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THIS IS THE CHURCH

Name: THIS IS THE CHURCH
Author: Sarah Raymond Cunningham
ISBN: 978-1-5064-4532-8

by Sarah Raymond Cunningham ; illustrated by Ariel Landy ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 28, 2020

Though mostly successful in the delivery of its core concept, this book falls short of true inclusivity.

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The familiar finger rhyme that begins “This is the church” is extended to explore a broad variety of places of Christian worship.

A child of color serves as guide through this ecumenical survey that’s conducted in rhyming couplets loosely modeled on its inspiration. Starting with a megachurch that holds 10,000, the cheery narrator moves on to a tiny stone church in what looks like the British countryside, a Bible-study group in a private home, a circle of worshipers at a campfire, and people praying in secret in an “underground” church (literal-minded children will need some guidance here, as the two silhouettes pray framed by a ground-floor window). The absence of non-Christian religious symbols combines with abundant crosses throughout to imply that even the most informal-looking groups are Christian. Exclaiming that “the church follows God’s people wherever they go!” the child emphasizes that church is wherever believers are, including readers among that number in the final couplet: “On this day, the church welcomes you, / You’re part of God’s people, you’re the church too!” Oddly, the church doesn’t seem to be in any obviously non-Western setting despite Christianity’s worldwide reach. The illustrations depict a wide range of churchgoers, including people of many races, sizes, and ages as well as people with visible disabilities and of varied gender presentation. Notably, there are no readily discernible same-sex couples, undercutting the book’s broad message of inclusion.

Though mostly successful in the delivery of its core concept, this book falls short of true inclusivity. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-5064-4532-8

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Beaming Books

Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S RELIGION

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GOD SPEAKS IN WHISPERS

by Mark Batterson & Summer Batterson Dailey ; illustrated by Benedetta Capriotti ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 8, 2020

Though the rhyme tumbles and at times bumbles, enticing imagery will lure readers in.

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Rhyming text and colorful multicultural illustrations reassure young readers of God’s omnipresence and still small voice.

“Where in the world is God’s voice found?” Perhaps in ocean waves, bird song, or mountain vistas, suggest the couplet rhymes. Even when readers might be faced with difficult emotions and distractions of all kinds, the text reassures them that God is still there and still speaking, if only one pauses to listen. His voice can be found in nature, in starlight, in the love of family and friends, in dreams, and “through His Word.” Admirably, the bright illustrations, reminiscent of mid-20th-century Disney artist Mary Blair’s stylings, depict children and families with a diverse array of skin tones and ages. There is also a refreshing mix of urban, suburban, and rural settings. Yet, despite the appealing illustrations, the rhymes and scansion are often forced (“your feelings, they matter, / even if they’re all mixed up like / pancake batter”), which detracts from the overall message. Contrived couplets notwithstanding, this title will likely find an audience among Christian households seeking reassuring bedtime reads.

Though the rhyme tumbles and at times bumbles, enticing imagery will lure readers in. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-525-65385-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: WaterBrook

Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S RELIGION

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DAY IS DONE

PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS FOR BEDTIME

by Elena Pasquali ; illustrated by Natascia Ugliano ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 2013

A lovely, thoughtfully designed collection to help settle the little ones for the night.

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Gentle prayers and blessings and pleasing illustrations in muted hues coalesce into a soothing bedtime collection in this British import.

A sleeping crescent moon in a cobalt blue, starry sky is the focus of the illustration on the book’s attractive padded cover. The collection of 30 prayers begins with a rhyming prayer about twilight and the coming dark of evening and with an illustration of a multiethnic group of children leaving a beach as the sun is setting. Subsequent prayers and illustrations show different children at home getting ready for sleep, reading with parents and asleep in bed, and the final prayers lead to daybreak and the promise of a new day. Some of the prayers are traditional favorites, such as the familiar “I See the Moon,” “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” and a well-known Gaelic blessing, while others are short selections by 19th-century British authors. All the selections are Christian prayers, and there isn’t much inclusion from outside Great Britain, except for one short selection from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (formerly Mother Teresa). The majority of the prayers are contemporary, rhyming verses with an overall calming effect complemented by cozy illustrations of sleeping children and animals.

A lovely, thoughtfully designed collection to help settle the little ones for the night. (Picture book/religion. 3-6)