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Prayer for a Child
This very special prayer just for
children is perfect for
even the youngest reader.
In this new gift book edition
Caldecott-winning Prayer for a Child
is sure to win new fans
and become a favorite.
* * *
Keep growing in faith and joy through
Little Simon Inspirations books for your child!
32 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 1944
About the author
Rachel Field
104 books51 followersRachel Lyman Field was an American novelist, poet, and author of children's fiction. She is best known for her Newbery Medal–winning novel for young adults,
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
, published in 1929.
As a child Field contributed to the St. Nicholas Magazine and was educated at Radcliffe College. Her book, Prayer for a Child, was a recipient of the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations by Elizabeth Orton Jones. According to Ruth Hill Vigeurs in her introduction to Calico Bush , book of Rachel Field for children, published in 1931, Rachel Field was "fifteen when she first visited Maine and fell under the spell of its 'island-scattered coast'. Calico Bush still stands out as a near-perfect re-creation of people and place in a story of courage, understated and beautiful." Field was also a successful author of adult fiction, writing the bestsellers Time Out of Mind (1935), All This and Heaven Too (1938), and And Now Tomorrow (1942). She is also famous for her poem-turned-song "Something Told the Wild Geese". Field also wrote the English lyrics for the version of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria used in the Disney film Fantasia. Field married Arthur S. Pederson in 1935, with whom she collaborated in 1937 on To See Ourselves.
Field was a descendant of David Dudley Field. She died at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California on March 15, 1942 of pneumonia following an operation.
As a child Field contributed to the St. Nicholas Magazine and was educated at Radcliffe College. Her book, Prayer for a Child, was a recipient of the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations by Elizabeth Orton Jones. According to Ruth Hill Vigeurs in her introduction to Calico Bush , book of Rachel Field for children, published in 1931, Rachel Field was "fifteen when she first visited Maine and fell under the spell of its 'island-scattered coast'. Calico Bush still stands out as a near-perfect re-creation of people and place in a story of courage, understated and beautiful." Field was also a successful author of adult fiction, writing the bestsellers Time Out of Mind (1935), All This and Heaven Too (1938), and And Now Tomorrow (1942). She is also famous for her poem-turned-song "Something Told the Wild Geese". Field also wrote the English lyrics for the version of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria used in the Disney film Fantasia. Field married Arthur S. Pederson in 1935, with whom she collaborated in 1937 on To See Ourselves.
Field was a descendant of David Dudley Field. She died at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California on March 15, 1942 of pneumonia following an operation.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
June 6, 2018
This really isn't a story, this is an illustrated prayer. The art work is beautiful and I have to say, I give it credit for being very inclusive. At the end of the prayer, the child prays for all the children of the world and every race is on the page. For something in the 40s, that is pretty great.
I feel like it's a good prayer teaching the child about being thankful for all you have. It's about gratitude and thankfulness. I am hyper sensitive to an agenda being pushed with religion and I didn't feel like they did. It does end in Jesus name. I thought it was good. It's like Oprah has said, we need to have a practice of gratitudes and this little book is a good start for that.
The kids thought it was ok. It is not exciting.
I feel like it's a good prayer teaching the child about being thankful for all you have. It's about gratitude and thankfulness. I am hyper sensitive to an agenda being pushed with religion and I didn't feel like they did. It does end in Jesus name. I thought it was good. It's like Oprah has said, we need to have a practice of gratitudes and this little book is a good start for that.
The kids thought it was ok. It is not exciting.
September 17, 2018
Lovely pictures that go really well with the prayer. It kind of saddens me that these kind of drawings aren't seen too often nowadays. There is a full version in the front and the rest of the book has pictures for each verse. It was very nice reading this book to children at the library. I had never heard of this book can see why it won the Caldecot Medal in 1945.
