Snuggle Time Prayers

Snuggle Time Prayers by Glenys Nellist is a beautiful board book with simple scripture based prayers for young children.

Glenys Nellist is one of my favorite children's authors. Her writing speaks in a voice that children can hear and understand. Based on her writings, I can picture her having a very safe voice, perfect for the ears of little ones.

Each prayer features a one line verse with a reference. The prayer then reflects the heart of the verse with personal application in a way that little ones can understand.

These prayers can be read one each night, or as in my 4 year old's case, several in a row because he liked them so much.

What I Like: I am big on finding great illustrations in children's books because little ones can see and be pulled in by the pictures before they can read the words. Cee Biscoe's illustrations perfectly match the voice of Glenys in this sweet book. The cover photo is a great example of the illustrations found throughout the book.

What I Dislike: I loved everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 2-4 years old.

Publisher Info: ZonderKidz, 2016; ISBN: 978-0310749325; boardbook, 30 pgs., $9.99.

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Please and Thank You God: Prayers For Family & Events

Please and Thank You, God! prayers can be used and enjoyed alone or together as a family during many different occasions and events throughout the year. Included in this book, you’ll also find prayers for your family, friends, religious holidays and more.

What I Like: Prayers for Family and Events is a must-have for any parent looking for a way to teach their children to pray easily. Each colorful and whimsically illustrated two-page layout focuses on an important person in the reader's life (like parents and friends) or an occasion, like holidays (Christmas, Easter) or a birthday.

Each two-page layout includes a "Thank You" to God where children are giving thanks to for the blessing he has provided and a "Please" portion where children submit petitions unto the Lord. The please portion includes scripture.

For example, the Easter Page prayer thanks "Jesus for suffering on the cross for my sins and rising again," and asks God to "Please help me share the good news of Easter with others," followed by a short scripture about rejoicing in Jesus's resurrection.

Each prayer is short (only a few sentences) and includes a short verse that correlates with the prayer, so children are praying and learning scripture. I love the illustrations, also by Agnes de Bezenac, that help bring the pages to life.

What I Dislike: I always prefer to see the bible version when I see scripture. It's not included in this book, but it doesn't take away from the book.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8 and under.

Publisher Info: iCharacter.org, 2014; ISBN:978-1623871970 ; Paperback, 32 pgs., $8.49

Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.49

Other Prayer Books in the series
Prayers Before Bed and Prayers Throughout the Day

Additional Info: Author Page www.iCharacter.org

A Treasury of Prayers for Now and Always

A Treasury of Prayers: For Now and Always by Mary Joslin is a sweet, thick, little book holding a compilation of prayers, reflective poem which can be used as prayers, and organizes them into sections for easy searching.

When I first saw this book, I fell in love with the look- the different shades of blues with white accents and the chunkiness of it. Opening the book, I was pleased to be met with a sweet simplicity on the pages- no illustrations except for a simple silhouette on the section division pages. Each page holds one or two short prayers which are written in a simple font. It is truly a book that can lead children into learning to pray without distraction.

A Treasury of Prayers: For Now and Always is perfect for reading to young children and even for teaching them to memorize simple prayers to springboard them into a prayer life of their own.

What I Like: I love the simplicity of the book, the selection of prayers that have been chosen, and (silly as this may sound) the fact that there is a ribbon bookmark attached to the binding to keep my place.

What I Dislike: I like everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 2-10 years old (preschools can have this book read to them and the prayers are short enough for them to memorize)

Publisher Info: Lion Hudson, 2013; ISBN: 978-0745963471; hardcover, 224 pgs., $16.99

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Let's Learn About The Lord's Prayer

In this first book of the HeartSmart series, author Catherine DeVries invites preschoolers on a playdate with Emmca. Together they learn the Lord’s Prayer and practice “teaching” it to Emma’s favorite teddy bear.

Introducing HeartSmart, a Scripture memory series designed to create opportunities for children to fill their heart with God’s Word. HeartSmart combines key Scriptures with songs, giving parents a spiritual formation path for building a strong foundation of faith.

The entire Lord’s Prayer is included, along with a custom song (free download with access code).

What I Like: Teaching a child scripture is always something that I like to see in a book, and when the scripture is explained in a way that a child can understand, I like it even more.  Author Catherine DeVries did a really good job teaching The Lord's Prayer and explaining which each line means in a way a child can understand.

