Children's Religion Notes

Zonderkidz jumps into one of publishing's hottest genres with its Z Graphic Novel line of Christian manga comics for middle-graders and young adults. This month will see the release of 12 titles—six separate series with two entries each. The company plans to roll out 48 titles in all over the next four years. Story lines cover a broad range of styles—biblical, superhero and fantasy/science fiction—and Zondervan maintains that all the books are theologically sound and family-friendly. Among the volumes on the initial list are: Manga Bible Volume 1: Names, Games, and the Long Road Trip: Genesis-Exodus by Young Shin Lee, illus. by Jung Sun Hwang; and Tomo Volume 1: I Was an Eighth-Grade Ninja by Andrew Simmons and Rob Corley, illus. by Ariel Padilla (Manga Bible: paperback $9.99 ages 8-12 ISBN 978-0-310-71287-9; Tomo: paperback $9.99, ages 8-12, ISBN 978-0-310-71300-5; Aug.)

The Blessing of the Beasts by Ethel Pochocki, illus. by Barry Moser, imagines a cockroach and skunk in New York City as stowaways (via flower truck) working their way into the annual Blessing of the Animals (held each October on the Feast of St. Francis) at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Moser's gently tinted wood engravings showcase anthropomorphic critters and a self-portrait of the artist as friar. (Paraclete Press, $18.95 40p, ages 6-up ISBN 978-1-55725-502-0; Sept.)

For readers wondering what Noah's passengers observed on their fateful Ark adventure, The Animals Watched: An Alphabet Book by John Warren Stewig, illus. by Rosanne Litzinger, gives an A to Z account. From the aardvarks who “saw Noah listen to the word of God, foretelling a flood because the people had been evil” to the zebras who “saw the sons and daughters of Noah follow God's instruction to go forth and multiply, filling the whole earth,” Stewig offers a description of an arduous though hopeful journey of faith. Pencil-and-watercolor artwork in earthy hues conveys a peaceful, sometimes cheerful mood and spotlights a broad menagerie. (Holiday, $16.95 32p ages 4-8 ISBN 978-0-8234-1906-7; Sept.)

Phyllis Tickle, author of the Divine Hours line of fixed-time prayer books, now offers a similar compendium aimed at young children, This Is What I Pray Today, illus. by Elsa Warnick. This volume collects prayers inspired by the Psalms to be prayed at three fixed times during the day—“Waking Up,” “Resting” and “Ending My Day”—for each day of the week. Pastoral watercolor scenes and distinct borders, akin to those on scrapbook pages, frame the text throughout. (Dutton, $15.99 32p ages 3-up ISBN 978-0-525-47828-7; Oct.)