the gazelle and the hunter
A couple of years ago during an elementary substitute teaching assignment, I had dropped my class off at the school library when a book on the "take one" rack caught my eye. I asked the librarian if I could possibly have it, as it was an older book and seemed to have been sitting there a while. She warmly said I was welcome to it.
The book is called The Gazelle and the Hunter: A Folk Tale from Persia, by Bernice Williams Foley and illustrated by Diana Magnuson (Childrens Press '80). The story is based on a traditional, short fable which you can read here. The original tale is heartwarming in and of itself, but I find the children's retelling especially touching. I haven't had read it to my own toddler son yet, but there's no doubt it's a gripping story for a young audience, with a strong message of compassion and the golden rule (even when animals are involved).
I don't want to give too much more away, and hope I haven't spoiled the ending already ... But I do hope you have a chance to share it with the little ones in your life, and maybe some of the older ones too. As grown-ups, we can all do with being reminded of compassion and grace once in a while ourselves, including as we think of the role animals may play in our own sporting and consumption habits.
Another more testament to this, if somewhat sadder in its immediate outcome, is found in the post "The Wolf that Changed America." For more on the ethics of hunting, please see our recent posts "Hunting and Animal Welfare," "The Birdslayer" and "Would Jesus Shoot a Ten-Point Buck?"
(originally posted November, 2009, a precursor to a recent series on children's books)
October 19, 2011
Reader Comments (2)
Hi Ben - I found this on Amazon, and look forward to reading it, and sharing with the grandkids! Thanks.
Awesome, Mike, thanks for looking it up. I wish it were still in print ... Ben