Overview
An evocative Christian allegory with a moving, surprise ending
The richest man in the world, with the most varied and treasured art collection in existence, begets the most wonderful son who, like himself, loves and appreciates each creation they possess. Under the father’s solicitous eye, and with their motherly estate keeper’s assistance, the exceptional son grows in wisdom and stature, extending his wealth to whomever wants it. What becomes of this son? And what later becomes of the treasures when the father offers them at auction? What superlative will be the most superlative of all? The underlying story illuminates God#&39;s redemptive plan as a profound return of all things to the order for which God created them. Printed on the front and back underflaps are some insights into the deep theological underpinnings of the art and text of this long-awaited third volume in a trilogy touching on the virtues of faith, hope, and love. What began with THE WEIGHT OF A MASS, A Tale of Faith, and TAKE IT TO THE QUEEN, A Tale of Hope is taken up here, for the true protagonists are the Persons of the Holy Trinity, the seen and unseen world of Creation, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Author Biography
Portrait of the Son marks Josephine Nobisso’s 104th book, almost all of them for children, with several translated into various languages. (She, herself, is fluent in three languages, and conversant in four others.) Her work has won dozens of awards, and she has earned significant personal citations, the most recent being her investiture as “Honorary Dame” into the Order of Saint Michael of the Wing, the oldest Catholic, royal, and dynastic order in existence. The author has a special love for the arts, especially as they apply to picture books. Two of the only three eligible titles released by the publishing house she launched were short-listed for the Caldecott Medal. Throughout her 20’s, Miss Nobisso acted as representative for an art gallery in New York City, placing original art work into private and major museum collections. A mentor to many writers, she spent 25 years presenting 100 author programs and writing workshops per year, in an innovative method she developed, which is featured in her book, Show; Don#&39;t Tell! Secrets of Writing, and she also published a landmark children’s poetry book, HOT CHA CHA!, which models myriad poetic styles, and includes an instructive essay with illustrative tips on the subject.
Theodore Schluenderfritz is the illustrator of several books, including The Old and New Children#&39;s book series by Maura Roan McKeegan, The Attic Saint by Tim Drake, and Darby O#&39;Gill and the Good People by Herminie Kavanagh. He and his family live in Littleton, Colorado. You can view more of his work at www.5sparrows.com