August 15, 2020
So most definitely, I do indeed happen to find Rachel Field’s 1944 picture book Prayer for a Child both absolute sweetness personified and also being entirely and at the same time most successfully geared towards young children, towards their bedtime considerations, wants and desires. And yes, I in particular and very much smilingly enjoy and appreciate how the young child uttering her delightful bedtime prayer is also and equally asking God’s blessing for her toys. Because let’s face it, for many children, their toys are often not simply cold and unmoving inanimate objects, but living, breathing entities (and best friends) and as such actually rather similar to family members, and thus, a child including his or her toys in prayerful requests for divine blessings, this in my opinion does make total sense in Prayer for a Child as something to be desired, for a child to also ask of God to consider with gentle favour his or her toys.
Furthermore, while many official prayers specifically conceptualised for children are in my humble opinion often still much too philosophical and overly deeply theological in scope and feel, Rachel Field, she truly does shine with having Prayer for a Child present itself simply, speaking directly and lovingly to the intended audience, to young children, having Prayer for a Child present a wonderful and delightful bed-time prayer ritual, all accompanied by Elizabeth Orton Jones’ Caldecott Medal winning illustrations, by delightful pictures which not only totally mirror Rachel Field’s printed words but also often visually expand a bit on the featured prayer, a truly lovely, and not to mention successful combination and marriage of text and images (and yes, in the illustration referring to the part in Prayer for a Child where global blessings are asked for ALL children, Elizabeth Orton Jones has drawn and shown a wonderful and all encompassing ethnic diversity that for the 1940s is both refreshing and truly marvellously progressive).
Furthermore, while many official prayers specifically conceptualised for children are in my humble opinion often still much too philosophical and overly deeply theological in scope and feel, Rachel Field, she truly does shine with having Prayer for a Child present itself simply, speaking directly and lovingly to the intended audience, to young children, having Prayer for a Child present a wonderful and delightful bed-time prayer ritual, all accompanied by Elizabeth Orton Jones’ Caldecott Medal winning illustrations, by delightful pictures which not only totally mirror Rachel Field’s printed words but also often visually expand a bit on the featured prayer, a truly lovely, and not to mention successful combination and marriage of text and images (and yes, in the illustration referring to the part in Prayer for a Child where global blessings are asked for ALL children, Elizabeth Orton Jones has drawn and shown a wonderful and all encompassing ethnic diversity that for the 1940s is both refreshing and truly marvellously progressive).
November 14, 2016
The first page gives the prayer in its entirety. Then couplet by couplet the book expands with illustrations of all the things the child asks blessings for – bread and milk, Mother and Father, toys, etc. It’s a lovely prayer, and the illustrations are delightful.
This was first published in 1944, and its gentle message is still appropriate. However, the illustrations made me cringe for the lack of diversity. That is, admittedly, a modern sentiment. Despite the Caldecot award that Elizabeth Orton Jones’s illustrations deserved, I can’t help but wish this would be re-published with new illustrations that showed more children of diverse backgrounds.
This was first published in 1944, and its gentle message is still appropriate. However, the illustrations made me cringe for the lack of diversity. That is, admittedly, a modern sentiment. Despite the Caldecot award that Elizabeth Orton Jones’s illustrations deserved, I can’t help but wish this would be re-published with new illustrations that showed more children of diverse backgrounds.
April 7, 2017
This is a child's bedtime prayer, written in 1941 by Rachel Field, with World War II on everyone's mind. Mrs. Field died suddenly, and a few years later Elizabeth Orton Jones had the responsibility of illustrating it. She took that responsibility seriously, and a lovely job she made of it, too. The illustrations are wonderful.
Annis Duff (a terrific guide to children's literature, and a friend of Jones) writes on the creation of one of those illustrations:
http://www.hbook.com/2013/02/authors-...
"[Jones] told us she was having a little difficulty in finding the right models to sit for the drawings of “Toys whose shapes I know” in Rachel Field’s Prayer For A Child. She had lived with the text and let the pictures grow in her mind until she knew precisely what she wanted: toys that had been really loved by some child, but were not so worn and tired that they’d lost their shape and color. She needed one woolly one, a good friend for sleeping with; one small one, the right size to fit into a child’s hands; one toy of wood or paper; and one “good old soul of a doll.”
