Book Review: The Wake-Up Prayer

​What a cute little book!
The Wake-Up Prayer is a lovely rhyming picture book. It’s written by another Penny (I love hearing about Pennys who write books!), Penny Cooke and is her first children’s picture book. With delightful illustrations by Jareb Bramlet, this book tells the story of a little bear who is curious to learn how to pray and in particular, how to pray in the day. Her questions about the wake-up prayer come from wondering about the traditional 'Now I lay me down to sleep' prayer. The little bear wonders how praying in the day may be different, or similar, to praying before bed.

The little bear asks her Momma about this, and in response Momma suggests ways to pray, beginning with a familiar sounding refrain: 
‘Now I wake me from my sleep, 
from moon and stars and counting sheep.
Lord, thank You for another day
to love and learn and laugh and play.’ ​

The story is written as a prayer throughout the day, covering a variety of situations. I loved the prayer asking God for his provision of angels to guard our steps as that encourages children to be aware of the spiritual world and the work of God’s angels. However, I’m not so sure about the theology of angels guiding us. My understanding is that the Holy Spirit does the guiding. Despite this tiny niggle, I enjoyed this book and the way it gently expands children’s understanding of prayer.
 
The Wake-Up Prayer is more teaching than adventure story, however it’s a lovely encouragement to be continually praying, no matter what our day holds.
Congratulations, Penny Cooke and Jareb Bramlet on this cute new release! 

All the details you need:
Title: The Wake-Up Prayer
Written by: Penny Cooke
Illustrated by: Jareb Bramlet
Publisher: Thea Harris Publishing Inc
Available from Amazon

Note: I read and reviewed the digital version of this book.