What I Dislike: The book was reminiscent of cartoons for pre-schoolers in which a question is asked and then the child is supposed to respond, but the book didn't immediately relay whether the answer was correct or not before moving onto the next part of the book. For example, the character Emma takes the reader to her bedroom and introduces her stuffed bear and then we are shown a cross hanging on her wall and she asks the reader to guess who else is her best friend, other than the stuffed bear. The next page (where I am expecting her to introduce Jesus) we see her mom calling her downstairs for lunch. She doesn't confirm that Jesus is her other best friend until the end of the book after so many other things have happened. A two year would have forgotten that she asked that question twenty pages back.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 2-4 but I believe pre-school aged kids would be better suited for this book.

Publisher Info: David C Cook, 2015; ISBN: 978-0781412698; Hardcover, 26 pgs., $10.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $7.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.40

Brother Giovanni's Little Reward: How the Pretzel Was Born

Brother Giovanni is a happy man, content to do what he knows best: baking. But all is not well at his monastery, where the monks are trying to teach the children their prayers in time for a very important visit from the Bishop. Having tried everything, they turn to Giovanni -- but he doesn’t know anything about teaching! Eventually, though, Brother Giovanni discovers how to use his gifts to offer the children the perfect motivation.

This vibrant book, which includes a historical note and free recipe, tells the fascinating story behind one of the world’s most popular snacks.

What I Like: I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Author Anna Egan Smucker has written a clever story about a monk who invented the pretzel, based on historical sources that attribute the pretzel to an unknown monk in Italy or France in 615 AD. I loved how the shape of the pretzel has significance in its creation and in the book. I think kids will love the story behind the the pretzel and how it relates to Christianity. It is a cute story with the potential to open children's hearts to praying.

This book is a great for story time to be read by a teacher to the class. The teacher can also learn from this book and can incorporate a pretzel snack to get the children even more interested. There is a recipe in the back for soft pretzels.

The illustrations matched the story very well and are very colorful and  nicely drawn. Illustrator Amanda Hall filled the pages with illustrations that are reminiscent of old paintings but easily likable for children.

The book is large and makes it a great for sharing the book with the children.

What I Dislike: There are a few instances where the author would like the reader to assume the reasons for feelings and actions.  Example: The donor of the church is coming for a visit and the monks believe he will be upset if the children don't know their prayers. That is understandable but then the book goes on to say that they will no longer be able to sell their bread if the donor is upset. As an adult I can surmise that they believe the donor will discontinue donations and therefor they can not purchase the supplies needed to make and sell their livelihood but I'm not sure a 4 year old can make that leap. I'm not even sure he would understand if an adult tried to explain that concept.

This price is a bit too steep.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2015; ISBN: 9780802854209 ; Hardcover, 34 pgs., $17.00

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $12.49
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The Christmas Hippo

Does God care about the little things in our lives? The Christmas Hippo, written by Lisa E. Williams and based upon a true story, attempts to answer to this question.

It's time for the school Christmas party. Two grade school-aged girls ask their moms if they can have a sleep over; since one of the girls, Kay, will soon be moving away, the moms readily agree. The girls play together, and the author ("I") digs up some sheet music so they can go caroling that evening.

In the meantime, a bus driver is ending his day and picking up miscellaneous things left behind in his bus. Among them is a stuffed purple hippo, which he recognizes as belonging to Kay's little sister's. He's concerned, because he'd like to get the toy back to the girl before she moves. But when he drives to Kay's house, it's dark and empty, with a "Sold" sign out front. He calls the school, but everyone is away on Christmas break. So he brings the toy home and tells his wife about it. She suggests they pray, asking God to help them reunite the toy with it's young owner.

Later that evening, the driver is surprised to find Kay on his front porch, caroling.

"He quick grabbed the hippo,
embraced her with love,
wished her a blessed Christmas
and looked up above.

'God you care 'bout our hippos.
My mind cannot conceive
how much more you'll provide
if we'd only believe.'"

What I Like: This is a cute story that reminds children God cares about everything in our lives. We should never worry about praying on "the little things." A great message, told in a way that's very kid-friendly.

What I Dislike: This book was self published with help from Thomas Nelson, a well known Christian publisher. Unfortunately, Thomas Nelson did little to ensure this book didn't suffer from the many plights of self published children's books. One of these is the illustrations by Staci B. Desautels. They are cute and fun, but they don't look professional. There are also some punctuation and grammar errors - although none so egregious that it's difficult to read the story. Finally, the book is written in rhyme - and while the author does a better job at this than most newbies, I believe the story would be much stronger if it didn't rhyme.

