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 satisfactory, Christian-themed guide to coping with worries.
What do you do when anxieties seep in?
A child with short brown hair, light skin, and thick glasses is plagued by Worry, an amorphous gray blob with large eyes. As the child considers various activities, Worry supplies some answers to its favorite question—“What if?” Like what if you fall while rollerblading? Or what if you get soaked in the rain on the way to the school bus? When this happens, pretty bad feelings arise. An unseen narrator tells readers that talking to God can make things better. As the child decides to “think about God’s promises,” a protective bubble forms around them. The child rollerblades, trusting God to take care of things, and finds courage and security in the good things planned even when some things go wrong. In the end, God is more powerful than Worry. Opening with a Bible verse, this book is an affirmation of a Christian perspective that belief in God will see a person through uncertain times. Caregivers and educators should note that the book focuses more on typical worries than clinical anxiety. The boilerplate illustrations add some interest to the pages, doing a bit of the heavy lifting left from the general and bare second-person narration. Racially diverse children populate the background. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A satisfactory, Christian-themed guide to coping with worries. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: June 6, 2023
ISBN: 9781546012542
Page Count: 32
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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