Picture This: Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert

Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert

by Gary D. Schmidt, illustrated by David Diaz

Martin de Porres grew up in the barrios of Lima, Peru. With an African slave for a mother, and a Spanish conqueror for a father, he was often disapproved of. But at the age of 8, his father retrieved Martin and his sister to be educated in Ecuador. Disapproval followed him to Ecuador and in Lima as he became apprentice to a doctor. When Martin wanted to join the Dominican Order, he was told he could never be a priest because of his impure blood. So instead, Martin offered to work as a servant. Despite the condemnation of so many, he became known for his healing abilities, his kindness, and his humility. People and animals came to be cared for by him. He was eventually welcomed into the Dominican Order, and he became known as the rose in the desert.

This book was beautiful in story, message, prose, and  illustration. It's no wonder it won the Pura Belpre Illustrator award. The story is incredible--a mulatto boy overcoming racism, class, and poverty through humility, service and goodness--all in the 1600s. Gary Schmidt has written a beautiful, poetic text to convey this story. I knew I was in for something special with the personification of hunger and illness ("Hunger lived in their home. Illness was their companion") The repetition also has a very poetic feel to it (frowning, disapproving people, the phrase "who is this strange boy"). And yet despite whatever troubles may have ailed Martin, Schmidt maintains a tone of peace and optimism.

Then there are the illustrations. So beautiful. They're rich and saturated with color. With dark outlines, and sometimes panel-like shapes, many of the illustrations have a stained-glass quality to them. A number of pages feature motifs reminiscent of illuminated manuscripts. The backgrounds are textured and weathered like frescoes or the stone walls of a church. The renditions of Martin himself depict his sensitivity and a harmony with his surroundings. Highly recommended.

I'll be adding this to my list of the best picture books of 2012.

Illustration by David Diaz, from Martin de Pores: A Rose in the Dessert

Illustration by David Diaz, from Martin de Pores: A Rose in the Dessert

Illustration by David Diaz, from Martin de Pores: A Rose in the Dessert