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(1)
K-3
Illustrated by
Frank Morrison.
This is a moving walk through African American history, via Weatherford's expansion of the lyrics of a well-known Negro spiritual and Morrison's powerful, imagistic art. In his distinctive illustrations, Morrison employs innovative perspectives and unusual visual compositions to encourage readers to make connections between historical events, while Weatherford's poetry, per the author's note, "integrat[es] historical and contemporary events that summoned courage and faith." The book's first, wordless double-page spread looks down on the bare back of an enslaved man emerging from the bowels of a slave ship, facing a white enslaver who holds a whip. From there, the book represents significant historical and contemporary Black heroes such as Nat Turner, Ruby Bridges, Florence Joyner, and Colin Kaepernick; it also portrays important eras such as the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights movement, the Great Migration, and the Black Lives Matter movement. A richly illustrated, informative picture book that will leave readers humming and spark a desire to learn more.
Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2022
80 pp.
| Eerdmans
| March, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8028-5493-3$16.50
(4)
K-3
Translated by Laura Watkinson.
Illustrated by
Barbara Nascimbeni.
This book of original prayers, translated from the German, guides discussion with God. Referring to specific Old and New Testament texts, each prayer focuses on a different emotion: fear, sorrow, guilt, amazement, etc. The spare, colorful illustrations mostly refer to biblical times but occasionally show contemporary children. While the book's appropriate audience is somewhat older than its title and picture-book format suggest, it's useful for Christian religious studies and homes. References included.
32 pp.
| Simon/Wiseman
| October, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4169-9550-0$17.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Shadra Strickland.
Jordan (mother of NBA star Michael) compiles an appealing collection of songs, prayers, and blessings (mostly Judeo Christian, with one ancient Tibetan Buddhist blessing, one Islamic prayer, and one Navajo song) for young children. Familiar American spirituals include "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and "Kumbaya." Strickland's rich linoleum-cut illustrations of children in nature and at peace make this collection shine.
32 pp.
| Tyndale
| November, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4964-0871-6$9.99
(4)
K-3
Prayer Monsters series.
Illustrated by
Bonnie Pang.
R. J., an orange monster girl, appears to be afraid of nothing. In reality, she fears spiders, dogs, and the dark. Her younger sister realizes that R. J. is hiding something and teaches her about the power of prayer. Written for young Christians (a New Testament quotation ends the book), this didactic text with brightly colored cartoon illustrations may be useful in religious settings.
(2)
PS
Illustrated by
Brian Pinkney.
Amidst soft, swirling swoops of gentle lines and colors, a mother shares her hopes and dreams for her newborn boy. As the mother realizes that her son will eventually outgrow her protection, the book becomes an explicit call for the recognition of the worth of African American boys: "Black lives matter. Your life matters." The interplay between the commercial design of the book and its political point is intriguingly subversive.
Reviewer: Roger Sutton
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2017
(4)
YA
Translated by Daniel Hahn.
Orphaned Samuel, homeless and hungry, stumbles into a small Brazilian town and makes an unlikely home for himself inside the giant, hollow head of an unfinished St. Anthony statue. There, inexplicably, he can hear the private prayers of the townspeople. A strange and satisfying read that will please fans of Gabriel García Márquez but feels like a mismatch for a young adult audience.
58 pp.
| Eerdmans
| April, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8028-5468-1$16.00
(4)
K-3
Translated by Bob Gaudet.
Illustrated by
Barbara Nascimbeni.
Edited and abridged by Rachel Bomberger. A presumably adult narrator offers answers to questions such as "why can't I see God?" and, phrase by phrase, expounds on the words of the Lord's Prayer to teach fundamental Christian concepts. "Hallowed be thy name" opens a treatise on the many names of God. Soft, dreamy folk art–style paintings add child appeal, but they don't do enough to make the abstract text understandable.
48 pp.
| Minedition
| September, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-988-8240-49-4$17.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Feeroozeh Golmohammadi.
Goodall shares her plea that all humans and animals are deserving of our respect and protection. Her vision for equity, kindness, and an end to environmental destruction is beautifully and strongly worded. The illustrations feature warm colors and strong brush strokes. The expressionistic style suits the prayer, but the format and content are more adult than childlike.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Monika Filipina.
A little girl says Shehechiyanu (a Jewish "blessing for beginnings") over the course of a year, including when she gets new shoes for Rosh Hashanah; lights the Hanukkah candles; asks the Four Questions at Passover; and welcomes a friend home from summer vacation. The gentle text and warm-toned illustrations convey the importance of appreciating life's special moments and milestones.
