Francis Woke Up Early

"A beautiful marriage of author, illustrator, and subject is celebrated in this story of young Francis of Assisi, the saint who cared for animals and the natural world. Young Francis is awake before the rest of his slumbering household and makes his way to the barnyard for milk and eggs for his breakfast. On his way, he encounters a wolf that has been prowling the countryside. Francis knows what to do to ensure a peaceful day. The not factual but appealingly probable story is based on Francis's storied encounter with the wolf of Gubbio. Hyde's work, her first publication in a quarter-century, perfectly captures early morning light in 13th-century Assisi. The bordered paintings are filled with tender detail: birds flapping everywhere, butterflies fluttering like confetti, a cat 'snoring at the hearth.' This exquisite book will make peaceful family reading. All ages. (Nov.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.