Deirdre and Steven [Duff's children] went upstairs, and if we’d been noticing particularly we might have thought they’d grown tired of our party. Presently they came down again, and with them came Prowlie, the second-generation teddy bear; Teddy Wear-wee, his inseparable companion; Salisbury, the small gray rabbit from England; the big Swedish wooden spoon known as the “tuvebon,” Steven’s favorite plaything from the time he could almost have been picked up in it; and Abigail, the Brown County pioneer doll handed on to Deirdre years ago by someone who had loved her dearly, and now Steven’s cherished friend and confidante. All of these were piled into Elizabeth’s lap. Elizabeth examined them gravely, asked a few questions about their ancestry (this out of understanding of their owners’ pride, not from concern with their social fitness), and then said, “Of course!” So they all went home for a long visit with “our Miss Jones.”
The next week the Duff children came down with measles, and the companions of the nursery began to be missed rather badly through the tedious feverish nights. There was much talk of how the toys were faring, whether Miss Jones remembered to put them to bed comfortably, and if they were homesick at all. But before the expected appeal came to have them brought home, there arrived a most enchanting letter with a beautiful colored picture of the toys sitting in Miss Jones’ studio chair, and a long account of the trip to Highland Park, of being tucked in for the night under warm blankets, and of Miss Jones’ pussy, Piley, who “makes a noise like a little washing-machine.”'
A modern look at the book is here, and Jones' Caldecott acceptance speech for the book is here.
DD (age 3), after having been read the book, wanted an immediate re-read so she could say it as her bedtime prayer, and has continued to request it for this purpose throughout the week.
ME: 5/5
DD: 5/5
Annis Duff (a terrific guide to children's literature, and a friend of Jones) writes on the creation of one of those illustrations:
http://www.hbook.com/2013/02/authors-...
"[Jones] told us she was having a little difficulty in finding the right models to sit for the drawings of “Toys whose shapes I know” in Rachel Field’s Prayer For A Child. She had lived with the text and let the pictures grow in her mind until she knew precisely what she wanted: toys that had been really loved by some child, but were not so worn and tired that they’d lost their shape and color. She needed one woolly one, a good friend for sleeping with; one small one, the right size to fit into a child’s hands; one toy of wood or paper; and one “good old soul of a doll.”
Deirdre and Steven [Duff's children] went upstairs, and if we’d been noticing particularly we might have thought they’d grown tired of our party. Presently they came down again, and with them came Prowlie, the second-generation teddy bear; Teddy Wear-wee, his inseparable companion; Salisbury, the small gray rabbit from England; the big Swedish wooden spoon known as the “tuvebon,” Steven’s favorite plaything from the time he could almost have been picked up in it; and Abigail, the Brown County pioneer doll handed on to Deirdre years ago by someone who had loved her dearly, and now Steven’s cherished friend and confidante. All of these were piled into Elizabeth’s lap. Elizabeth examined them gravely, asked a few questions about their ancestry (this out of understanding of their owners’ pride, not from concern with their social fitness), and then said, “Of course!” So they all went home for a long visit with “our Miss Jones.”
The next week the Duff children came down with measles, and the companions of the nursery began to be missed rather badly through the tedious feverish nights. There was much talk of how the toys were faring, whether Miss Jones remembered to put them to bed comfortably, and if they were homesick at all. But before the expected appeal came to have them brought home, there arrived a most enchanting letter with a beautiful colored picture of the toys sitting in Miss Jones’ studio chair, and a long account of the trip to Highland Park, of being tucked in for the night under warm blankets, and of Miss Jones’ pussy, Piley, who “makes a noise like a little washing-machine.”'
A modern look at the book is here, and Jones' Caldecott acceptance speech for the book is here.
DD (age 3), after having been read the book, wanted an immediate re-read so she could say it as her bedtime prayer, and has continued to request it for this purpose throughout the week.
ME: 5/5
DD: 5/5
August 18, 2019
Originally written as a bedtime prayer for the author's own young daughter, and then presented in this lovely little picture-book, Prayer for a Child is a classic domestic blessing ritual, in which the child supplicant calls down a blessing on all of the wonderful things in her life. "Bless this milk and bless this bread. / Bless this soft and waiting bed / Where I presently shall be / Wrapped in sweet security," it begins, going on to mention many of the other people and things that make her life special. The prayer concludes: "So let me sleep and let me wake / In peace and health, for Jesus' sake."
Awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1945, Prayer for a Child is a delightful book, with a sweet and heartfelt prayer that many young children will take to heart - given the reference to Jesus, it is clearly meant for Christians - and adorable artwork that captures one young girl's bedtime rituals. I particularly liked the scene with all the little children of the world, as it shows great diversity, with young people of all races and backgrounds happily grouped together - something that can also be seen in illustrator Elizabeth Orton Jones' paintings for the 1944 Caldecott Honor Book Small Rain: Verses from the Bible . As I mentioned in my review of that book, one of my absolute favorites when I was learning to read was What Miranda Knew , which Jones also illustrated, so the artwork here felt very familiar, and had immense appeal for me. Recommended to Christian families looking for bedtime prayers for their children, and to anyone (like me) who loves Elizabeth Orton Jones' work.
Awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1945, Prayer for a Child is a delightful book, with a sweet and heartfelt prayer that many young children will take to heart - given the reference to Jesus, it is clearly meant for Christians - and adorable artwork that captures one young girl's bedtime rituals. I particularly liked the scene with all the little children of the world, as it shows great diversity, with young people of all races and backgrounds happily grouped together - something that can also be seen in illustrator Elizabeth Orton Jones' paintings for the 1944 Caldecott Honor Book Small Rain: Verses from the Bible . As I mentioned in my review of that book, one of my absolute favorites when I was learning to read was What Miranda Knew , which Jones also illustrated, so the artwork here felt very familiar, and had immense appeal for me. Recommended to Christian families looking for bedtime prayers for their children, and to anyone (like me) who loves Elizabeth Orton Jones' work.
April 16, 2014
This is a lovely, sweet book. Each page has one or more lines of the prayer next to a full-page illustration of the small girl with a sweetly innocent face. Her toys look worn and much loved. The house looks snug and comfy, the kitty soft & fuzzy. The illustration of the multi-ethnic children shows dozens of sweet, smiling, innocent faces. I collect angel figurines, so I would love to have her collection of miniature angels, most of which are playing a musical instrument. As Katherine mentioned, the prayer includes all the sorts of things a young child would ask blessings for. Soothing, calming, and reassuring.
January 30, 2015
Could some of the reviews be more condescending? I think not. I find the illustrations a touch on the sentimental side - as is generally the case with this illustrator - but having just read an explanation of how they came to be I'm more able to overlook it. As far as the written content is concerned - thankfulness is a good thing, even for atheists.
August 6, 2020
Let's teach children how to be good little boys and girls and pray to Jesus! Published during the Second World War, it is a product of its' times. I do not like religious dogma, especially when it is used to indoctrinate children into that particular belief system. No surprise then that I do not like this book. Having said that, the illustrations themselves are fairly nice, and I do like the part that says,
"Bless other children, far and near. And keep them safe and free from fear."
And there is a nice illustration of children of all races and creeds crowded together shoulder to shoulder in a harmonious group. No segregation here, which for the 1940's would have been quite progressive.
"Bless other children, far and near. And keep them safe and free from fear."
And there is a nice illustration of children of all races and creeds crowded together shoulder to shoulder in a harmonious group. No segregation here, which for the 1940's would have been quite progressive.
November 10, 2022
Darling illustrations accompany an old child's prayer. And while I don't think blessing toys is theologically accurate, the overall book is sweet.
Ages: 4 - 8
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
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Ages: 4 - 8
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
August 20, 2011
1945 Caldecott Medal Winner
I'm not quite sure how the illustrations in this were done--it looks like ink and water color, but sometimes the illustrator left the ink outlines off of certain objects like the teddy bear, making them appear almost as though they were done in a different type of media. The whole book is in color with lots of yellow tones.
I like the prayer and that along with the illustrations it includes children all over the world. The words are simple. The way the lines of the poem are broken up on each page is sometimes awkward for the rhymes, but it makes sense for the sake of the illustrations.
I'm not quite sure how the illustrations in this were done--it looks like ink and water color, but sometimes the illustrator left the ink outlines off of certain objects like the teddy bear, making them appear almost as though they were done in a different type of media. The whole book is in color with lots of yellow tones.