However, I think The Christmas Hippo is a worthwhile story, despite its flaws.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: I'd say about 4 - 8


Publishing Info: Westbow Press, 2012; ISBN 978-1449724740; paperback, 28 pgs., $16.95

Buy at Amazon for $15.26
Or buy from ChristianBook.com for $18.01

Tuck-Me-In Talks with Your Little Ones

As a reviewer for Christian Children's Book Review, I have the opportunity to read many wonderful books with my children. Some have even become personal favorites. Tuck-Me-In Talks with Your Little Ones by Grace Fox is one that I will cherish for a long time to come.

It is a pocket sized book filled with hours of wonderful conversations for you and your little ones. Many times mothers will talk to each other about this conversation they had with their child or how they had just talked about that with their munchkin and some moms are left wondering, "Where do I even begin? I don't know how to talk to my little one or how to start a conversation with them."

This book is definitely the answer for that.

In the evening, after we have read from our children's Bible, we read one page, which has a mix of three to four questions and conversation starter statements, and I let my children (2.5 and 6 years old) talk. Questions like "What is your favorite ice cream flavor?" and "What's the best part about Christmas?" let you know what your child's opinion is about simple things that can get overlooked as we are running around keeping up with our schedules.

Other questions like "How is ice cream made?" and "Why are fire engines red?" can lead into a time of exploration. We have pulled out our tablet many times to find out the hows or whys.

Some statements such as "Tell me about a time you were not patient," cause children to think about their own interaction with others and creates a perfect teaching time for parents to address certain behaviors before they an issue.

What I Like: I absolutely love that my children ask for this book as we are getting ready for bed. They enjoy the just-us time it creates, and I love the interactions we have because of this book.

What I Dislike: I wish the cover were harder. With as much as we as a family use this book, the cover is beginning to show wear.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Toddler- early elementary aged children

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2014; ISBN: 978-0-7369-5640-6 ; paperback, 112 pgs., $5.99


Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.49


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Come Into My Heart, Lord Jesus

Do you have a child you want to lead to Christ? A child you hope will pray the sinner's prayer? Then Stormie Omartian's Come Into My Heart, Lord Jesus may be just the book for you. Full of bright, cheerful, kid-friendly illustrations by Shari Warren, the premise behind this book is very simple: God loves us - all the time. We can make God happy by talking with him. But there is one particular prayer that makes God the most happy: when you "ask Jesus to come into your heart."

The text then explains how Jesus is our savior, saving us from

"bad things and bad people. But most important of all, He saves you from ever having to be separated from God. When you receive Jesus, it means that someday you will go to heaven and live with God. Jesus said that the only way to get to heaven is by receiving Him into our hearts first. We can't find the way without Jesus."

Omartian then explains that Heaven is a desirable place, where nobody gets sick or sad. She also talks about how Jesus helps us while we're still here on earth.

"You can't see the air, but you know it is there because you are breathing it. You can't see Jesus, but you know He is there because He has promised to be with you forever, and He never breaks His promise. Just as the air is always there keeping you alive, Jesus  is always there giving you life, too."

She then suggests that when the child is ready, he or she can say the sinner's prayer printed on the last page of the book. There is a place on that page to write the child's name and the date, as a sort of remembrance.

What I Like: Warren's illustrations keep young children interested in this book, showing images of children playing, eating, sleeping, praying to a smiling Jesus, and more.

What I Dislike: I think Omartain could have done a better job explaining things to children. For example, what on earth does it mean to ask Jesus into our hearts? Children tend to be literal, so I think you can expect them to wonder things like, "Will that hurt when Jesus comes into my heart? How does Jesus make himself small enough to live there?" and so on. The Bible never talks about asking Jesus into our hearts, which makes this a doubly questionable way to explain salvation to kids. (For more on the history of the sinner's prayer and asking Jesus into our hearts, click here.) However, this flaw could actually encourage parents to discuss these and related issues with their children - which is a good thing.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn't specify, but I'd say 5 - 9 or so.

Publishing Info: Harvest House, 2014; ISBN:  978-0736950688; hardback, 32 pgs., $10.79

Buy Now at Amazon for $10.79
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A Cat Named Mouse: The Miracle of Answered Prayer

Mouse is a cat that’s aptly named because she’s small and gray and looks a lot like a mouse. When Mouse goes missing, the whole family searches for her. They enlist friends, family and neighbors to help in the search. But, most of all, they call on God to bring their cat home.

