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Song of Creation
“Birds pray, trees pray, flowers pray, mountains pray, the winds and rain pray, rivers and the little insects pray as well. The whole earth is in constant prayer, and we can join with its great prayer,” says award-winning author and illustrator Paul Goble.
Every element of creation ― from the magpie to the minnow ― glorifies God in its own way in this bold and brightly illustrated work, adapted from The Book of Common Prayer. Goble invites readers to join with the land and the animals in singing praise to God.
Every element of creation ― from the magpie to the minnow ― glorifies God in its own way in this bold and brightly illustrated work, adapted from The Book of Common Prayer. Goble invites readers to join with the land and the animals in singing praise to God.
Hardcover
First published July 22, 2004
About the author
Paul Goble
60 books102 followersPaul Goble was an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award.
He gave his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He became a United States citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture.
His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researched ancient stories and retold them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways.
Goble lived with his wife in Rapid City, SD.
He gave his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He became a United States citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture.
His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researched ancient stories and retold them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways.
Goble lived with his wife in Rapid City, SD.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 25, 2018
This book is about all animals, plants, people, and non-animate things praising and magnifying the Lord. Partly taken from The 1979 Book of Common Prayer.
July 21, 2023
Song of Creation by Paul Goble was published in 2004. It is a collection of amazing artistry and songs of praise to the Creator. As you take in the vibrant art of nature and read out loud the prayers you might be able to imagine a flute playing in your mind, as I did.
"O all you works of the Lord, bless you the Lord: praise him, and magnify him forever."
As a person who doesn't just read books but loves to talk about them and encourage little ones to grow their vocabulary and ability to think, there are tons of beautiful things to talk about amongst the stunning illustrations.
"O all you works of the Lord, bless you the Lord: praise him, and magnify him forever."
As a person who doesn't just read books but loves to talk about them and encourage little ones to grow their vocabulary and ability to think, there are tons of beautiful things to talk about amongst the stunning illustrations.
August 7, 2025
Adapted from The 1979 Book of Common Prayer, this beautiful tabletop book of pictures and verse is a reminder to join all of creation in praise to our Creator.
“Birds pray, trees pray, flowers pray, mountains pray, the winds and rain pray, rivers and the little insects pray as well. The whole earth is in constant prayer, and we can join with its great prayer” (award-winning author and illustrator Paul Goble).
Based on the verse of the book, all creation is in constant praise. Prayer, praise, worship.
“Birds pray, trees pray, flowers pray, mountains pray, the winds and rain pray, rivers and the little insects pray as well. The whole earth is in constant prayer, and we can join with its great prayer” (award-winning author and illustrator Paul Goble).
Based on the verse of the book, all creation is in constant praise. Prayer, praise, worship.
January 6, 2026
The book is lovely. I read it because a dear friend who was a school librarian told me it is her favorite book. I enjoyed discovering some less visible creatures on the pages. The author includes a note about the readings from his prayerbooks that inspired this project, while also disclosing that he made some word changes to the original. I only wished he would have used gender neutral language or a variety of names instead of the continual “him” when referring to God.
April 5, 2018
I wasn't sure from the cover if I was going to like the art because it's a very particular style, but I really did. And he does a lovely job interacting with the canticle and encouraging the reader to expand it further themselves to the nature they encounter in their own lives.
January 1, 2023
Meant to be a fable but that isn't made clear from the outset.
Want to Read
February 1, 2024A
September 7, 2017
"The Liturgy of the Hours" and "The Book of Common Prayer" are a quiet place for my soul to refresh. It is a pleasure to share this book with my loved ones. The text is based on the "Prayer of Azariah", an addendum to the book of Daniel, which is also known as the Benedicite. The text consists of the refrain:
".... bless you the LORD: Praise Him and magnify Him forever."
Large fonts call out categories of creation....
O all you works of the LORD...
O Days and Nights, bless you the LORD...
O you waters, bless you the LORD...
O you winds, bless you the LORD...
O you mountains, bless you the LORD...
etc.
Smaller fonts call out individuals of creation...
O all my family, bless you the LORD...
O all you nighthawks, bless you the LORD...
O you irises, bless you the LORD...
O you bass and trout (fish), bless you the LORD...
etc.
The art is inspired by Native American themes and beautifully complements the text. The overall presentation is inspiring. I felt like the next family walk, we should walk calling out to the sun and trees and streets and mailboxes and grasses and streams to "Bless you the LORD: Praise Him and magnify Him forever!"
This book does not follow the days of creation ala Genesis 1, rather it calls all aspects of the creation to bless the LORD and praise Him and magnify Him forever - to do what each was created to do, and to do it in worship to Him.
The subject matter of calling upon creation to worship and the Native American artistic expression make it a fitting title to pull out when studying Creation, Native American culture or the history of the Church. This is a wonderful addition to our family library that calls us all to a contemplative praise of the Creator God. I'm looking forward to reading and rereading it for years to come.
