bright. Clear, glossy softcover has only very light wear in a few areas-mostly corners. Very Good to Near Fine copy of this truly touching story. Orders ship same or next business day. read more
Description: New. Orders placed after Dec. 7 cannot be guaranteed delivery before Christmas. GREAT BUY. Brand New From US Distributor. WE ARE A 5 STAR SELLER with OVER 3, 500, 000 BOOKS SOLD. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Voyager Books, New York
Date Published: 1978
ISBN-13:9780156181921ISBN:0156181924
Description: dePaola, Tomie. As New. 8 1/2 x 11. A once-famous Italian juggler, now old and a beggar, gives one finalj performance before a statue of Our Lady and the Holy Child. Book is new. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Voyager Books
Date Published: 1989
ISBN-13:9780156181921ISBN:0156181924
Description: Good. 1978-Good+-This ex lib hard bound book has a pictorial cover, full color illustrations, illustrated title page, clean tight interior pages, small stain at bottom of front/back end pages/inside cover pages, and usual lib markings. -Eighth Printing-Ex-Library-Illustrated by Tomie De Paola Site allows up to 30 calendar days for standard U.S. shipping-please take this into account when choosing a shipping method. Thank you! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Many
Date Published: 1978
ISBN-13:9780152191757ISBN:0152191755
Description: The Author. Very Good. No Jacket. Hard Back. 4to-over 9¾"-12" tall. X-Library with normal flaws...Rebound Library.....The hard cover has very light shelf wear. Yellowing pages. Some of the pages has small taped tears............We are very careful when we list our books, but sometimes something minor may get by.. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Voyager Books
Date Published: 1989
ISBN-13:9780156181921ISBN:0156181924
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Edition: F
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Scholastic Book Services 1978
ISBN-13:9780590300681ISBN:0590300687
Description: 0590300687 ISBN: 0590300687 This is a 1978 first printing by Scholastic Book Services. It is in exceptional condition. No marks inside. Slightest possible cover creases. Beautiful illustrations by the author. This is a gem. read more
Edition: Illustrated.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books, New York
Date Published: 1978
ISBN-13:9780152191757ISBN:0152191755
Description: dePaola, Tomie. Very good in very good dust jacket. Signed by previous owner. clean and tight text. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 48 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: Children/juvenile. read more
"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."
"one of the most incredible children's books. I was not raised christian, but rather instilled with very spiritual values, of several different religions, so this book is not just for jesus-lovers. it always makes me cry."
"This is an interesting story (and legend) about a boy with a gift for entertaining audiences with his juggling. The story lends itself well to dePaola's colorful drawing style!"
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