Caryll Houselander (1901–1954)

Proud and happy at the hatching of his first chicks, a rooster named Petook is at first disturbed when he hears that a young boy has entered the orchard where they live, in order to gaze on his hen-wife Martha and their brood. But when he actually sees the boy, his peaceful and loving manner convince Petook that all is well. Many years later, now a very old fowl indeed, Petook awaits the hatching of a new brood, and sees men being crucified on the hill behind his home. Although he doesn't show more know it, one of those men is the very boy who once visited Martha in the orchard. Cast down by a nameless sorrow, he eventually feels a sense of triumph and rejoicing when the new chicks hatch three days later, on Easter morn...

Originally published in the pages of The Children's Messenger, a magazine for British Catholic children, Petook: An Easter Story was then included in author Caryll Houselander's 1956 collection, Inside the Ark and Other Stories, before being made into a picture book by American children's author and artist Tomie dePaola in 1988. The picture book was subsequently republished as Petook: The Rooster Who Met Jesus in 2021. I was well familiar with Tomie dePaola's work when picking this one up—in fact, my recent project to read more of his books is the reason I sought it out—but I was unfamiliar with Houselander, an English Catholic artist, author and mystic. I'm glad to have been introduced to her, as I found the story here very moving. It highlights the significance of new life at Easter time by tying the story of Jesus, his youth and eventual crucifixion and resurrection to that of a very long-lived rooster and his hen and chicks. This is accomplished, not just through the parallel stories, but through the use of Jesus' lament from the Gospel of Matthew, inspired in this tale by the sight of Martha and her chicks, that he would have gathered Jerusalem to him as a hen gathers her chicks, but they would not. The accompanying artwork here is trademark dePaola, and has a lovely, gentle feeling in some scenes, and a brooding atmosphere in others, that is very appropriate. Recommended to anyone looking for excellent Easter picture books, with the proviso that readers and listeners will need to already know the Easter story, in order to get the most out of it. For my part, I think I will try to track down more of Houselander's work. show less

For being over 75 years old, this book is modern and feels fairly progressive (minus a few “oof—not good” moments). I only know about Catholicism from history (not a good light there) and jokes from people about being lapsed due to Catholic school, but this was actually a fascinating and beautifully written introduction to explaining their big deal with Mary.

I didn’t agree 100% with all of the theological aspects of this book, but then, being Protestant, I didn’t expect to. I borrowed this book wanting a Lenten devotional, and I got that and more. I am not alone in thinking that familiarity with Christ’s passion is important; apparently, early Jesuits would develop meditation schedules which set aside several hours for imagining, as clearly as possible, Jesus’ suffering. I assume that the point of this was not only to establish empathy show more for Christ’s pain and deeper understanding of the sacrifice He made, but also to be closer somehow to God, by sharing, to some degree, this death.

I was expecting this book to explain, station by station, the suffering of Christ. And it does, with clarity and insight that I would not have reached on my own. But it also does much more than that, linking the suffering of Jesus two thousand years ago to human suffering today, showing God’s mercy at work in today’s world as well, comparing the disciples at the foot of the cross to worshipers in churches today. It is this timeliness, I think, that makes this book so moving. I was, and am, impressed. show less

As someone relatively new to Catholicism I haven't grown up with Marian theology. This is a beautiful introduction and even emersion into the life of Mary and why that matters. Very rich and worth many re-reads.
This was written during the second world war, and so there are certainly some mentions that give a modern reader pause - a "blue-eyed" Christ child, a slight dismissal of mental illness when different "moods" are brought up, to name a couple. I get the feeling that were Caryll writing show more this today she would likely be on the right side of things.
So many excellent remarks on humanity and the human condition as well, like why are those who claim Christianity often the least Christlike? Why has Christ come to us in the small, poor, and unimportant? Wonderful contemplations on those topics and more. show less