by Rachel Rivett & illustrated by Mique Moriuchi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 2011
The light, soothing atmosphere created by the well-matched prayers and illustrations is deceptively simple, effectively...
An unusual, whimsical collection of 12 short prayers offers an imaginative approach with a patterned text and creative responses from the children narrating the prayers.
Each prayer follows a similar pattern, describing a particular circumstance or challenge familiar to young children (“if life is stormy”), followed by the child narrator’s imagined action (“I imagine I’m a tree, tossed and tumbled in the wind”). In alternating spreads, there is also a comforting response from God (“you show me how my roots are getting stronger”). This particular prayer is illustrated with a cutaway view of a tree’s roots extending deep into the ground, providing extensive support for the tree even though we can’t see it from our perspective. Throughout the collection, the first-person imagined personifications and responses from God are surprisingly sophisticated in their symbolism and imagery, while still being intellectually accessible to the intended audience. Moriuchi’s pleasing collage illustrations of chubby-cheeked children incorporate textured papers, fabrics and snippets of print along with painted elements. Creative type placement provides additional motion within the illustrations, with flowing text indicating the movement of wind or water.
The light, soothing atmosphere created by the well-matched prayers and illustrations is deceptively simple, effectively conveying powerful images and a strong sense of comfort. (Picture book/religion. 3-6)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7459-6208-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lion/Trafalgar
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
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by Ann D. Koffsky ; illustrated by Ann D. Koffsky ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2015
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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by Temple Grandin with Ann D. Koffsky
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by Norma Lewis ; illustrated by Katy Hudson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 4, 2016
This Is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten and illustrated by Delana Bettoli (2006) uses the same “This Is the House that Jack...
The structure of the traditional poem “This Is the House that Jack Built” is used as the premise for this Nativity story.
The opening pages show Joseph leading Mary and their donkey toward the town of Bethlehem, with a verse from Luke about the birth of Jesus as the text. The following pages begin the repeating pattern with the refrain, “This is the bed where Jesus slept,” followed by “the straw that lined the bed,” “the cow that shared the straw,” and so on. The key nouns are capitalized in the text, which is more annoying than helpful, as it reinforces the singsong nature of the pattern. All the phrases repeat with each new character, including Mary, the baby, a lamb, an angel, the shepherds, and the wise men. The last few recitations of all the elements are quite a mouthful, but that’s the nature of this traditional structure and part of its appeal. When the entire group is assembled, the cumulative pattern is cut off with a clunky ending that doesn’t fit with the rest of the text, and a final page includes a picture of a smiling baby Jesus and another Bible verse. The double-page spreads have a greeting-card prettiness, with static poses; the character of Mary looks somewhat unfinished. The shepherds and wise men have light-brown skin; Mary, Joseph, and the baby have light skin.
This Is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten and illustrated by Delana Bettoli (2006) uses the same “This Is the House that Jack Built” structure with a more graceful text and more polished illustrations; seek it out instead. (Picture book/religion. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-8249-5679-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Aug. 23, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2016
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More by Norma Lewis
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by Norma Lewis ; illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury
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by Norma Lewis ; illustrated by Olivia Beckman
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