When Mouse is eventually found, the family doesn’t just let things end there. They then shout their “good news” from “the rooftops” by telling everyone that Mouse has been found. They change the poster they had put up that said “Cat Lost” to proclaim the good news: “Cat Found”.

Anna Alden-Tirrill, author of many devotional books for women, uses this true story, A Cat Named Mouse: The Miracle of Answered Prayer, to teach many valuable lessons. Number one, we should love God above all. Number two, we should trust in Him no matter what. Number three, we should praise Him whether things are going our way or not. And, number four, we need to believe that all things are possible with God’s help.

Except for a picture of Mouse at the beginning of nearly every chapter, and a few other pictures of her scattered throughout the text, the illustrations seem to be a mixture of special fonts used to make phrases like “Let’s just praise the Lord” and low-quality reproductions of actual photographs.

What I Like: As mentioned there are a lot of good lessons to be learned from reading this book.

What I Dislike: There were a few things I didn’t like about the book. First, there are a couple of typos in the text. It’s not a big deal, but I thought I would mention it. Second, some of the photo reproductions were very poor quality. And, the narrative is supposed to be that of 12-year-old Annie, but her voice does not come across as being authentic.

Overall Rating: Despite those things, I give the book a rating of “very good” because of the overall message.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: White Cottage Publishing Company, 2012; ISBN: 9781885831200; Paperback, 190 pages, $14.95.

Buy now at Amazon.com $11.66!

Buy the Kindle edition for $4.95.

Zippy's Big Difference

Zippy’s Big Difference, written by Candida Sullivan, deals with several issues, one of which is the subject of how children view themselves when they are different from other children. In this case, Zippy is a zebra with “white” stripes, but no black ones, so he doesn’t look like other zebras.

In this story, Zippy prayed for the rain to stop. It did, but then it snowed. Zippy thought the clouds had fallen from the sky. He was afraid he had caused a big problem. He saw his friends playing in the “clouds” and he told them to stop. But they were enjoying themselves too much to do so.

While Zippy was figuring out how to make thing right (i.e., put the “clouds” back where they belonged), his friend Naomi told him the “clouds” were just snow. She told him his prayer was a selfish one because he didn’t consider the plants and animals that need rain, he just wanted the rain to stop so he could play. Naomi said, “Prayer is very special and we need to make sure our heart is right when we pray.”

Zippy wanted to know how to do that. Naomi said, “God is the One who gives our heart the desire to pray. So listen to your heart.” Naomi went on to say, “Sometimes He gives more than one person the same prayer to pray. In the Bible, God says when two or more come together in prayer that He will hear it.”

When his friends heard that they got excited. They could pray for Zippy to have black stripes just like them so he wouldn’t be different.

Zippy started to think that was a great idea, so he asked Naomi if God would hear that prayer. “I don’t know. What if God had a purpose for giving you all white stripes? What if He has a beautiful plan for your life? God doesn’t make mistakes so your stripes have a reason. It wasn’t an accident that you received all white stripes.”

After further discussion, Zippy made a decision (SPOILER ALERT): He realized that he was special, that he was different because God made him that way. “God gave me all white stripes for a reason. He made me exactly like He wanted me to be. And I don’t want to change them. I like being different.” Then all his friends realized they were different in some way. One had one ear longer than the other; another had crooked teeth, etc. And, they all realized they were made the way God wanted them to be.

Not only did Zippy learn that he shouldn’t pray for selfish reasons, he also learned that God has a special plan for every single person.

The wonderful illustrations by Jack Foster are bright and colorful. I especially like the illustration on the book’s cover. It’s reminiscent of one done by Norman Rockwell.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 6-12.

Publisher Info: ShadeTree Publishing, 2012; ISBN: 9781937331313; Paperback, $14.99

Buy now at Amazon.com $10.70! 
 

Special Info: This is the second book by author Candida Sullivan featuring Zippy. The first one was Zippy and the Stripes of Courage. Read our reviews of other books by Candida Sullivan. Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Jack Foster.

Jake & Jesus

The concept of Jesus as an actual person can be hard for kids to grasp since they can't see Him. In Jake and Jesus by Kelly Hagen, Jake tries to help other kids understand who Jesus is, even though they can't be with Him.

Jake wants to tell others all about his best friend, Jesus, and why He is Jake's friend. First, Jake explains they spend a lot of time together, and Jesus is never too busy for him. Since Jesus isn't physically present, Jake states Jesus talks to him through the Bible. His Mommy and Daddy read him stories about Jesus that teach Jake about who his Friend is. Then Jake tells us he talks to Jesus through prayer--and anyone can talk with Him anytime, no matter where or when.

Finally, Jake tells of the gifts he and Jesus exchanged: how Jake gave Jesus his heart, and Jesus gave His life for Jake (and you and me!). That's the best kind of friend a kid could ever have.

What I Like: Any book that tries to portray Jesus as a living, breathing person to a child is going to get a thumbs up by me. I feel this is something the book did very well.

The illustrations are pretty cute, too. Jake seems like a pretty sweet kid!

What I Dislike: I understand this is a difficult concept for kids to grasp, however, I really felt this book talked down to a child's intelligence just a little. Maybe for the younger set, it would be fine, but to me, it really felt condescending in tone. Also, while it touched on the fact that Jesus died for us, and we go to Heaven because of His death, the book didn't explain why this is the case--no mention of sin or anything of the sort. If I were talking about this book with my daughter, I'd be shorting her if I didn't point out the reason why Jesus died for us is because of the bad things we do.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 4 - 7

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-61739-306-8; Paperback, 24 pgs., $6.99

Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.29, or for Kindle for $5.59.

Special Info: An image of Jesus is shown throughout the book, usually in a picture Jake keeps in his room.

Dear God, It's Me!

In Dear God, It's Me!, a little elephant learns to call on God throughout his day. Based on Psalm 145:18(a) ("The LORD is near to all who call on him"), authors Lynn Hodges and Sue Buchanan illustrate how God is near every day through our prayers. Playful sketches by John Bendall-Brunello follow the little elephant through his day, from the moment his feet get out of bed, to the moment he crawls back in as day gives way to night.

What I Like: The story is really simple, but teaches core truths about trusting God, praying, and making His will yours. I like how the authors don't guarantee that life will be easy, but remind us we can call on God in times of trouble, and that He cares what's going on in our lives.

The elephants were really cute, and my kids loved seeing what they were doing during the day.

What I Dislike: When I read the book without benefit of the musical CD, the rhythm felt off and I found it difficult to get the pace right. Once I listened to the CD a few times, I found it easier. For instance, here's an example from what turns out to be the chorus:

"Dear God, I am calling... please listen... it's me!
You know all about my day from a to z!

You know when I'm frightened, sad or alone.
Please stay close beside me. Make my heart your own."

Reading this aloud without benefit of hearing the CD really tripped me up on my first pass through this book, and even after hearing the accompanying song, I find it hard to simply read the book without singing it.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 4 and up

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2005; ISBN: 978-0-310-70645-8; Hardback, 32 pgs., $15.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $11.99
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $12.47.

We've reviewed other books by Lynn Hodges and Sue Buchanan here.

Can I Love You?

Dr. Christine Gillan Byrne’s book Can I Love You? is about parents loving their children from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes. Each two-page spread in the book features a 4-line rhyming text on one side and a full-sized, life-like drawing of a parent holding a baby on the other. The paintings, done by Lory Ortega, are close and personal, focusing mainly on faces, and include people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

In the story, the author basically counts the ways a parent can kiss, hug, and love every part of the child. For example: Can I kiss your baby neck;/ Both your shoulders and your sides?/ Can I nuzzle your soft tummy?/ And squeeze your small behind?

At the end of the book, Byrne provides three suggested activities, adapted versions of two songs—I Am So Glad that Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves Me—and tips for teaching children how to pray.

Special Info: This author offers a website with more information about Young Child Ministries.

What I Like: The author has a background in early childhood and is the founder of Young Child Ministries. This fact gives credence to the suggested activities and prayer tips found at the end of the book.

What I Dislike: The book is meant to be shared with babies, and then gradually toddlers. However, it’s a paperback. I’m not sure how well that will hold up with this age group. Plus, it's pricey for what you get...and cannot be ordered off Amazon or ChristianBooks.I thought it was an okay book, but I'm not sure I'd spend that much on it unless I really loved the pictures... or if I wanted to give it as a gift at a baby shower.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: Infant through toddler

Publisher Info: Xlibris Corporation, 2011; ISBN:978-1-4653-6833-1; Paperback, 26 pgs., $9.99

This book is NOT available at Christianbook.com
NOR is it available at Amazon.com. If you are interested in ordering this book, try the website listed above.

A Young Man After God's Own Heart: Turn Your Life into an Extreme Adventure

"On many occasions (and I know this won't sound very spiritual), I pray while I'm running. I take my prayer list in hand, or in my heart, and start running. As I begin pounding the pavement and praying, I seem to lose myself in prayer (and, as an added benefit the pain of the jog is forgotten!)" (p.60).

This is just one of the words of wisdom Jim George offers in A Young Man After God's Own Heart. George understands boys and young men, and provides a distinctly "male" version of what faith looks like. George's book for junior high and high school guys explains what it means to be a Christian, how to develop your faith and how to handle family, friends and temptation.  He also covers setting goals and gives practical tips on studying the Bible.

George draws heavily on his own life experiences in high school, and in his careers in pharmacy and the military. He challenges young men to "Go for the Gold," by making Christ their focus, choosing to learn from family and reaching out to friends and non-Christians. He also challenges young men to enjoy group activities instead of dating one-on-one while in high school, and to read the Bible in a year. George includes an "Extreme Spiritual Workout Schedule" in the back of the book, with a day-by-day plan to read the Bible in one year.

Each chapter includes personal questions in a section called "Tough Decisions for Today," and Bible study questions in "The Cutting Edge." These questions would be helpful for personal use, but would work even better with an older mentor or in a group setting.

What I Like:  I like how well George captures the heart of boys. He shows them what it looks like to love God, but still be manly. He recognizes boys' need for adventure, challenge and risk, and inspires them to develop their faith while being the best they can be at school, home and with their friends. The book was helpful for me, as a mom, to see what faith may look like for my son, and understand differences in our natures. Sitting on the couch with tea and a Bible is no more spiritual than running with prayer list in hand!

I like the way George reminds young men throughout the book to think about their future. Although he recognizes not all people have to go on to higher education, he does ask them to work hard in order to leave their options open. He also recommends young men cultivate a love of reading, and explains ways reading can help their education and faith.

George makes excellent use of personal examples. He makes the book interesting and relevant by sharing stories from his life. Also, it is rare to find devotional books not written by pastors. Although George is a pastor now, he references experiences in pharmacy and the military. This makes it easier to relate to George, especially for guys who aren't thinking about going into ministry right now.

Finally, at last, a book cover with great action shots (football, skating, running, snowboarding) that doesn't show faces! Although photos are used, they use bright colors or black and white, and they use midsection shots, which make them appealing to guys of any ethnic background.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 12 and up, but would work equally well for junior high or high school students

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2005; ISBN: 978-0-7369-1478-9; Paperback, 206 pages, $10.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.49
 
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Check out CCBR reviews of other books by Jim and his wife Elizabeth here.

Baby's First Book of Prayers

If you’re looking for a toddler-friendly book of prayers, check out Baby’s First Book of Prayers by Melody Carlson. This hardcover book is mini sized, like a thick pocketbook, making it both durable and easy for small hands to hold. The book features forty-one prayers that address a variety of simple topics, such as food, family, nature, joy, and sadness. The two-page spread format is consistent throughout, with a full-page illustration (done by Judith Pfeiffer) on the left hand side and a four-line rhyming prayer on the right. The meter rarely falters, which gives the prayers a singsong quality. Here is an example:
Bless my home, dear God, I pray./ Keep it safe by night and day./Bless each room and bless each wall./ Bless my family. Bless us all. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, and they display various ethnicities.

What I Like: This book could easily be used to establish a “devotional time” routine to start or end your child’s day, especially since the prayers lend themselves well to additional discussion by astute parents. At one prayer a day, it would take well over a month to cover the whole book. At the same time, if you need a “teachable” prayer for a certain situation—such as learning to say you’re sorry or expressing happiness—you can usually find a suitable match. The size of the book is just plain fun too. It has a big-kid thickness with a little kid artistic appeal.

What I Dislike: Nothing really, except I would have personally appreciated some Scripture references to coincide with the prayers.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Ages 2 and up

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, YEAR; ISBN:978-0310702870; Hardcover, 96 pgs., $6.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.99
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.99.

Special Info: CCBR has reviewed several books by Carlson. You can check them out by clicking here. You can check out other children's books by Melody Carlson. See: Benjamin's Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs, Her First Bible, His First Bible, Baby's First Bible, Christmas at Harrington's (a $15.99 book right now sale priced at Amazon for $6.40), and more! Carlson also writes books for teens.

I Can Say a Prayer

Having examples for prayer is the best way to teach a child how to pray. Sophie Piper offers a dozen examples of how to pray and what to pray for in I Can Say a Prayer. These model prayer for children, but also assure them that their prayers are heard by God.

