The Crooked Court Jester and the Last Knight

Caitlan Rangel reviews Susan J. Bellavance’s newest children’s picture book: a story of mercy.

The Crooked Court Jester and the Last Knight: A Tale of Mercy

By Susan Joy Bellavance; illustrated by Abdulahi Bonaya Boru

Published by Bella Cora Books

The Crooked Court Jester and the Last Knight, written by Susan Joy Bellavance and illustrated by Abdulahi Bonaya Boru, tells a tale of mercy through engaging storytelling and vibrant illustrations.  

Engaging Characters 

Bellavance hooks the reader at the beginning of the story by creating a main character, the Jester, who is initially unlikeable — my children were not happy with the Jester for stealing from the poor and vulnerable! 

When the Jester gets deathly ill with fever, it becomes clear that the Jester is not only physically ill but also sick in his soul. Bellavance writes, “Not only was the Jester’s body throbbing with fever, but his heart was throbbing with sorrow.” 

About halfway through the book, Bellavance introduces a different kind of character, the compassionate Knight, Sir John, who becomes the means by which the Jester encounters Christ, the King of Mercy. Sir John anoints the Jester with an oil and gives him special food, which the Catholic reader would identify as pointing toward the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. 

When I Imagine Reading This Book 

As a homeschooling mom of four who also teaches at a Catholic co-op, I think I would use this book most in conversation around the sacraments, specifically Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. It is a gift when we can give texture to our children’s understanding of the sacraments so that God’s mercy and a sacramental worldview become part of their Christian imagination. 

God’s Merciful Grace 

I love the excerpt from the Diary of St. Faustina that Bellavance includes in the back matter of the book. I believe the whole book centers around it. It reads:  

All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing alone is necessary; that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest. (#1507)

Beautiful Illustrations 

Since illustrations are so important to a children’s picture book, it’s important to give Boru credit for truly beautiful illustrations. Boru’s illustrations are engaging, colorful, and capture the characters’ emotions well. I found myself lingering with illustrations before turning the page. And, after reading the book to my children, they went back to spend more time looking at certain illustrations. 

Final Thoughts 

The Crooked Court Jester and the Last Knight would be a lovely addition to any Catholic family’s book collection for its ability to tune the heart and mind to God’s mercy through storytelling. 

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Copyright 2025 Caitlan Rangel
Images: Canva