Mark Shannon

Pequele parents sent him to his grandmother because there was a plague in his village, and that was the last time Pequele saw his parents. The mother put an angel made of straws in Pequele’ s blanket. Pequele started to do many leaps and somersaults, and he started to drees up as an acrobat. In the streets he juggled balls, leap, twist, and race around with his hands. People gave him some coins, and would buy food for him and his grandmother. Eventually the grandmother died, and Pequele was alone. He did not have any food, and people did not want to help him because there was a plague. People believed that God was angry and that Pequele only made the world worse. Pequele fainted, and Friar a priest found him. The priest brought him to his church, and Pequele stayed there. Pequele leaped in front the statue of the angel, but Abbot came and told him that he could not stay if he continued to jump. Pequele stopped leaping, but one day a lady came from another village to ask for a blessing for her baby. Pequele saw the pain of the child, and he began to leap, and Abbot saw him. Abbot told Pequele immediately that he had to leave and Pequele was scared. When John returned Pequele explained everything to him, and Pequele began to do leaps in front of the statue of the angel. Eventually the statue of the angel took Pequele flying to the sky and disssapered. The book reflects Christianity and its beliefs. The images of Pequle are drawn with a lot of emotion, and the story reflects a lot of hope for life.… (mais)

This book is based on French folktale from the 12th or 13th century. The story is about an orphan, Pequele, who is an awesome acrobat. The consequences bring him and Friar John together. Now the main character is facing a dilemma: to stop doing his tricks and live safely in the monastery, or continue with his tricks and be wondering outside in the cruel and cold world. Pequele chooses the safety of the monastery until one day when he had to face another hard choice. Would he sacrifice his life for the life of an infant? I recommend this book to students from 1st grade up.… (mais)