Illustrations by Emily Bolam further emphasize the rhymes and prayer from mini-chapters such as "I can find a quiet place" and "I can kneel down." 

What I Like: The topic of prayer is divided so kids learn where you should pray, how you should pray, things you should pray for, all in rhyming form. The inclusion of scripture, paraphrased and referenced, is a wonderful touch that allows readers to go directly to the Word of God and see what it says.

All of the short poems are varied, so they all have their own rhythm. I found this refreshing, even though I did have to readjust a little when reading aloud. Some of these may be appropriate to teach your child to recite, like this one from the section, "I can share a meal":

"Let us take a moment
To thank God for our food,
For friends around the table
And everything that's good.

Let us say
A thank you prayer
For the food
That's here to share."

The pictures in this are so cute! They're bright and cheery, just the sort of thing to engage young kids.

Also, the format is great because you don't have to read the whole book at once, which is wonderful, if you've got busy kids like mine! While it's not designed to be a bedtime book, reading one or two of the mini-chapters (all of two pages long) would be a nice way to cap off the day.

What I Dislike: Nothing, but see the special info section below.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 2 - 5

Publisher Info: Lion Hudson plc, 2011; ISBN: 978-0-7459-6233-7; Hardback, 30 pgs., $12.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.99
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Special Info: I would say these are neither good nor bad, but items parents should be aware of. First, the Lord's Prayer at the end of the book is from Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, so it may not be a familiar version to all. Second, several scriptures are paraphrased, but they are directly referenced so you and your child can read the original text. Also, Jesus' face is shown at least once; He is shown as a Caucasian.

The Berenstain Bears Follow God's Word

If there's anything my kids like more than a Berenstain Bear book, it's a collection of Berenstain bear stories all under one cover. Jan and Mike Berenstain's The Berenstain Bears Follow God's Word, then, is a treat, containing five books in one.

The first story in the collection is The Berenstain Bears God Loves You; Sister has hopes for a lead in the school musical, and Brother is sure he'll get on the school basketball team. But after doing their best during try-outs, they learn Sister is "just" the stage manager and brother is "just" the team manager. Depressed, both go home on a rainy day. But when the sun comes out, the Bear family heads outside to see a rainbow. Mama reminds: "The rainbow is a gift from God. It's a sign that the rain is past and the sun has come to warm the earth again. God puts the rainbow in the sky as a beautiful sign of his love for all the earth and all the creatures that he has made." Including the young bears. She also explains that while God wants us to behave well, he loves us even when we do wrong things. And Mama and Papa are proud of the cubs for taking on such responsible roles as stage manager and team manager.

Next up, is The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule. You can read Christine's review of this story here.

The Berenstain Bears Kindness Counts is next. In this story, Brother allows a younger cub to help him fly his prized model airplane, remembering how he felt when he was younger and Papa did the same. When the model plane crashes, Brother continues his kindness; he lets the cub know it wasn't his fault. He even lets the cub help him repair the plane. When the two go to the park to fly the plane again, Brother spots some older boys launching rockets. He asks if he can help and is at first turned down. But when they hear about how Brother let a younger cub help him, they decide he can participate in the rocket launch.

The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School comes next. The Bear family has been absent from church for a while because the cubs have been busy with soccer and ballet. But Mama decides it's time to start going again. They rise early - to no one's delight - and go to the little chapel. The family sings hymns together, then the children head off to Sunday School. Here, they recount the story of Noah's ark, and learn some funny things about their parents' childhoods. In the end, everyone enjoys the morning, and the cubs head off to soccer and ballet as usual.

The final story in the book is The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers. The cubs say their prayers every night before bed, asking God to bless those around them. But one day Brother and Sister head off to a baseball game, where they see Cousin Fred pray silently before a difficult play. Things go well for Fred and so Brother decides to pray that God will help him make a hit. Brother fails. He tells Fred, "I even tried praying like you did...But it didn't work for me." Fred confesses he only asked that God would help him stay calm and not get too scared. "Prayers are always answered," he says. "Sometimes, we just don't get the answer we expect." That night, when Sister teases Brother about his ball playing, Brother prays God will "help me out with my little sister." To his surprise, he finds he's not angry with her any more.

The book ends with questions and a few activities related to the stories.

What I Like: I read Berenstain bear books to my kids because they love them and they usually have a good moral they can apply to their lives. This collection of stories was no exception.
 

