BLESSINGS AND PRAYERS FOR LITTLE BEARS

This lovely volume delivers a gathering of poems and prayers praising God and seeking blessings. Each two-page spread offers a poetic selection that is always short enough to keep a child’s attention and is faced by a delightful illustration. Griffith has selected each item from various authors and they range in topic from a piece by Dorothy Frances Gurney honoring the close relationship between God and gardens to the well-known bedtime prayer, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.” There are blessings for home, such as the familiar food blessing before eating, and nature, such as “All Things Bright and Beautiful” or “I See the Moon.” Featuring adorable and expressive teddy bears, each scene is painted with an exacting yet whimsical brush, ornate in detail and lush oils. Merrily situated, the stuffed bears are always accompanied by other friendly animals, such as squirrels, cats, and dogs, pictured picnicking in a cool mountain valley, cuddling in a tunnel of love, or reading under a tree. This effort is an especially pleasing way to introduce prayer to children, and Griffith’s fine artwork, which has decorated classic stories and greeting cards alike, will appeal to collectors. (Picture book. 2-5)