An illustrated synopsis of the genesis and basic ideas of each of the world's major religions, as well as of some minor ones. Among the back matter is a list of sacred books, another of major festivals, and an interesting compilation of the various renderings of the Golden Rule, a form of which exists in almost all systems of belief. Betsy Maestro (with Giulio Maestro, The Discovery of the Americas, 1991, etc.) begins carefully, earnestly preaching the importance of diversity and balance, and taking for granted that religions are not handed down by deities but evolve from a people's own need to find meaning in life. She gallops through primitive religions, and hits her stride when she begins telling about the actual beliefs and histories of various cultures, beginning with the Chinese. Given the space limitations of the picture-book format, these are elegant and precise pieces. Giulio Maestro's beautiful illustrations are done in an array of styles, often reflecting the motifs and palettes of the culture under discussion. Most children will want to know more, but there is no bibliography nor list of further reading. Still, this is, in many ways, a revelatory work and a provocative introduction to a complicated subject. (index) (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-11)
Pub Date: Aug. 16, 1996
ISBN: 0-395-62364-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1996
This book of seasonal prayers, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of Brother Sun,” and also indebted to Gaelic scholar Alexander Carmichel’s work, can be summed up by a portion of the prayer for November: “Contained in every/season’s end:/the blessing to begin again.” Springtime’s “Sing praise” gives way to summer’s “Rejoice!” and then to harvest time’s “Give Thanks” before winter’s “Be Blest” appears in the encircled prayer that faces each month’s watercolor illustration. The realistic paintings reflect the annual cycle, becoming almost iconographic in the evidence in each of the gifts of the season. These are “God’s good gifts” that in January, for example, are the seeds shaken from dead plants and weeds and the leaf buds on barren branches. The puzzle of the cycle of life springing from death moves on many levels; also appearing in January are predator (fox) and prey (deer). The simple yet sturdy spirituality informing this book will assure its place in both individual and institutional collections that have room for religious titles. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-689-80546-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1999
In his latest gallery of divinities, Fisher profiles 17 of “the most popular” deities in traditional Chinese culture, from the mighty Jade Emperor Yu Huang Da Di to two nameless Menshen, soldiers elevated to the status of “door gods,” and charged with ensuring peaceful sleep. As usual, the art slightly evokes a national style, but is mostly Fisher; opposite a page-length disquisition on the origin and attributes of each, he poses monumental, slant-eyed, robed figures floating against monochromatic backgrounds and, generally, glowering up at the viewer. Though the information here is strictly recycled, and readers may be confused by the sight of Zhong Kui, the putative god of healing, wielding a sword—not to mention Tibet included among the “Lands of Ancient China” on the endpaper maps—for supporting classroom units or introducing younger children to an unfamiliar system of worship, this album has few competitors. Fisher closes with a helpful list of sources, along with a Pinyin pronunciation guide. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2003
ISBN: 0-8234-1694-1
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2003
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