CM Magazine: A Child's Book of Prayer.

________________ CM . . . . Volume IV Number 16 . . . . April 10, 1998

cover A Child's Book of Prayer.
London, ENG: Lorenz Books [distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books], 1997.
64 pp., cloth. $12.95.
ISBN 1-85967-447-X.
Preschool and up / Ages 1 and up.
Review by Rev. Brian Rountree.
****/4

This is a gift anthology which matches poems with classical art on facing pages. There are over 70 colour illustrations which are reprinted from the Fine Arts Photographic Library and from the Visual Arts Library.

There are poems and familiar hymns, many from the last century and a few from more recent times. They come from a variety of sources and include a Native American prayer, a muslim prayer and "The Buddha's Prayer." There are familiar names such as St. Francis of Assisi, Mother Theresa and Charles Dickens. There is also the ubiquitous "Anon" who has written so many poems over the ages! The contents are easily read, and parents could read them to their pre-reading children with great enjoyment on all sides.

Some of the material is of a serious nature which is certainly how many people look at prayer. But there are also a few humorous items, such as "On Behalf of a Friend" which begins:

'O God, you know I'm often blamed, When I've been having fun, And even if I'm sometimes framed- It's mostly things I've done.'

An enjoyable book at a reasonable price, it is one both children and adults can visit often for both the prayers and the artwork.

Highly recommended.

During the week, Brian is a Resource Teacher and Teacher-Librarian at Eastwood School in Thompson, Manitoba, where he lives. Once a month, his priestly duties include a visit to St. Marks' Anglican Mission in Pikwitonei, a small community situated on the train line north to Churchill.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - APRIL 10, 1998.