From
Bogey Bear
Some fun books are not funny - they tell important stories and share
real feelings. Let There Be Peace: Prayers from Around the World
is a serious book about a serious issue that children care about -
peace. There are many important messages here, short poems from
all over the world. But don't just read this book to children, ask
them what they think of the poems and how what each verse means to them.
About The Book
The world's need for peace is more urgent than ever before. In this
book, Jeremy Brooks gathers together prayers from Bosnia to Northern
Ireland, from China to World War II Germany. They range from Taoist and
Hindu lines to a prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, and from words by
Archbishop Desmond Tutu to a daily prayer said by Muslims everywhere.
With beautiful illustrations that depict varied lands and cultures, this
thought-provoking collection makes a perfect prayer book for any child.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2–5—Brooks has assembled a collection of traditional and modern
prayers, many of them composed by people living in war-torn regions like
Bosnia, Northern Ireland, and the Middle East. Selections written by St.
Francis of Assisi, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Lao-Tzu round out the
collection.
By selecting prayers representing a variety of religions, Brooks reinforces his unifying message that people of different faiths actually share many of the same beliefs. In a brief introduction and subsequent explanatory notes, he expands upon this theme, reminding readers that peace begins on an individual level and that "we also need to live in peace with our world."
One of the shortest but most powerful verses is a traditional prayer from Africa. "The world was not left to us by our parents./It was lent to us by our children." Although the verses address such adult themes as war, violence, world peace, and forgiveness, they convey important lessons for readers of all ages.
Daly's subtle illustrations are painted in a varied palette of soft pastel and jewel-toned acrylics and feature people of many nations drawn in the artist's characteristic economical style. This title could be paired with Brooks's A World of Prayers (Eerdmans, 2006) and is a good supplement to more comprehensive volumes like Mary Joslin's The Lion Book of Best-Loved Prayers (Lion, 2008).
Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Starting with the cover image of multicultural figures curving around
the earth, this picture-book collection of prayers sends universal
messages of peace and global unity. Brooks, an English vicar, has pulled
from diverse religious traditions on pages that feature Muslim, Native
American, Jewish, Christian, Baha’i, Shinto, and Sikh prayers.
Almost all of the selections are simple, immediate, and rhythmic, and some of the most powerful entries are written by children living in zones of conflict. Adults may wonder about a few attributions, as in two anonymous messages that “were written during the 1990s conflict, Bosnia”; an author’s note describing sources would have been welcome.
Daly’s delicately rendered, brightly hued paintings greatly increase the impact of the words in scenes that acknowledge the realities of war even as they promote peace, as in one spread of soldiers fighting, while in the foreground, figures shake hands next to rainbow flags.
Children of many backgrounds will be stirred by these prayers, which close with a call to action: “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me!” Preschool-Grade 3. --Gillian Engberg
From Amazon.com
This is a collection that could grace any school or Sunday School
library, but could also be an attractive gift since its picture book
format welcomes the reader and encourages browsing. Here are words -
concise and heartfelt - to which anyone can respond, whatever their age
or background, with immediacy and feeling. --IBBY This collection of
gentle, not-too-sentimental prayers ranges from ancient Chinese and
Native American traditions, through concentration camps to Bosnia and
Northern Ireland. Bright child-friendly illustrations by Jude Daly give
the book a sunny, positive mood.
Good for assemblies of home reading. --Jewish Chronicle Picture prayer books are a beautiful gift for a child in a religious family. The opportunity to 'have a prayer' in the same way as 'having a story' last thing at night is very welcome. It is an engaging collection that I hope will become a favorite book for many a child.
About the Author
Jeremy Brooks grew up in Burundi, central Africa, where he worked as a
solicitor for a number of years before returning to Britain to become a
priest in the Church of England.
He uses prayer and storytelling in his work with children in church and in school. His previous book for Frances Lincoln was A WORLD OF PRAYERS.
About the Illustrator
Jude Daly was born in London and emigrated to South Africa as a young
child. She went to art college in Cape Town, and now lives there with
her husband, the writer and illustrator Niki Daly, and their two sons.
The Gift of the Sun, written by Dianne Stewart, was chosen as one of
Child Education's Best Books of 1996 and The Elephant's Pillow, written
by Diana Reynolds Roome, was awarded a U.S. Parents' Choice Silver
Honour.
Jude's other books for Frances Lincoln are The Little Blue Slipper, The Dove, The Stone, The Star Bearer, To Every Thing There is a Season, The Faraway Island, Let There be Peace and Lila and the Secret of Rain.