MARY MAGDALENE

Jesus’ leading female follower gets a starring role in this winsome illustrated children’s book.

Ring, a psychologist, former radio host, and Episcopal priest, recaps Gospel stories that foreground Mary Magdalene’s close relationship with Jesus. The author touches on Jesus’ boyhood, baptism, and recruitment of his 12 male apostles. Ring then introduces Mary when she joins the band of disciples soaking up Jesus’ teachings and distinguishes herself by showing “that she grasped what Jesus meant more than any of the others.” (In particular, she pays close attention when Jesus predicts that antagonistic religious leaders are plotting to kill him.) Later, the author follows a Christian tradition that identifies Mary as the woman who poured expensive oil over Jesus’ head. She is upbraided for the extravagant gesture by disciples who say she should have sold the oil and donated the money to the poor, but Jesus praises her for anointing his body for burial. The story moves on to Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, with Mary prominent among the disciples standing vigil at the cross, escorting Jesus’ body to the tomb, and returning on Easter Sunday to find the tomb empty. Mary then undertakes the mission of informing the apostles of the resurrection, which gives her the status of “the Apostle to the Apostles” in church lore. The book concludes with suggestions to readers that they emulate Mary’s virtue in being a good friend to Jesus in his time of need and cultivate their own relationships with Jesus and others. Ring’s text hews closely to traditional biblical stories, relating them in simple, spare prose that hints at the intense emotions coursing through these miraculous events. (“Feeling fear and joy, the women ran to tell the disciples. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in front of them. Jesus called Mary by name and told her, ‘Go tell the disciples, that I have risen and I will meet them in Galilee.’ ”) The color illustrations by Diamond Media Press Company ably convey action and mood. Turning points in Jesus’ journey like the Passion are shown in wide landscapes of desert plains and distant hills while scenes of Jesus teaching Mary are set more intimately enclosed by rocky grottos and green foliage. Ring’s luminous rendering of this important female Gospel figure will resonate with young Christian girls.

A limpid, heartfelt retelling of Mary Magdalene’s story.