Saturday, February 27, 2010

An Arkful of Animal Prayers


An Arkful of Animal Prayers, written by Sophie Piper, is a collection of prayers and poems about animals, written as though the animals themselves were praying.

The book is divided into five sections: Quiet Green Places; Wild Wide Spaces; Consider the Birds; Animals Around Us; and Bright New World. With the exception of the last section, each contains a selection of poems and prayers relating to animals in that section. For example, “Quiet Green Places,” is about animals and creatures like rabbits, caterpillars and field mice, while “Animals Around Us” pertains to animals like cats, dogs and donkeys.

A few of the poems and prayers are based on Bible verses (complete with Bible references) and a few are quotes from others like Cecil Frances Alexander and S. T. Coleridge.

Each two-page spread is decorated with a least one illustration, by Tina MacNaughton, of an animal or an insect. The illustrations are bright and colorful and very life-like.

What I Like: This is a beautiful little book celebrating all God’s creatures. Children will delight in the small size of the book (6.7” X 5.6”), the padded cover, the illustrations, and the mostly short verses.

What I Dislike: My only criticism is this is a book that little ones will need to have read to them. Some of the older children in the suggested age group may be able to read parts of it, but most of them won’t. Also, although the poems and prayers are short, there are lots of them in this little book. It will take several sittings to get through the entire volume. That's not really a criticism, but I thought I'd mention it.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Lion Children’s Books, 2009; ISBN: 9780825478406; Hardback, $9.95.

Buy now at ChristianBook $7.99!

Or buy at Amazon.com $9.95.

Special Info: Visit the illustrator’s website.



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