32 pp.
| Eerdmans
| April, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8028-5461-2$16.00
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Bimba Landmann.
Pope John XXIII's prayer of living each day to the fullest and with intention is published in picture book format. The abstract concepts are illustrated with images of a child leaving his room and living a life of the imagination. Landmann's whimsical, stylized paintings suit the language, but this book has more to offer adults than young children.
40 pp.
| Eerdmans
| August, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8028-5420-9$17.00
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Amanda Hall.
Brother Giovanni invents a new reward to persuade children to learn their prayers for the Bishop's visit. The doughy treats, covered in salt and resembling arms crossed in prayer, were named pretiolas, known today as pretzels. An imagined story with a grain of truth, this book includes a recipe for soft pretzels and harmonious watercolor and gouache paintings reminiscent of Italian frescoes.
24 pp.
| Abrams
| November, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-0792-6$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Eric Velasquez.
By the light of a full moon, a young boy says his bedtime prayers. In addition to praying for his family members, he prays for the sick to be well, an end to war, and food for the hungry. Velasquez's large full-bleed paintings portray a diverse if static urban setting. There is much sadness here, but this quiet book does offer some hope.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Alireza Sadeghian.
This is a very simple introduction to the role of prayer in many world religions. The vividly colored illustrations often include more interesting details than the bare-bones text; informative notes on major religions and on the illustrations flesh out the presentation. This volume will be useful for comparative religion studies (though there's no mention that many people choose not to pray).
28 pp.
| Eerdmans
| August, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8028-5424-7$16.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jago.
"Thank you, God, / for the sun smiling on our earth / to wake up the day..." Members of a biracial family give praise for their many blessings including shelter, food, the plants and animals of the earth, and "your love holding us together." The text is adequate; the real draw are Jago's warm digital illustrations, which occasionally have the appearance of collage.
56 pp.
| Chronicle/Handprint
| October, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4521-1339-5$18.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Pamela Dalton.
Paterson divides this collection of prayers, poems, and meditations into thanks for food, life, spirit, and community. Her selection is catholic and spans the centuries, from the Bible to Julian of Norwich to the Dalai Lama, along with folk material. Cut-paper silhouettes, occasionally embellished with watercolor, decorate the pages. Short autobiographical essays introduce each section, giving the volume a welcome personal touch. Ind.
Reviewer: Roger Sutton
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2013
32 pp.
| Little Simon
| January, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4424-7659-2$12.99 New ed. (1944, Macmillan)
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Elizabeth Orton Jones.
Winner of the 1945 Caldecott Medal, Prayer for a Child--here in a satisfactorily produced oversize board-book edition--is somewhat dated by a few illustrations (hairstyles, stereotyped ethnic costumes), but thanks to the simplicity and lack of sentimentality in both prayer and accompanying art, it still works.
122 pp.
| Candlewick
| October, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-6228-8$16.99
(1)
YA
Fourteen-year-old Walker offers up a prayer ("my brother's been dead / two whole months, and [Mom's] still crying"), and Jesus answers it in person. Turns out He's a pretty ordinary Joe with an irreverent sense of humor. Koertge's verse novel--in third person with short lines, plain language, and abundant white space--is a good vehicle for meditations on life, loss, and faith.
Reviewer: Dean Schneider
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2013
32 pp.
| Sterling
| February, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4027-6454-7$12.95
(4)
PS
A collection of traditional Christian prayers and poems includes material from a variety of authors such as Robert Browning, William Blake, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Howell's gentle, pastoral art depicts children, lambs, baby birds, and flowers. This is an attractive if sentimental gift book. Index of first lines.
224 pp.
| Zonderkidz
| October, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-310-72163-5$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jago.
Over one hundred daily devotions for children are presented on handsomely illustrated spreads, each one elucidating a biblical passage with conversational text and child-friendly images. Christian families may find this to be a helpful tool to teach children simple wisdoms such as "if Jesus can calm a storm on a lake, he can calm the storm in your heart."
32 pp.
| Chronicle/Handprint
| June, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8118-7734-3$17.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Pamela Dalton.
Paterson's reworking of Saint Francis of Assisi's famous prayer is poetic, contemporary, and deeply reverent: "We praise you for our Sister Earth...as she sustains our bodies with food and our souls with beauty." Dalton's remarkable cut-paper and watercolor illustrations elegantly reinforce the tone of Paterson's words. Appended author's and illustrator's notes tell more about their creative process.