The Legend of Saint Christopher

by Margaret Hodges, Richard Jesse Watson (Illustrator)

Tells the story of a strong man named Offero who searches in vain to find the greatest ruler in all the world so he can serve him as his bearer, but when he helps a mysterious child cross a river, the child's true identity is revealed and Offero becomes Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christian, Biography, Medieval, Christmas

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Margaret "Peggy" Hodges was an American writer of books for children.

She was born Sarah Margaret Moore in Indianapolis, Indiana to Arthur Carlisle and Annie Marie Moore. She enrolled at Tudor Hall, a college preparatory school for girls. A 1932 graduate of Vassar College, she arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband Fletcher Hodges Jr. when in 1937 he became curator at the Stephen Foster Memorial. She trained as a librarian at Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, under Elizabeth Nesbitt, and she volunteered as a storyteller at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Beginning in 1958 with One Little Drum, she wrote and published more than 40 books.

Her 1985 book Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, won the Caldecott Medal of the American Library Association.

She was a professor of library science at the University of Pittsburgh, where she retired in 1976.

Hodges died of heart disease on December 13, 2005 at her home in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. She suffered from Parkinson's disease.

She wrote her stories on a notepad or a typewriter. "I need good ideas, and they don't come out of machines," she once said.

Reviews

[Cynthia June Long]

Nicely told, with the rhythm of a folktale. Most of the illustrations convey the mood and enhance the text, especially the aged face of the “fierce and bold” Offero, and the dark black and red illustration which accompanies the devil disguised as a knight. The illustration of the king was impressively magestic, but the illustration of a birch forest was an odd choice to pair with Offero’s hut by the river (no hut; and only an abstract river), and I object strongly to the child representing Christ portrayed as a blonde Anglo. I appreciate the source notes. Text A; illustrations B-

[Jane Rattray]

Wonderful children’s book with a powerful message! Beautiful illustrations!

[Jim]

Four stars for the illustrations. Three stars for the text.

[Set]

Love the story and learning more about the legend of St. Christopher.

[Beverly]

Watson's superb paintings powerfully depict this folk legend.

[Connie Ehrnschwender]

Beautifully illustrated and told. The only objection I have is the little blond-headed Christ child. I would have preferred a Middle Eastern complexion. But otherwise I loved it!

[Amanda]

Interesting book about St Christopher with lovely illustrations. Christopher = Christ-Bearer

[Sara]

Simply gorgeous. The illustrations are captivating and tell more than the words can say. The story itself is beautifully told here. I found that this book beautifully transcends ages and left all of us with a piece of the story.

[Theresa]

great history and retelling of the story

[Michelle Gray]

I really enjoyed reading this story about St. Christopher and the illustrations were very lifelike and realistic...just marvelous!

[Jenny]

This is a good book. I like the simplicity of the story and the illustrations. I read it to my 6-year-old and she liked the part about Jesus.

[Marilyn]

Ryan will love this story. I can't wait to read to him about the Christ Child.

[Miss Clark]

A lovely version of the St. Christopher legend. Recommended.

[Joan Arbogast]

The author reveals the legend of the saint.