For more on the Benedicite, see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedicite
The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime, Tickle, 2001
NOTE: This is a guide for Protestants, for Catholics, seek a publication of the Catholic Church on "Praying the Hours"
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Book of Common Prayer, Church of England, 1662
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
".... bless you the LORD: Praise Him and magnify Him forever."
Large fonts call out categories of creation....
O all you works of the LORD...
O Days and Nights, bless you the LORD...
O you waters, bless you the LORD...
O you winds, bless you the LORD...
O you mountains, bless you the LORD...
etc.
Smaller fonts call out individuals of creation...
O all my family, bless you the LORD...
O all you nighthawks, bless you the LORD...
O you irises, bless you the LORD...
O you bass and trout (fish), bless you the LORD...
etc.
The art is inspired by Native American themes and beautifully complements the text. The overall presentation is inspiring. I felt like the next family walk, we should walk calling out to the sun and trees and streets and mailboxes and grasses and streams to "Bless you the LORD: Praise Him and magnify Him forever!"
This book does not follow the days of creation ala Genesis 1, rather it calls all aspects of the creation to bless the LORD and praise Him and magnify Him forever - to do what each was created to do, and to do it in worship to Him.
The subject matter of calling upon creation to worship and the Native American artistic expression make it a fitting title to pull out when studying Creation, Native American culture or the history of the Church. This is a wonderful addition to our family library that calls us all to a contemplative praise of the Creator God. I'm looking forward to reading and rereading it for years to come.
For more on the Benedicite, see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedicite
The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime, Tickle, 2001
NOTE: This is a guide for Protestants, for Catholics, seek a publication of the Catholic Church on "Praying the Hours"
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Book of Common Prayer, Church of England, 1662
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 8, 2010
should I be surprised? last week we read a story by this author about an Indian girl who turns into a horse...now one that lauds God? maybe it just marred my view of the book.
Read
November 4, 2016Title: Song of Creation
Author: Paul Goble
Illustrator: Paul Goble
Type of Book (format and literary genre): Picture Book/ Poetry, Multicultural
Awards the book has received (national): None
Short original summary of the main plot, describe the content and themes of the book: This book is written as a song/ poem about nature and how it all praises the god. Each page shows a different scene of nature full of life, plants, animals, and weather. The poem repeats the phrase “bless the Lord: praise him, and magnify him forever”. Everything in the pictures is mentioned in the poem/ song followed by this line. The book does not specify a certain god, or the god of what religion. The rest of the authors works are based off Native Americans. The authors note says “the whole earth is in constant prayer, and we can join with it’s great prayer”.
Critique the book backed by one reason: I love this book. It’s really beautiful how the book shows everything as in constant prayer and praise of the creator. Just in the simple things that they do, the flight of the birds, the running of the wild horses, the raging storm, is all praise to the creator. It truly makes the reader think about the beauty and power of nature and the fact that everything serves a beautiful purpose.
Prompts or questions you could pose when reading the book aloud to children:
1. What are some of the things that praise the lord?
2. What do you think the author means by all these things praise the lord? Are birds and horses and storms capable of praising? How could these things glorify the lord?
3. Do you think heat and fire can praise the lord? Is there anything good that can come out of a fire?
4. Does everything serve the same purpose? Are some things in the story more important than others? Do they serve more of a purpose than others?
Craft elements of the book that could be addressed in a reading or writing lesson: I think this book would really best be read as a read aloud. It would maybe be useful in science when discussing the life cycles of animals or living things in nature. Or even the purpose of natural disasters.
Author: Paul Goble
Illustrator: Paul Goble
Type of Book (format and literary genre): Picture Book/ Poetry, Multicultural
Awards the book has received (national): None
Short original summary of the main plot, describe the content and themes of the book: This book is written as a song/ poem about nature and how it all praises the god. Each page shows a different scene of nature full of life, plants, animals, and weather. The poem repeats the phrase “bless the Lord: praise him, and magnify him forever”. Everything in the pictures is mentioned in the poem/ song followed by this line. The book does not specify a certain god, or the god of what religion. The rest of the authors works are based off Native Americans. The authors note says “the whole earth is in constant prayer, and we can join with it’s great prayer”.
Critique the book backed by one reason: I love this book. It’s really beautiful how the book shows everything as in constant prayer and praise of the creator. Just in the simple things that they do, the flight of the birds, the running of the wild horses, the raging storm, is all praise to the creator. It truly makes the reader think about the beauty and power of nature and the fact that everything serves a beautiful purpose.
Prompts or questions you could pose when reading the book aloud to children:
1. What are some of the things that praise the lord?
2. What do you think the author means by all these things praise the lord? Are birds and horses and storms capable of praising? How could these things glorify the lord?
3. Do you think heat and fire can praise the lord? Is there anything good that can come out of a fire?
4. Does everything serve the same purpose? Are some things in the story more important than others? Do they serve more of a purpose than others?
Craft elements of the book that could be addressed in a reading or writing lesson: I think this book would really best be read as a read aloud. It would maybe be useful in science when discussing the life cycles of animals or living things in nature. Or even the purpose of natural disasters.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews