The Clown of God
By Tomie dePaola
The Story
A homeless boy in Sorrento discovers he can juggle, rises to fame performing his rainbow of colored balls across Italy, then grows old, poor, and forgotten — until one Christmas Eve performance before a statue of the Holy Child.
Why It's Special
For families who want their Christmas stories to hold real ache alongside real wonder, Giovanni's rise and fall and quiet final act land with unusual weight for a picture book.
- Big idea: A gift is worth giving even after the world stops applauding for it.
- Vibes: Tender, wistful, and quietly reverent, with a glow of old-world Italy and a hushed Christmas Eve ending.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy stories with real emotional depth
- are drawn to art, performance, or juggling
- are ready for a story about growing old and being forgotten
- respond well to quiet, reflective Christmas traditions
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What did Giovanni do to make the people of Sorrento marvel at him?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Giovanni felt when he grew old and his juggling talents began to fail?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever gotten really good at something, and then found it hard to do later?
- Imagination: If you could juggle a rainbow of colored balls like Giovanni, who would you want to perform for?
- Big ideas: Why do you think Giovanni picked up his balls again on that one Christmas Eve?
