A mixed message/muddle of a parental prayer.
Parents enumerate the traits they pray their child will have in life.
Every parent hopes for the best for their child, but best means different things to different people. For this small, tan-skinned family, success is rooted in God and biblical teachings: “take the narrow road,” “grow righteousness,” “speak the truth in love.” Ardeleanu’s brightly colored, imaginative illustrations round out the at times opaque text; “I pray you’ll give in secret, / but your kindness will be bold” shows wrapped gifts floating down on parachutes from a blimp. But they can’t always illuminate the text. “I pray you’ll sharpen others / (maybe learn to juggle swords?)” shows two children in armor juggling swords, but readers’ takeaway lesson isn’t at all clear. Other messages may be concerning: A page about being brave and not letting fear rule you because God is always near could lead to kids’ thinking it’s OK to take risks since God will always save them. Another page encourages kids to “Sing because God gives you breath, / not to get awards.” Are awards bad? Is pursuing passions wrong? The ABCB rhyming scheme keeps the pages turning, and the children depicted are racially and ethnically diverse, though all have similar body types. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A mixed message/muddle of a parental prayer. (Religious picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-5460-0333-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Fans of this popular series will find this a rewarding addition to family Easter celebrations.
Bergren and Bryant attempt to explain Easter to young children in a gentle, nonthreatening manner, with partial success.
When Little Cub questions her father about Easter, Papa Bear explains the religious significance of the holiday in various symbolic ways to his cub. He uses familiar things from their world, such as an egg and a fallen tree, to draw parallels with aspects of the Christian story. Papa Bear discusses his close relationships with Jesus and God, encouraging Little Cub to communicate with God on her own. The theme focuses on the renewal of life and the positive aspects of loving God and Jesus. Easter is presented as a celebration of eternal life, but the story skirts the issue of the crucifixion entirely. Some adults will find this an inadequate or even dishonest approach to the Easter story, but others will appreciate the calm and soothing text as a way to begin to understand a difficult subject. Bryant’s charming watercolor illustrations of the polar bear family, their cozy home and snowy forest scenes add to the overall mellow effect.
Fans of this popular series will find this a rewarding addition to family Easter celebrations. (Religion/picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-307-73072-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: WaterBrook
Review Posted Online: Dec. 11, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2013
A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer.
Actor Metz and songwriter Collins join illustrator Fields in their second faith-related title for young children.
Instead of focusing on the language of prayer—what to say or how to say it—this book explores a topic central to the lives of the very young: their feelings around talking to God. Rhymes and near-rhymes in the AABB verses enumerate the simple challenges and triumphs experienced by a series of animals: “Sometimes I’m sad, not sure what to do. / There are days I feel teary, unhappy, or blue. / I fell off a log. I’m embarrassed and hurt. / My coat and paws are all covered in dirt.” An accompanying illustration depicts a sad wolf pup, a definite contrast to its siblings, who are delighting in their play. The highlight of the book is Fields’ animal characters. Whether happy, nervous, or sad, their expressive faces are easy to read, and their feelings will be familiar to young tots. The beaver’s frustration is palpable, and the tears in the scared raccoon’s eyes may just make readers’ own eyes well up. Some of the animals have a God stand-in to help them with their feelings—a friend or family member—but the final spread shows all the individual animals coming together in a couple of group hugs that express where children can find support (and sweetly defy predator–prey relationships).
A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780593691366
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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