Beautiful Moon: A Child’s Prayer
Tonya Bolden, Author
Eric Velasquez, Illustrator
Abrams Books for Young Readers, Fiction, Nov. 4, 2014
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes: Prayer, Bedtime, City and town life, Compassion, Kindness
Opening: The amber orb floats, washing the night with a radiant glow. Stars hide. Only city lights glitter. It’s not a silent night. Car horns beep and blare. There is music in the air. And someone calls out, “I love you!”
Book Jacket Synopsis: A young boy wakes. He has forgotten to say his prayers. Outside his window, a beautiful harvest moon illuminates the city around him and its many inhabitants. As the moon slowly makes its way across the heavens, the boy offers a simple prayer for the homeless, for the hungry and for others.
What I like about this book:
- The narrative is simple and straightforward. It is very inspirational, comforting and heartwarming, more than it is religious.
- There is a balance of diversity.
- The boy’s sincerity carries a powerful message. It is important for children to see how the boy focuses his prayers on social needs of today’s world before he focuses on his family, his teacher and his pet turtle.
- This book will help parents have discussions with their kids about who is in need and who they may want to pray for.
- Vasquez’s rich and beautiful illustrations are painted in oil. Each double-spread shows the moon in a different phase meaningful to the setting. As the boys prays for people with no homes, the sick to be healed or for wars to end, Vasquez highlights his prayers by showing a woman bundled up on a park bench, a man in a hospital bed and a soldier in a distant land.
- This is a wonderful collaborative effort between the author and illustrator.
Tonya Bolden has written a number of highly regarded books for both children and adults. Maritcha: A 19th Century American Girl won a Coretta Scott King Honor Award and a James Madison Book Award. Her other books include Emancipation Proclamation, M.L.K. and Searching for Sarah Rector.
Eric Velasquez is the illustrator of numerous books, including My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart and My Uncle Martin’s Words for America, both by Angela Farris Watkins. He has received much praise for his work, including the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award and the Pura Belpre Honor for illustration.
Pat, I’m not religious, but for folks who are, this seems like a very sweet book.
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It is an inspirational book that really focuses on our world and shows a compassionate child response to those needs. That’s why I loved this story.
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I need this for my two. What a sweet book.
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It is a sweet and very beautiful book for children. I think your kids would like it.
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Sounds beautiful.
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It is a beautifully written and illustrated book.
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I never read picture books anymore, so I tend to judge picture book posts by their covers. This one is absolutely striking and drew me right in. The story sounds fabulous. Great pick, Pat.
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Covers are very important to me and the illustrator created such a gorgeous cover. Draws you right into the story. It’s a wonderful book for parents to read to kids at night. (Your kids are older.)
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What a lovely book for all families to enjoy. I don´t think you need to be religious to appreciate a book like this. The cover is amazing and begs to be opened.
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I agree. That’s why I called it inspirational, because it is. The cover is beautiful and draws you in.
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What a gorgeous cover! I would love to read this for the beautiful art…like Julie R-Z, I love lushly illustrated PBs. 🙂 Happy Friday, Pat!
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You would appreciate the artwork, Teresa. It is simply gorgeous.
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Reblogged this on Dr Niamh's Plum Tree Creative Community and commented:
This looks so beautiful. I thought I would share it.
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Thank you for reblogging my post. I’m glad you liked it!
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Even the synopsis is lyrically written. What a beautiful thought.
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It is a very lyrical book. I love the child thinking about the world first.
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Yes, compassion can be taught!
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Great book for showing kids to look at others’ needs before their own. Thanks for sharing!
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I’m glad you enjoyed my review. It is an excellent story with stunning illustrations.
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Sounds like a wonderful book Patricia. Quiet and reflective.
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Sounds like a good book. Thanks for sharing.
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It is such a beautiful book with an excellent story.
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