The Juggler of Our Lady: The Classic Christmas Story

"One of the great examples of the graphic novel form. Should inspire a new generation." -- The Atlantic
Cantalbert is a simple juggler but the world takes no interest in his only real gift, and he feels inadequate compared to people with meaningful jobs. Seeking a more spiritual approach to life, he enters a monastery. Cantalbert's menial chores among the monks fail to instill the self-doubting juggler with any sense of worth ― until he experiences a soul-stirring encounter with a statue of Mary, the Mother of Christ.
This magical 1952 retelling of a medieval legend, featuring winsome watercolor images by famed illustrator R. O. Blechman, constitutes a predecessor to the modern graphic novel. A Foreword by Jules Feiffer and an Introduction by Maurice Sendak offer insights into the fable's enduring influence. One of the Phoenix New Times "10 Best Graphic Novels to Read During the Holidays."

For more than 50 years, the distinctive artwork of illustrator/animator R. O. Blechman has taken many forms, from New Yorker covers and commericals for Alka-Seltzer to his own illustrated books. He is the recipient of many awards, including several Emmys and a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Cartoonists Society.
Best known for his Caldecott Medal-winning book, Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) wrote and illustrated numerous popular books for young readers.
Author, playwright, and screenwriter, Jules Feiffer is a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist whose satirical strips appeared in The Village Voice for 42 years.