Review by Booklist Review
The amount of visual directions one could take with a text as open-ended as the Lord's Prayer are numerous, though this effort squarely aimed at the parents of young children chooses a straightforward path. Evangelical leader Warren contributes a foreword encouraging parents to recite the prayer with their kids and advocating young ones' method of prayer: Authenticity, simplicity, and spontaneity are hallmarks of childlike prayer and faith. The prayer itself breaks down into roughly one stanza per page, though not always along lines of cadence; for example, Thy kingdom come is followed by Thy will be done in earth, rather than the more pleasing rhyme of Thy will be done. Watson's illustrations are of the golden-hued, old-fashioned variety, featuring a cast of multicultural kids and smiling animals cavorting beneath heavens of spiral and geometric design. On occasion, the grins are spookily large, and the deliver us from evil spread is a tad scary a child with a candle stares inexpressively into a dark mirror. Overall, though, this is a handsome and inclusive addition to the religion section.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Watson and Warren's complementary visual and textual interpretations of the familiar Christian prayer provide a welcome devotional resource for parents and children. Against full-bleed paintings, Watson (The Legend of Saint Christopher) offers images of childhood's stages, beginning with a picture suggestive of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam-here, a baby's hand clasps a much larger one against a golden orb of rays and swirls. Ensuing illustrations offer multiethnic depictions of infants, toddlers, and children, sometimes in solitary moments, sometimes joining with creatures young and old, great and small, in celebration. An illustration that accompanies "forgive us our debts" features two siblings who may have fought over a teddy bear, while an image of children playing on a great tree by the sea illustrates "For thine is the kingdom." Warren's introduction tells parents that children "have much to teach us about prayer," while his end-of-book commentary explicating the prayer addresses children; under the "kingdom" image it reads, "I am part of God's family, which will last forever and ever!" This spirited rendition should have wide appeal. Ages 4-7. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-With vibrant illustrations featuring children of all ages and nationalities, Watson illuminates the message of love and worship contained within the lines of the King James Version of The Lord's Prayer. Each spread focuses on a single line, which is printed in elegant font and incorporated into the painting. Images of animals and the sun recur throughout the book. Some of the pictures are painted in rich colors while others appear to be shadowy, gray pencil sketches. One particularly striking illustration shows an African-American boy drawing with colored chalk on the ground ("Thy will be done on earth"). He is surrounded by a kaleidoscope of wild creatures, sun, and stars. Warren explains the meaning behind the words Jesus taught his disciples with line-by-line commentary, teaching young readers the value of prayer. The artist also offers a reflection on what this prayer means to him. This lovely picture book is a fine choice to help parents introduce the practice of prayer into their children's daily lives.-Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The Protestant version of the Lord's Prayer is illustrated with vibrantly colored, elaborate (and somewhat fussy) paintings featuring children of many races. The pictures include expected religious images such as rainbows, lions, lambs, and doves. Mega-church leader Rick Warren provides an introduction. This is a rather unimaginative but pleasant enough addition to religion collections. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
