The DAY THE ANIMALS CAME: A Story of Saint Francis Day

Philomel Books, 2003. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. As New/No Jacket. Loren Long color illustrations. CONDITION: UNREAD, but not quite perfect, 2003 Philomel hardcover (pictorial boards - NO DUST JACKET), first edition, first printing. The book is clean and tight. However, there is a small loss of color bottom front board and no dust jacket - and it should have one. Wonderful color illustrations by Loren Long. Questions welcome & answered. CONTENT: This story is based on Weller's and others' reminiscences of an annual October event at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. 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 trip: 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. The service is very sweet (and animals being animals don't always behave as we'd like) and sometime humorous. "Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired Saint Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet."