A small trim size, cheerful colors and short prayers with just a few lines of text make this British import a fine choice as an introduction to prayer for younger children. The collection of 38 mostly rhyming prayers includes several based on familiar Bible verses and many original prayers by Piper and a few additional authors. Also included is the “All things both great and small” snippet from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The collection is organized into thematic divisions such as “For Planet Earth,” “For Green and Growing Things” and “For Peace and Justice.” Simple, bright illustrations of preschool-age children of different ethnic groups show the little ones enjoying the outdoors, alternating with scenes of the natural world with appealing animals and birds. The prayers refer to God in a general way (but not to Jesus), and there is a contemporary feel to them, with a focus on treating other people and the earth with kindness and respect. Short, simple and not too sweet. (index of first lines) (Picture book/religion. 2-7)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7459-6929-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Lion/Trafalgar
Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2010
Though the rhyme tumbles and at times bumbles, enticing imagery will lure readers in.
Rhyming text and colorful multicultural illustrations reassure young readers of God’s omnipresence and still small voice.
“Where in the world is God’s voice found?” Perhaps in ocean waves, bird song, or mountain vistas, suggest the couplet rhymes. Even when readers might be faced with difficult emotions and distractions of all kinds, the text reassures them that God is still there and still speaking, if only one pauses to listen. His voice can be found in nature, in starlight, in the love of family and friends, in dreams, and “through His Word.” Admirably, the bright illustrations, reminiscent of mid-20th-century Disney artist Mary Blair’s stylings, depict children and families with a diverse array of skin tones and ages. There is also a refreshing mix of urban, suburban, and rural settings. Yet, despite the appealing illustrations, the rhymes and scansion are often forced (“your feelings, they matter, / even if they’re all mixed up like / pancake batter”), which detracts from the overall message. Contrived couplets notwithstanding, this title will likely find an audience among Christian households seeking reassuring bedtime reads.
Though the rhyme tumbles and at times bumbles, enticing imagery will lure readers in. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-525-65385-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: WaterBrook
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
Gibbons (The Honey Makers, 1997, etc.) employs her creative palette to shed both light and color on the tools and supplies of artists. Ranging from collage spreads of different kinds of paper to the variety of paints, brushes, and markers that an artist uses, the illustrations show the materials found in a typical art box, and how they’re employed. The brilliant colors of her drawings are carefully framed and matted on samples of handmade paper that add texture to the design. Combining a visual feast with simple explanations, Gibbons demonstrates again why her books are staples of any collection. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-6)
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 1998
ISBN: 0-8234-1386-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1998
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