I like the prayer and that along with the illustrations it includes children all over the world. The words are simple. The way the lines of the poem are broken up on each page is sometimes awkward for the rhymes, but it makes sense for the sake of the illustrations.
August 30, 2017
"Through the darkness, through the night
Let no danger come to fright
My sleep till morning once again
Beckons at the window pane."
—Prayer for a Child
This is a sweet prayer of supplication to God. I thought it was very well done, and I am definitely a fan of Rachel Field. My one suggestion might have been to include a few lines of praise to the Lord, but this is still a good first prayer book.
Let no danger come to fright
My sleep till morning once again
Beckons at the window pane."
—Prayer for a Child
This is a sweet prayer of supplication to God. I thought it was very well done, and I am definitely a fan of Rachel Field. My one suggestion might have been to include a few lines of praise to the Lord, but this is still a good first prayer book.
August 28, 2012
Very sweet poetry and pictures. Could read it or pray it with my children every day. Love the line, "Bless other children far and near. And keep them safe and far from fear." with the picture of children from all over the world. Especially heart wrenching when you think about what was going on in the world in 1941 when this story was written.
April 14, 2018
Oh wow, I had totally forgotten about this book! It really brings back childhood memories
May 14, 2025
کتاب طراحیش بسیار زیباست. فقط یه موضوعی که هست چرا بچه های سیاه پوست تو این کتاب ریش و سبیل دارن؟
March 30, 2016
i. Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field is a book-long prayer. The main character of the book is a young girl, but this prayer is for anyone looking to pray to God. The prayer is mainly a thank you in regards to the blessings she has received in her life, such as milk and bread (food), her bed, the safety and security of her home, her toys, the chair in her room, the light in her room (electricity), her shoes (clothing), and most importantly her family and friends. The little girl also prays for future days and nights. She asks for an absence of danger, to wake in the morning light, to bless other children throughout the world, peace and health. The little girl has a lot to be thankful for!
ii. The major theme of this book is thankfulness. This book describes all she has to be thankful for already in her life, even as a young child.
iii. I give this book a 4-star rating.
iv. I really enjoyed reading this book. Although it is not a traditional storyline, I had books like this as a child that I would read every night before bed with my mom. My mom would read books similar to this one when I needed a reminder of how truly blessed I was. We would talk about what happened during my day and how those blessings affected me. My family is religious and prayer before bedtime has always been an important part of the day. My mom used to tell me to thank God, because what if we woke up the next morning with only the things we thanked God for the night before? Thinking about what I would need to survive the next day really encouraged me to think about all the incredible blessings I have in my life! I have so much to be thankful for, and this book reminded me of the amazing life (and mother) I was blessed with.
v. I would recommend this book to teachers in a religious school setting. This book would not be appropriate in all school settings, only schools where prayer is communally accepted. I would encourage teachers to read this book to their students and then allow the students to draw or create a picture of all the blessings they have in their life. This gives the students the power to think of their own everyday lives and what they have to be thankful for.
ii. The major theme of this book is thankfulness. This book describes all she has to be thankful for already in her life, even as a young child.
iii. I give this book a 4-star rating.
iv. I really enjoyed reading this book. Although it is not a traditional storyline, I had books like this as a child that I would read every night before bed with my mom. My mom would read books similar to this one when I needed a reminder of how truly blessed I was. We would talk about what happened during my day and how those blessings affected me. My family is religious and prayer before bedtime has always been an important part of the day. My mom used to tell me to thank God, because what if we woke up the next morning with only the things we thanked God for the night before? Thinking about what I would need to survive the next day really encouraged me to think about all the incredible blessings I have in my life! I have so much to be thankful for, and this book reminded me of the amazing life (and mother) I was blessed with.
v. I would recommend this book to teachers in a religious school setting. This book would not be appropriate in all school settings, only schools where prayer is communally accepted. I would encourage teachers to read this book to their students and then allow the students to draw or create a picture of all the blessings they have in their life. This gives the students the power to think of their own everyday lives and what they have to be thankful for.
