Not the best introduction to either Merton or the monastic life.
Readers are given a cursory look at an important Roman Catholic priest, monk, and writer whose life was governed by prayer, a love of nature, and strong beliefs in peace and nonviolence.
The abecedary format is a weakness. While it presents such words as “cowl,” “hermitage,” “monastery,” “Trappist,” and “vespers,” all important to understanding Merton’s life, other word choices seem arbitrary, some letters have multiple words, and a few are not illustrated at all (N, O, and P have six words among them but not one picture). C is for both “cowl” and “community,” one emphasizing solitude, the other togetherness. The book also suffers from the absence of a timeline. An authors’ note states this is not a biography, but the details that are presented will confuse: E is for England, where Merton moved from France when he was 13. But F is for France, where Merton was born; he moved to the United States with his family before he was 2. Similarly, the entry for “hermitage” states that Merton was a hermit in his last three years of life. But Merton visited the Dalai Lama (D) shortly before Merton died in Thailand. The illustrations are enclosed in stained glass–like frames, each letter in a corner, and the backgrounds are segmented as if they were sections of windows. The palette is rather muted.
Not the best introduction to either Merton or the monastic life. (biographical note, note to parents and teachers, resources) (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-61261-847-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Paraclete Press
Review Posted Online: July 22, 2017
The artistic condescension and incongruities make this a marginal offering at best.
On Dec. 12, 1531, in newly colonized Mexico City, the Virgin Mary appeared to an Aztec farmer, Juan Diego, and spoke to him in Nahuatl, his native language, telling him to ask the bishop to build her church.
Despite Mary’s command, the Spanish bishop refused to comply until, after repeat visits, Juan Diego opened his cloak and roses cascaded out, revealing the image of Mary with the skin tone and features of an Indigenous Mexican woman. The bishop finally relented and had the church built on the hill of Tepeyac, where millions visit to this day. Demi’s retelling is both often at odds with the historical record and unabashedly Euro-centric: “In 1519 AD, the powerful Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, landed in Mexico.” Cortes arguably was not a “conquistador” prior to the Mexican campaign. He had been a bureaucrat and owner of Indigenous slaves in Hispaniola and Cuba. Additionally, Demi’s familiar style is incongruous against the setting of 16th-century Mexico. Juan Diego and his fellow Aztecs are garbed in sombreros and clothing from the Mexican Revolution—more than 300 years in the future—and the Spanish conquistadors bear a resemblance to images of Mongol warriors. Furthermore, the Virgin herself appears more Asian then Aztec, and Juan Diego’s childlike depiction belies the fact that he was 57 at the time. Demi also fails to portray the modern basilica even though she ends her retelling in modern Mexico.
The artistic condescension and incongruities make this a marginal offering at best. (further information) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 7, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-937786-73-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Wisdom Tales
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
While a decent addition to any basic, multicultural, multifaith library, it is not outstanding in any way.
A small collection of short verses used in Hindu worship presented in both English and Sanskrit.
Each spread in this slim volume presents one Sanskrit shloka, or verse, with a phonetic transcription and an English translation. Each verse is dedicated to a particular deity and paired with a digital illustration, attributed to “Team Campfire.” The illustrations draw inspiration from Indian calendar art, a genre that has historically had impact on worship in public and private spaces, and will feel rather ordinary to those familiar with this mass-produced art form. Although the introductory text reads, “We hope this book proves invaluable in helping create an awareness among children of the spiritual legacy of Sanskrit texts,” it offers limited scaffolding for readers unfamiliar with Hinduism. The one-page survey of Indian scriptural traditions is thin, and the deities described are not contextualized. In addition, these verses are sacred and are believed to have psychological and spiritual powers only if pronounced perfectly. To mitigate this, there is an inadequate pronunciation guide and a QR code on the back cover that can be scanned to access an audio version of the book. For readers familiar with Hinduism and/or growing up in Hindu homes, this likely replicates many texts readily available in temple retail spaces or via community connections.
While a decent addition to any basic, multicultural, multifaith library, it is not outstanding in any way. (Picture book/religion. 4-8)Pub Date: June 4, 2019
ISBN: 978-93-81182-82-6
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Campfire
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
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