Book Review: This Little Prayer of Mine

Format:  Hardcover
Page Count:  40
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Publication Date:  February 16, 2010
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307458040
ISBN-13: 978-0307458049
List Price:  $12.99
Rating:  4 Stars!
Purchase Options:  Direct from the Publisher, Amazon

When our children are very young, we applaud them for their simple prayers such as, “Jesus bless my food.  Amen.”  While these petitions are adorable from the mouth of a toddler or preschooler, they may sound a little childish coming from children ages five, six, and beyond.  There comes a point when our children must understand that there is a much broader range of concerns that Christians are able to bring before God in prayer.  If you’re one of those parents who has struggled to find a way to introduce your child to a wider range of topics in prayer, This Little Prayer of Mine may be just the book you’ve been looking for.

The book begins with two children praying together at the side of a bed.  The first part of their prayer touches on fear, sadness, temptation, misbehavior, loneliness, and selfishness.  Next it moves into expressions of thankfulness and gratitude.  The third part of their prayer asks for God’s help in developing certain character attributes (i.e. sharing God’s love, helping the poor and sick, generous sharing of possessions).  The final part of their prayer acknowledges the importance of trusting in God and his plan and comes to a close asking that God would love them forevermore.

I enjoyed reading This Little Prayer of Mine and was glad to be able to share it with my own children.  The prayer unfolds with many catchy rhymes.  This gave the text a certain rhythm, which made it a lot of fun to read.  Also, there are vibrant and detailed illustrations throughout the book, which will surely hold your children’s attention.  I would recommend this book for children ages five and under.  My overall rating for this book is 4 stars.

Author information:
Anthony DeStefano’s books The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heave have sold a quarter-million copies.  He has received prestigious awards from religious organizations worldwide for his efforts to advance Christian beliefs in modern culture.

Illustrator information:
Mark Elliot’s brilliant illustrations have appeared in many picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s ever-popular Princess Tales series.  His acclaimed artwork delivers inspiration, wonder, and timeless beauty on every page.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.