February 1, 2016
From the cover I could tell what this book would be about, and it was something that I believe is important to teach children. At the very beginning was the full prayer that the child would read. As the book continued, each part of the prayer was explained with a picture. The pictures are what stood out most to me throughout the book. Each was done very accurately and would help children portray exactly what the prayer was about. The theme that I recognized was the simplicity of a child’s faith through hope that her prayers would be answered. My personal response to this book was the days when I would go to church with my family. I have been raised in a family where faith is important, especially through prayer. This was an endearing book for me to read. Recommending this book to parents would be a suggestion for me. If parents are able to teach this kind of story to their children, I believe the kids will become more aware of prayer. The power of prayer is important in life, so why not expose kids to it from a young age.
January 26, 2013
This is a lovely book, stretching across its pages the lines of a mighty prayer for children (and adults) to learn, although it is childlike with an appreciation for the things that fill a child's everyday life). Like Jones' other illustrated books, she uses her particular style (cute, resonating a little with Precious Moments or Hummel figures) here. I like her illustrations inside the illustrations, the whimsical little flourishes. What a great time-capsule item to point to how things have changed in the past seventy years; I can't imagine a book comprised of an illustrated prayer that ends with "for Jesus sake" would even be in the running for a Caldecott now, much less take the medal. (Read again in February 2013)
September 12, 2014
The title of this story is (Prayer for a Child ).The cover illustration directly expresses the theme,which is that prayer will be answered.This story is integrated in terms of language,content,and ideas.The story includes a purposeful message ,encouraging kids to pray.It is intended audience of children who are 10 years or younger.I like one idea: wrote the entire story and then each one separately on individual pages beside specific images that related to each line.Also,he opened each sentence with a great character garnished with symbols.This book has quality pages and images
January 7, 2015
I enjoyed this book. I think this is a great book to have in the home. It is a good reminder for kids to pray instead of you reminding them. I like how simple the book is with the nice picture. Yet, this book does not belong in a classroom. I would love to have my own children read this book but my students I wouldn't. If you are religious then this is a excellent book for your kids. This shows how important pray is without coming from the parents.
November 2, 2017
Very sweet bedtime prayer or bedtime ritual-book follows a little girl as she prays for each of the precious things in her life: family, friends, toys, shoes, home, fire, and children around the world. Charming old-fashioned pictures as classic as golden age illustrations. The setting is reminiscent of Swedish master Carl Larsson's home. Comforting.
August 9, 2021
Maybe I'm too old for that, but it looked like a task to write a poem using these words: milk, night, chair, lamplight, Father, children, peace, Jesus and Amen.
Some extra stars for the illustration.
Some extra stars for the illustration.
February 24, 2009
This is a beautiful book. I read this to Jacob most evenings before he goes to bed, and he amazingly sits still through it all. It has lovely words and illustrations.
May 2, 2010
The "Prayer for a Child" begins in entirety. It is then broken down into small segments to coincide with artwork.
August 31, 2012
Some of the illustrations were cute but others really kind of creeped me out. Some of the pictures of children looked like possessed dolls.
August 1, 2018
Not my kind of picture book, all sentiment and so on, but, even so the book has a bit of charm to it.
Anyone religious will probably like this simple book. Illustrations have held up well.
The book was published a couple years after Field's death and during the last couple years of WWII. I'm sure the atmosphere at the time helped propel the book's popularity. I wonder if it would have won the Caldecott had it come out a decade later?
Anyone religious will probably like this simple book. Illustrations have held up well.
The book was published a couple years after Field's death and during the last couple years of WWII. I'm sure the atmosphere at the time helped propel the book's popularity. I wonder if it would have won the Caldecott had it come out a decade later?
December 28, 2023
Prayer for a Child is the 1945 Caldecott Award winner. It's a lovely prayer that I really enjoyed. It was very sweet. Reminded me of my youth and I enjoyed the pictures.
November 8, 2016
2. BRIEF REVIEW
Heart touching poetry book for children, won the Caldecott Award in 1945. After reading this book, I purchased the English and Spanish versions, at night I alternate the two versions and read them to my daughter. I absolutely love everything about the book, the illustrations, word choice, and book setup.
