Older preschoolers will find this too babyish, and toddlers (and adults) will prefer Brown’s classic.
A little boy says goodnight to his friends, family, toys and household items in this earnest but unsuccessful effort that is a pale imitation of the concept and structure of the classic Goodnight, Moon.
The unnamed child, who appears to be 4 or 5, narrates the story with rhyming couplets in “goodnight to the…” format. He bids his friends goodnight as he heads home with his parents, and then says goodnight with the structured format as he moves through snack, bath and bedtime rituals. The only religious content is in the final two spreads, when he says goodnight to “Father God” and the angels watching over him, providing a comforting conclusion. The wording of the text is often not true to the voice of a child (“the last bit of my bedtime snack”), and the choice of objects (rubber duckie, bath bubbles and bunny slippers) and overall tone create a sticky-sweet effect. Allsopp’s panoramic illustrations in watercolor and pencil and a flowing type treatment for the rhyming lines provide a pleasant visual interpretation but can’t save the limping text.
Older preschoolers will find this too babyish, and toddlers (and adults) will prefer Brown’s classic. (Picture book/religion. 2-4)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-310-71687-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2011
A sweet, colorful start for a Christian spiritual journey.
A cheery child gives thanks to God.
“When I see a rainbow / High up in the sky / I say a little prayer of thanks, / And here’s the reason why: // Because God loves me!” This board book’s focus is the comforting notion that God loves all his children, and no matter what, he will always look out for them. The text follows an ABCB rhyme scheme, breaking after every stanza to repeat the phrase “Because God loves me!” The small, light-skinned child has spiky brown hair and wears a dress; both the child and a chubby accompanying dog are appealingly illustrated with a bright, simple color palette and scratchy lines that appear to have been made with colored pencil. God is the only name given for the deity, implying a primarily Christian audience. The book’s message is clear, and its construction is sturdy, suiting this well to parents who are beginning to have conversations with their little readers regarding their beliefs.
A sweet, colorful start for a Christian spiritual journey. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-58925-237-0
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
Adult readers wishing to familiarize children with some of the Christian Bible stories will find greater satisfaction...
Nine stories taken from both the Old Testament and the New Testament are introduced to the youngest readers in this board book.
A child-friendly cover depicts Noah and his ark in bright, cartoony artwork and sets the tone for the greatly simplified stories presented inside. Creation is told in three lines that feel more like an introduction to the concept of God than a Bible story. Brown-haired, olive-skinned Adam and Eve stand behind a bush surrounded by incongruous flora and fauna that include an elephant, a monkey, what looks like an Easter bunny, a palm tree, an apple tree, and daisies. Other Old Testament stories included are Noah’s Ark, Moses, and David and Goliath. These tales have been simplified to the point of near meaninglessness. The life of Jesus is told from his birth, moving on to his message of love and the multiplication of the loaves and fish, and ending with his resurrection and ascension. Children old enough to be told these stories are also capable of understanding more than this book presents. If they cannot, one wonders if perhaps they are too young for the stories.
Adult readers wishing to familiarize children with some of the Christian Bible stories will find greater satisfaction looking elsewhere. (Board book/religion. 2-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-58925-222-6
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
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