Psalms for young children

K-Gr 3-Each psalm expresses feelings familiar to children: fear and uncertainty, comfort and contentment, amazement and gratitude. The sacred songs, paraphrased in simple, child-friendly language, celebrate the beautiful world, which is protected by God's all-encompassing love, and provide a sense of reassurance. Psalm 23 reads, "God is my shepherd./He leads me in the right/direction. And even if I have to/walk in a dark place,/I am not scared./I know nothing will hurt me/if I walk with God!" Organized in numerical order, the selections are printed in a large, readable font. The book ends on a joyous note with Psalm 150, "Hallelujah!" On each spread, the verse faces a full-page illustration. The magical paintings feature exotic settings, bold outlines, and rich hues. They are filled with images of children and the natural world. The final psalm is accompanied by a picture of three children dancing and playing musical instruments under a golden sky, which adeptly mirrors the celebratory tone of the collection.-Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This selection of more than three dozen freely paraphrased biblical psalms will be best appreciated if spread out (perhaps one per night), as the messages of reassurance and rejoicing can grow redundant if read in one sitting. The accompanying full-page illustrations, with their artfully evocative images of animals, nature, and children around the world, will draw in young listeners. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.