3. CONTENT AREAS
This book would be ideal for Sunday school teachers or parents. The book teaches children to be thankful and appreciative for everyday things that are sometimes taking for granted. The author breaks down each thought into a page and provides a perfect illustration to accompany the verses, which facilitates the memorization of the prayer. I also think it is helpful for the teacher/parent reading the book that the first page of the book contains the full prayer. This book would be ideal for a private Christian School, (I say private because I am not sure if this book would be allowed in a public school) after reading the book I wold have students create a meaningful prayer of their own.
4. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
a. What does the cover tell you about the book? –The cover tells me that the book is a prayer specially designed for children. Since there is a girl on the front cover I think she will be the one saying the prayer. Also, the border along the book’s cover is made up of children’s faces who seem to be of different races, which leads me to conclude that this book targets all children from around the world.
b. What is your favorite verse from the book, why? “Bless other children, far and near, and keep them safe and free from fear.” I liked this verse because it is very touching and profoundly sweet.
c. What is the most used word in the book, how many times is this word used and why? – “Bless”, the author uses this word nine times. I believe this word is used to create rhythm and because this is a commonly used word during prayer.
5. WONDERS
I wonder…
a) Into how many different languages has this prayer been translated? In what language was this book originally written?
b) Since this book deals with religion and Jesus is named at the end of the prayer, is this book allowed to be read in a public school?
c) Why did the author choose to capitalize the words Mother and Father?
d) Why are there tiny angels beside every verse?
e) In one of the pages there is an illustration of what appears to be a spice rack, the small containers are labeled Kaya, houska, hrach and cuka. I can’t help but to wonder what that means?
Heart touching poetry book for children, won the Caldecott Award in 1945. After reading this book, I purchased the English and Spanish versions, at night I alternate the two versions and read them to my daughter. I absolutely love everything about the book, the illustrations, word choice, and book setup.
3. CONTENT AREAS
This book would be ideal for Sunday school teachers or parents. The book teaches children to be thankful and appreciative for everyday things that are sometimes taking for granted. The author breaks down each thought into a page and provides a perfect illustration to accompany the verses, which facilitates the memorization of the prayer. I also think it is helpful for the teacher/parent reading the book that the first page of the book contains the full prayer. This book would be ideal for a private Christian School, (I say private because I am not sure if this book would be allowed in a public school) after reading the book I wold have students create a meaningful prayer of their own.
4. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
a. What does the cover tell you about the book? –The cover tells me that the book is a prayer specially designed for children. Since there is a girl on the front cover I think she will be the one saying the prayer. Also, the border along the book’s cover is made up of children’s faces who seem to be of different races, which leads me to conclude that this book targets all children from around the world.
b. What is your favorite verse from the book, why? “Bless other children, far and near, and keep them safe and free from fear.” I liked this verse because it is very touching and profoundly sweet.
c. What is the most used word in the book, how many times is this word used and why? – “Bless”, the author uses this word nine times. I believe this word is used to create rhythm and because this is a commonly used word during prayer.
5. WONDERS
I wonder…
a) Into how many different languages has this prayer been translated? In what language was this book originally written?
b) Since this book deals with religion and Jesus is named at the end of the prayer, is this book allowed to be read in a public school?
c) Why did the author choose to capitalize the words Mother and Father?
d) Why are there tiny angels beside every verse?
e) In one of the pages there is an illustration of what appears to be a spice rack, the small containers are labeled Kaya, houska, hrach and cuka. I can’t help but to wonder what that means?
September 3, 2016
I am reviewing the board book version of the Caldecott winner, Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field. The main character of this 1941 book is the stereotypical, dominate 40's idea of an American child. A porcelain white little girl, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is beautifully drawn with definite contour lines and soft tones. Blues, whites, and yellows are the predominant shades on every page. The pictures depict no need for want. She has food, clothing, bed, toys, friends, and family. Each picture has a page to itself with the text next door. There is a sense of order in this arrangement, everything has its place and is in its place. One page is dedicated to the "other" children who are "far and near." This collage of children from all over the world, and near her world, is symmetrical and pleasing to the eye. The children all wear happy expressions and are drawn with equal skill to the main character. It seems that all children share a prosperous economic level in this book. The artwork is very well done, but rather all children will relate to the ideas in each painting is questionable.
