Karl Grice from the Wandering Bookseller provided me with a copy of this book and I’ve had it sitting on my shelf awaiting review for quite some time. The reason: I guess I was afraid. I didn’t want to open a book retelling the parables of Jesus and find myself disappointed. Jesus’ parables, and the contexts in which he told his multilayered stories, are common fodder for Christian children’s books and sometimes the results are sickly sweet, overdone or just dull. So I procrastinated. I read other books and reviewed other titles. Until today, when I faced the warm tones of this children’s book and began to read.
0 Comments
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. Am I allowed to say I have found another favourite Christian children’s book? The Creator in You is a delightful, gently rhyming, picture book that challenges and inspires young people (and their adults) to think outside the box regarding what we ‘do’.
Now, I know we are supposed to see ourselves as ‘human beings’, not human doings’, but ‘doing’ is also part of what God has called us to. And that’s what this book celebrates. It rejoices in our call to creativity and worthy work. I’m often asked if I can recommend a children’s book for a family who is grieving. Losing someone you love is more than difficult, and trying to find words to describe it, or to capture a story about grief is a challenging thing. It’s too easy to slip into sentimentality or get so specific that you miss the mark. Grief is different for everyone, just as the people we are grieving for are different. Australian author Karen Brough’s picture book, I can’t believe they’re gone, attempts to meet this need and I believe she does so with gentle understanding and compassion.
Now here's a book review for writers or people who know and love writers (and are looking for ways to support them). Launch That Book is a how-to book that promises to help equip writers with some time tested strategies to build a successful launch team prior to the release of their new book.
I met Tammy Karasek when I was in the USA earlier this year. She was part of the faculty of Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and her enthusiasm for supporting authors was both immediately noticeable and infectious! |
The Penny DropsIn high school I used to write what I'd call 'thinks' - little bits of writing about whatever topic or issue I was mulling over at the time. I still write these little pieces. Categories
All
Sign upReceive The Penny Drops direct to your inbox. Sign up via the form on the contact page.
(Because I couldn't figure out how to add that form here.) |