According to the Author’s Postscript, this beautiful work of art was accomplished over two decades of collaboration between the author and illustrator.  Each illustration was created from oil paintings inspired and largely completed on-site in Assisi.  The subject is a fictional day in the young life of Saint Francis of Assisi as the author and illustrator imagined what Francis’ boyhood experiences must have been.  In this story, Francis who appears to be around seven years old, wakes early and goes outside to the barn to gather breakfast.  On the way he encounters the wolf that had recently been worrying the local townspeople.  With his gentle manner, he calmly comforts and secures the animals into the barn and goes about his business of gathering breakfast.  He then shares some milk with the wolf who repays him by leaving the animals safe and helping him back up the hill toward home.  No one comes to any harm and Frances begins his day in peace.  A lovely story and perfect for our Catholic school library.