All of the text starts with a large illuminated letter that has an angel in the foreground. Mostly, the opening word of each text stanza is "bless" as the main character offers a prayer of thanks for what she has been given. And indeed, she has been given much. For those of faith, it is heart-warming to see her kneel and acknowledge a higher power in her existence. She even blesses the shoes on her feet, a simplistic characteristic of childhood. And though the reader may not identify with this child, or have what this child feels are her blessings, the story lends itself to the discussion of what blessings look like in our own lives. Maybe our lives do not carry this sense of order, but the book invites us to look for simple things: family, friends. For those who do not share a belief in deity, this book may be meaningless. But, even if the reader's way of worship differs, this is one religious view of prayer that exists. My children and I enjoyed the artistic skill and message, but did not find the depth in text or illustrations that invite multiple readings.
All of the text starts with a large illuminated letter that has an angel in the foreground. Mostly, the opening word of each text stanza is "bless" as the main character offers a prayer of thanks for what she has been given. And indeed, she has been given much. For those of faith, it is heart-warming to see her kneel and acknowledge a higher power in her existence. She even blesses the shoes on her feet, a simplistic characteristic of childhood. And though the reader may not identify with this child, or have what this child feels are her blessings, the story lends itself to the discussion of what blessings look like in our own lives. Maybe our lives do not carry this sense of order, but the book invites us to look for simple things: family, friends. For those who do not share a belief in deity, this book may be meaningless. But, even if the reader's way of worship differs, this is one religious view of prayer that exists. My children and I enjoyed the artistic skill and message, but did not find the depth in text or illustrations that invite multiple readings.
January 26, 2014
This book is a great bedtime story for religious families to read with their children. It has both great content and amazing illustrations that will keep children captivated, listening, and looking at every page.
The story encompasses a prayer that is written much like a poem. It has a consistent structure, which starts all the main ideas with the same plead for God to bless the following item or person. The layout of the book is also organized the same for all the pages--with the text on the left and a full page picture on the right. The consistency of the writing and text placement on the pages adds overall coherence to the story.
The first page displays the whole prayer, and the subsequent pages have the prayer broken down into small verses. This structure is very conducive for young children, as is the large size and number of detailed pictures. The illustrations use soft colors, which match well with the wind-down feel of bedtime. My favorite picture in the book accompanies the verse that asks God to bless other children. It depicts a whole page filled with highly defined children's faces that reflect all nationalities. This picture also borders the front and back cover of the book, which I believe communicates that the book is inclusive and appeals to all people that believe in its message, not just a certain religion or audience. The book contains small artistic touches as well. The first letter on every page is in a different font and includes a small drawing near it. Small artistic details like this make the book feel personal and unique.
Overall, this book has great content and pictures to keep children engaged. In addition to asking for God's blessings, it could easily teach children to be thankful for the same exact things, which is a lesson any parent would want to pass on to their children.
The story encompasses a prayer that is written much like a poem. It has a consistent structure, which starts all the main ideas with the same plead for God to bless the following item or person. The layout of the book is also organized the same for all the pages--with the text on the left and a full page picture on the right. The consistency of the writing and text placement on the pages adds overall coherence to the story.
The first page displays the whole prayer, and the subsequent pages have the prayer broken down into small verses. This structure is very conducive for young children, as is the large size and number of detailed pictures. The illustrations use soft colors, which match well with the wind-down feel of bedtime. My favorite picture in the book accompanies the verse that asks God to bless other children. It depicts a whole page filled with highly defined children's faces that reflect all nationalities. This picture also borders the front and back cover of the book, which I believe communicates that the book is inclusive and appeals to all people that believe in its message, not just a certain religion or audience. The book contains small artistic touches as well. The first letter on every page is in a different font and includes a small drawing near it. Small artistic details like this make the book feel personal and unique.
Overall, this book has great content and pictures to keep children engaged. In addition to asking for God's blessings, it could easily teach children to be thankful for the same exact things, which is a lesson any parent would want to pass on to their children.
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