- Paperback: 32 pages
- Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books; New edition edition (2 Sep 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0711213208
- ISBN-13: 978-0711213203
- Product Dimensions: 26.4 x 21 x 0.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,477,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Dinah Hall, The Sunday Telegraph November 1998
"...both text and pictures glow with mystical allure."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
In the ancient Persian town of Saveh, astronomers discover a star that fills the sky with a fiery light. Intrigued, they search through their scrolls and come across the legend of a remarkable baby. They set off with precious gifts to honour the child. In return, he gives them a small stone, which they think is worthless until they cast it away into a well. Here is a thought-provoking legend offering a fascinating perspective on the story of the Three Wise Men.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Across the wind-swept plains of Persia, in the ancient town of Saveh, stood a tower ... a tower encrusted with turquoise tiles and filled with strange instruments, mysterious charts and glowing flasks of potions. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Across the wind-swept plains of Persia, in the ancient town of Saveh, stood a tower ... a tower encrusted with turquoise tiles and filled with strange instruments, mysterious charts and glowing flasks of potions. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In 1271 Marco Polo began his famous journey that eventually led him from the port of Venice to the magnificent court of the Kublai Khan in China. On his journey east Marco Polo visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where he was shown a lamp that had been burning continuously for over 1,200 years; he took some of oil from that lamp as a gift for the Kublai Khan. While passing through the Persian town of Saveh the traveler saw three tombs that the locals said was the final resting place of three men named Balthasar, Melchior, and Jasper. Marco Polo wrote down the story that they told him and Dianne Hofmeyr retells the tale as "The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi," with watercolor illustrations by Jude Daly, the pair having worked together previously on the picture book "Do the Whales Still Sing?"
The tale beings with the three astronomers gazing up at the heavens and witnessing a star like no other star, that fills the night sky with its fiery light. Consulting their charts and scrolls they can across the legend of a baby whose birth would be announced by such a star and who would grow up to become a king that brought justice, healing, and peace to the world. The three astronomers set off to find the child and honor him, bearing their gifts of gold, myrrh and holy incense. Most readers, young and old, will be familiar with the story up to this point. But when the three men find the simple shelter on which the star shown they find something other than the baby that they have come to see. More importantly, when they give their gifts, they receive one in return.
That simple gift and its significance make up the final part of the story, which nicely compliments what little is said about the Magi in the Gospels. The point of the legend also makes a simple point, which is usually the type that people need to be reminded of from time to time. "The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi" should come to the attention of new readers at Christmas time each year as an old way of taking a new look at the ancient story.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
What the Magi received in return for the gifts they gave
9 Mar 2004
Format:Paperback
In 1271 Marco Polo began his famous journey that eventually led him from the port of Venice to the magnificent court of the Kublai Khan in China. On his journey east Marco Polo visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where he was shown a lamp that had been burning continuously for over 1,200 years; he took some of oil from that lamp as a gift for the Kublai Khan. While passing through the Persian town of Saveh the traveler saw three tombs that the locals said was the final resting place of three men named Balthasar, Melchior, and Jasper. Marco Polo wrote down the story that they told him and Dianne Hofmeyr retells the tale as "The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi," with watercolor illustrations by Jude Daly, the pair having worked together previously on the picture book "Do the Whales Still Sing?"
The tale beings with the three astronomers gazing up at the heavens and witnessing a star like no other star, that fills the night sky with its fiery light. Consulting their charts and scrolls they can across the legend of a baby whose birth would be announced by such a star and who would grow up to become a king that brought justice, healing, and peace to the world. The three astronomers set off to find the child and honor him, bearing their gifts of gold, myrrh and holy incense. Most readers, young and old, will be familiar with the story up to this point. But when the three men find the simple shelter on which the star shown they find something other than the baby that they have come to see. More importantly, when they give their gifts, they receive one in return.
That simple gift and its significance make up the final part of the story, which nicely compliments what little is said about the Magi in the Gospels. The point of the legend also makes a simple point, which is usually the type that people need to be reminded of from time to time. "The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi" should come to the attention of new readers at Christmas time each year as an old way of taking a new look at the ancient story.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A moving story that tugs at our heart strings
26 May 1999
Format:Hardcover
This moving story that tugs at our heart strings reminds us of the important values we base our lives on. Decisions we make as adults often seem automatic. In reality these "choices" reflect our values; values moulded and established when we were still children. How? Through stories, magical stories passed on from person to person, from generation to generation. This story is a wonderful return to 'traditional' teaching methods, storytelling at its finest.
It is also written by my mom.
GREAT book!
18 Oct 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a beautiful story, told in a very family-friendly way. It has inspired conversation every time I've shared the story. I bought a copy for my brother-in-law, who is a pastor. He preached on it! Illustrations are perfect. If you are looking for a fresh take on the Christmas story, start here.
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