cover image Thank You, God

Thank You, God

J. Bradley Wigger, illus. by Jago. Eerdmans, $16 (26p) ISBN 978-0-8028-5424-7

In this prayer primer, simple first-person messages of thanks accompany illustrations of multiethnic family gatherings—a beach stroll, dinner, campfire—along with majestic depictions of sun, moon, stars, and the natural world. A judicious use of rhythm and sound characterize Wigger’s (Together We Pray) poetry: “Thank you, God, for the rain—drips, plops, and drops—splashing the ground and pooling in puddles.” Jago’s (Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing) digital paintings, in hues of gold, sea green, and burnt orange, often convey joyful movement (children climbing trees or running in rain), but also quietly observation. One illustration shows a bird in a birdhouse, watched from below by two children; the prayer: “Thank you, God, for home—the floor under my feet and ceiling over my head” seems to come from both bird and child. In another, a spry, pale-skinned girl and an old, cane-bearing man with darker skin walk toward each other against a backdrop of a rising sun, each seeming to pray: “Bless you, God, for this day, for life.” An inspiring and accessible introduction to the practice of prayer. Ages 3–8. (Aug.)