LET THERE BE LIGHT

Zalben (Pearl’s Passover, 2002, etc.) has selected 19 short, meaningful prayers and poems for this beautifully illustrated volume intended to offer hope and stability in the face of the world’s tragedies and instability. Some of the more familiar selections include the opening verses of Genesis, the famous prayer of St. Francis, and the Twenty-Third Psalm, while other pieces from around the world include prayers from Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Taoist sources. Zalben has thoughtfully included representations from African, Eskimo, and Native American traditions as well. Her mixed-media collage illustrations unite all the disparate prayers and poems into a satisfying whole, although each illustration, like each prayer or poem, is quite different. In an author’s note, Zalben explains that she used art materials and inspiration from many cultures so that each illustration would reflect the particular prayer’s source. Some of the collages are in subdued hues, others shine in vibrant jewel tones, and some use bright primary shades and the contrast of dark and light to support the title and theme. Elegant design elements include metallic gold type for the title on the cover and the initial capital of each prayer and coordinated endpapers with the words for “peace” in many languages. Recommended for most public library collections. (Nonfiction. 5+)