This book contains pretty much what you’d expect.
Anthropomorphized woodland creatures celebrate God’s love and guidance in a child’s life.
This board book features sweet illustrations of animal caregivers expressing their love for their young alongside rhyming text that explains God’s presence in a child’s world. The pages are die cut along the top in arcs, so they look like a rainbow behind a cloud-edged cover; with each turn of the page, another layer of the rainbow is exposed. The shiny effect of the rainbow’s arches is eye-catching and will certainly appeal to young readers. Kolanovic’s illustrations are adorable if not particularly imaginative, including some sweet details, such as a baby squirrel clutching a teddy bear and a duckling joyfully splashing. Though quite charming, the panda duo feels a little out of place among all of the temperate woodland creatures. The rhyming text has a singsong feel, which makes it an easy read-aloud for adults with little lap listeners. It includes all of the usual sentiments about God in a child’s life: “He sent you from above”; he is “always in your heart”; and “Lord God will guide your way.” While familiar and comforting, these statements are also unremarkable and a bit tired. This book is a good fit for those in the Christian faith who want a traditional, formulaic book about God’s presence in a young child’s life.
This book contains pretty much what you’d expect. (Board book. 6 mos.-2)Pub Date: March 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-68010-569-8
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Brimming with gratitude, familial love, and joy.
A Black child celebrates their family through prayer and affirmations.
Using repetition (“My mother is a blessing,” “My father is a blessing”), the young narrator prays for various family members, asking that they be kept “safe and well.” Each spread explains why a different member is beloved. The child’s mother “listens to my hopes and dreams” and “watches over me while I sleep.” The child’s father “teaches me to see that rainy days / are lucky days.” Their grandmother “bakes buttery lemon pound cake just for me,” while their grandfather “knows the histories of the world.” Their sister “keeps my secrets” and “helps me find my way,” and their brother “holds my hand when I’m afraid.” Complementing the loving verse, the illustrations are full of warmth and texture and play with geometrical shapes. Godparents, babysitters, and the family dog are even included, too. This book promotes an appreciation for household members as well as the family that can be created outside the home. In an author’s note, Youngblood explains that when she was growing up in Georgia, members of the Black community who weren’t related were often still considered family and that prayer was a big part of her life as a child coping with the death of her birth mother and the realization that she had siblings she’d never met. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Brimming with gratitude, familial love, and joy. (Religious picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 9, 2023
ISBN: 9780593234693
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Convergent
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
IN THE NEWS
Through intricate paintings and a cohesive text, this Christian tale becomes fully fleshed out.
A thief finds mercy from Jesus during the crucifixion in this retelling of a Gospel story.
In Arroyo’s picture book, Dismas, an abandoned child, is raised to be a thief. Despite his kind heart, he is instructed by his master that “mercy is a great weakness.” As Dismas grows to adulthood, he becomes a feared bandit, quick to kill. One night, Dismas encounters a group of travelers: a couple with a child, whom the thief recognizes as divine. Dismas spares the family, asking the child to remember him and show him mercy one day. Years pass, and Dismas continues his wicked ways until he is finally caught. As he hangs on a cross next to an innocent preacher, Dismas recognizes the man as the divine child he met long ago. Because of his faith, the thief is forgiven and welcomed into heaven. The tale’s violent content, from Dismas’ master’s killing a kitten to the bandit’s committing his own murders, is handled discreetly in the author’s straightforward text and delicately in Gallegos’ beautiful paintings. But this material makes the work better suited for older independent readers and upper level Sunday school classes. The detailed illustrations nod to European Renaissance art depictions of Bible stories, featuring White, dark-haired characters throughout. Arroyo offers an insightful endnote about the various traditional versions of Dismas’ journey, beginning with the Gospel of Luke but including the writings of St. Augustine and others.
Through intricate paintings and a cohesive text, this Christian tale becomes fully fleshed out.Pub Date: March 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64413-238-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press
Review Posted Online: April 16, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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