The Day the Animals Came: A Story of Saint Francis Day

by Frances Ward Weller, Loren Long (Illustrator)

Ria hates New York. She misses her friends, and the warm Puerto Rican sun; most of all she misses the animals she left behind. Then, one day, Ria's neighbor Mrs. Blum takes her on a surprise to a big cathedral-it's the festival of St. Francis Day, when everyone brings their pets to be blessed! At first, Ria is disappointed. She doesn't have a pet of her own for blessing. But a mishap with a mischievous duck leads to Ria being asked to join the magnificent Procession of Animals, right into the church! With Groucho the duck in her arms as she dances with elephants and turtles, snakes and dogs, Ria begins to realize that she's not so far from home after all.

This story of a special New York tradition has universal appeal for animal lovers of all ages, everywhere.

Illustrated by Loren Long.

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to the book jacket, this is one of Loren Long's first picture books (he was already an illustrator by this time). The art is five stars.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover:

This was a good choice of illustration to put on the cover (picture book covers are most often one of the interior illustrations). The procession of people with animals both matches the title and sets up the right expectations for the story.

The book:

The beginning is a little top-heavy with narration, but Ria's thoughts are strikingly elegant even as they suit her age: "Mrs. B could make her [Ria] smile, but she couldn't stretch the sky... or dim the city lights that hid the stars." Details (a grumpy cat named Tiger, a dog as big as a pony) sharpen the setting and emphasize the importance of animals. Ria's lively (and literal) pursuit of an animal to bring into the church is accentuated with cheerful illustrations in earth tones. Loren Long often illustrates from a unique perspective (under the bed, a bird's-eye view, etc.).

The educational message is suitably kept light (although an autho'rs note is included; one always is in these kinds of picture books). Religion does not feel forced--the story is focused on belonging, of being swept up in this larger sense of being. Ria's family problems are hardly touched upon after the beginning; the ending only talks about Ria being at home in a somewhat heavy-handed way. It's a slow start, but a sweet story.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each year, in New York City, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the blessing of animals occurs.

With a large host of animals, including a very large elephant, the procession begins. Slowly meandering from the large Gothic door, down the aisle and up to the altar, the animals make their way to be blessed.

The incredible sounds of Paul Winter's soprano saxophone, as the notes soar to throughout the world's largest Gothic cathedral, provide a deeply spiritual element as the majestic parade of the animals wind their way for the blessing.

This wonderfully illustrated book celebrates the real-life event which occurs on the first Sunday of October.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

La historia es bonita aunque un poco densa, con muchas palabras...Pero las ilustraciones eran muy bellas.