A simple, calm story written from a Christian perspective that may help assuage young children’s fears.
A little owl who’s nervous about losing her way accompanies her father on a journey that helps her understand the nature of God.
While out hunting for dinner one night, Quinn confesses that she is nervous that she will be left behind or lost. Her father instructs her to fly with him to the top of a mountain, where he talks about how God is as immovable as a mountain. When a storm strikes, Quinn and her father seek refuge in a mountainside cave. Her father explains that God is also a safe place to seek shelter. Finally, he passes her a small pebble and tells her to keep it tucked in her feathers as a reminder that God is always with her. Soft watercolor illustrations rendered in a nighttime palette of blues and greens convey the fluffy owls’ adventure. The muted colors and blurred details of both the owls and the landscape invoke a feeling of quiet introspection. Written to help children with separation anxiety, as a closing note explains, this story explains that while God is both as great as a mountain and as strong as a cave, he is also with each person like a small pebble that may be carried in one’s hand. Bible verses included at the end further describe the personal nature of God.
A simple, calm story written from a Christian perspective that may help assuage young children’s fears. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Feb. 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7369-7432-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harvest House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 25, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2018
The inferior book design and dense text do not serve this Bible verse well.
An exegesis of John 10:14-16 for toddlers.
The biblical text, which begins “I am the good shepherd,” is meted out in short lines on the right-hand side of each double-page spread, written in type meant to look like a child’s handwriting. Below the Scripture on each spread there is a paragraph explaining what a shepherd does, how Jesus is a shepherd and that his followers are his “sheep.” On each facing page is a large photo illustrating the ideas in the text with images of sheep, shepherds and ethnically diverse children at play. The cover, as well as the first two and last two pages of the book, features amateurish cartoons of young children, likely composed on a computer, which jar startlingly against the photos. A note for grown-ups appears at the end describing how to share the book with children of different ages and encouraging parents to let the book grow “with your child.” This suggestion is helpful, since much of the text will likely go over the heads of typical board-book readers. Literal-minded toddlers may be confused by such assertions as, “You—and other people who believe in Jesus are His sheep!”
The inferior book design and dense text do not serve this Bible verse well. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9854090-2-9
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Graham Blanchard
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
Charming and joyous but not for the uninitiated.
Preparing for the Friday night Shabbat ceremony and meal is a joyous expression of faith and tradition.
Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism, beginning on Friday night at sundown and lasting until Saturday night at sundown. It is a day of prayer and rest, an abstention from all forms of work. “Shabbat Shalom, Hey” is a song that children sing in anticipation of Shabbat, and here, the song lyrics are the only text. The slight tale is told solely via the illustrations, which are viewed by turning the book vertically. Bright color blocks surrounded by white provide the backgrounds. A lion states the Sabbath greeting and is startled to hear a response of “Hey!” from a toucan peeking over the top edge of the frame. Repeating the greeting elicits the same response from a monkey and a snake, this time at the bottom edge. The lion continues his greetings with increasing levels of excitement until the other creatures join in with him, bringing the traditional accouterments of the Shabbat dinner in the form of candlesticks, a wine goblet and the traditional braided bread called challah. It is lively and entertaining, but it presumes an audience that knows the traditions. A recording of the song can be downloaded via QR code on the back of the book.
Charming and joyous but not for the uninitiated. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4677-4917-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
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