What I Dislike: It's strange to me that God Loves Us doesn't mention the biblical meaning of the rainbow. Kindness Counts is completely secular, although it has a good message. When I read this book to my children, I have to skip Go to Sunday School completely because my children go to "big church" with us; I also didn't like that the Bear family only dedicates the morning to God, going about their usual business the rest of the day instead of actually taking a day of rest. Finally, I wish the emphasis in Say Their Prayers was a little more on how to pray throughout the day.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: preschool to first grade

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz; 2011; ISBN: 978-0310725916 ; hardback, 160 pgs., $10.99.
Buy Now at Amazon for $9.99; purchase the Kindle edition for $7.99

OR buy from ChristianBook.com for $7.99; purchase the ebook for $7.99

I Imagine: A Child's Book of Prayers

Parents looking for a simple yet profound story centered on prayer will enjoy I Imagine: A Child’s Book of Prayers, by Rachel Rivett. The first page contains the largest amount of text, and lays the groundwork for the rest of the book. It encourages the reader to open up their senses, look carefully the surrounding world, and see God’s wisdom.

Then, page by page, children from various ethnic backgrounds thank God for things in nature that help them cope with life’s challenges. For example, one prayer says, “O Lord, if things are hard, I imagine I’m a river and you help me flow quick and clean around the rocks that block my path.” Each two-page spread holds only a few lines of text, which are almost musical in nature. Many of the words dance and curl across the page.

The collage-like illustrations, done by Mique Moriuchi, are a charming fit. The muted colors are warm and inviting. They hold enough gentle detail to keep readers entertained. The artwork reminds me of the illustrations in another CCBR reviewed book Images of God for Young Children and books written by mainstream author/artist Taro Gomi.

What I Like: I love the look and feel of the book. The prose is thought provoking.

What I Dislike: This is minor, but I would have liked the inclusion of a Scripture verse. The words read almost like a Psalm…why not include one?

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Ages 3-7

Publisher Info: Kregel, 2011; ISBN:978-0745962085; Hardcover, 32 pgs., $12.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.99.
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $12.99.

Special Info: Read a CCBR review of another book by Rivett called Are You Sad, Little Bear?: A Book About Learning to Say Goodbye. Visit the illustrator's website.

Anytime, Anywhere: A Little Boy's Prayer

Most youngsters have a bedtime routine. For Isaac, that means two stories and a prayer. The book Anytime, Anywhere: A Little Boy’s Prayer, written by Marcus Hummon, starts in Isaac's bedroom just after his father closes the last book but before Isaac starts to say his prayers. Isaac begins by praying for his family. Then, not content to stop there, he asks God to bless a multitude of insects and animals, including his dog. He then prays for his friends (even one who was not kind to him), neighbors, people who are sick, people in jail, the homeless, and world peace. It’s a long conversational prayer, laced with questions for his father, who patiently answers them all.

Throughout the story, the father-son interaction is heart-felt and genuine. For example, when praying for someone who is sick, Isaac stops to ask, “Do you remember when I was sick? Did you pray for me?” His father answers, “I always pray for you, Isaac.” When praying for the homeless, Isaac speculates about when they pray. His father responds, “I suppose you can pray anytime, really. Anywhere.” And when his father questions Isaac about praying about the toys he wants, Isaac says, “God is my friend, so I just thought I’d say what’s on my mind.”

The story isn’t action packed, nor is there a nail-biting problem to overcome. However, it holds a warm, cozy appeal. The father shows gentle wisdom, and the child shows how much he cares about other people. The bright, colorful illustrations (done by Steve Johnson and Lou Francher) fit the story nicely and depict various ethnic races. They are a combination of acrylic painting and collage. Each page has a black-and-white checkerboard edging from the quilt on the boy’s bed. The quilt flows softly in the background, reflecting the thoughts and questions of the boy. Meanwhile, the checkerboard border provides unity to the book, anchoring the reader in the boy’s bedroom even while we see him reliving moments of his day. In all, the pictures give the story a dreamy feel.

What I Like: A big plus! This book is selling for a bargain price at Amazon! The story is a good tool for parents wishing to model or address the subject of prayer with their children. While it’s not likely to be a huge story favorite, it still holds enough snuggle-up charm to be enjoyed numerous times. Plus, the detailed illustrations will hold the interest of younger readers (even if the text does not).

What I Dislike: Nothing. It’s a nice story with a drowsy, bedtime feel… probably exactly what the author intended.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: ages 4-7

Publisher Info: Atheneum, 2009; ISBN:1416948562; Hardcover, 32 pgs., $16.99
Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $12.99
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