Publishers Weekly
For older children interested in learning more about Mary's life, Demi has created another sparkling entry in her line of picture-book biographies of spiritual figures with Mary. The author culls from such texts as the King James Bible, The Lost Books of the Bible and The Life of Mary: As Seen by the Mystics to present a thorough and well-rounded portrait of the mother of Jesus. Demi's signature paintings, careful in their detail, delicately framed and accented with gold, help make this a reverent and worthy addition to her canon. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature
- Barbara L. Talcroft
The story of Mary's life continues artist Demi's series of richlydecorated books on spiritual leaders of world religions. A close companion to Jesus (McElderry, 2005), it shares that volume's ample format and gilded endpapers with musical angels. For the central part of Mary's life, Demi uses the King James Version of the Bible as her source, quoting from the gospels and the Book of Acts; her sources for Mary's childhood and her life after Jesus'death are less widely known. Many derive from early centuries of Christianity's Eastern Church, others from visions and revelations of mystics—all are apocryphal, though they suggest contemporary beliefs about Mary. Demi arranges the text at the far edges of each double-page spread, the center space displaying two intricately framed miniatures in the Persian style (small figures and no shadows) described in her book Muhammad. Mary as an adult is dressed chastely in a white tunic and dark blue cloak (dark blue being the Byzantine color for an empress). The jewel-like paintings, in Demi's signature style, are enriched with patterned and marbleized papers and lavish use of gold. Especially successful are the flight into Egypt, the young Mary with the high-priest, and her visit to her cousin Elisabeth at Juda, with its tiny geometric fields and charming farm animals. Since Demi has not retold the story in her own words, the text may be difficult for children, but this lovely and devout book will be welcomed by families, churches, and those interested in understanding world religions.
School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-Demi draws on the King James Version of the Holy Bible, as well as apocryphal sources such as The Book of Mary and The Life of Mary: As Seen by the Mystics, to tell her subject's story. By going beyond the traditional Bible, she is able to add details about Mary's childhood and to describe more fully her role in developing the early Church. The art and design of the book is similar to Demi's Mother Teresa and Jesus (both S & S, 2005), featuring paintings filled with bright, intricate patterns and bold touches of gold. The perspective is often flat and the pictorial elements on many pages seem to float in space. As in Jesus, the images are somewhat traditional in their depictions of winged angels and a white-haired God figure above the frame of several illustrations. The people and angels all have Caucasian features and skin tones. Children will need adult guidance to understand the text. Catholic schools in particular will appreciate this reverent perspective on Mary's life.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Demi continues her highly regarded series of biographies of spiritual leaders with this reverential, exquisitely illustrated depiction of the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The format is similar to others in the series, with highly detailed paintings in jewel tones set off by patterned borders against ivory backgrounds that suggest ancient parchment. The use of intricately designed fabrics in costumes and touches of bright gold for haloes, emanating rays and additional borders are used as unifying elements throughout, adding to the volume's elegant style with the composite effect of an illuminated manuscript. The accompanying text focuses on chronological milestones of Mary's life from her own conception to her assumption and coronation in Heaven. The lengthy text includes familiar passages from the King James Version of the Bible as well as passages from several additional sources (which are not accepted by all Christian denominations). An Apostolic Blessing from Pope John Paul II reproduced on the back cover emphasizes the volume's Roman Catholic orientation, though Demi's superb paintings and the exemplary design elevate the work above these potential concerns. (Nonfiction. 8-12)
