World Pray-ers

Today I continue my focus during Lent on picture books about prayer. This is a fabulous first book about prayer practices all over the world. Use in church or school settings for some great learning about faith all over the world! Such knowledge will help your young ones be more respectful and compassionate when they are teens and adults.

Picture Book: Everyone Prays:                                                                          Celebrating Faith Around the World

Author: Alexis York Lumbard 

Illustrator: Alireza Sadeghian

Summary: This book begins with "It's a wide world of faith." What wise words to enhance a child's journey into the meaning and value of prayer! Those who are young will find a rich vision of what prayer looks like beyond their own faith tradition. 

In the illustrations, they'll find a gorgeous array of prayer rituals across the globe. Christians, Jews, and Muslims get a first mention; 

 Hindus and Buddhists do too.

Prayer practices of other less common religions are mentioned as well. The images are beautifully rendered.  

Places of worship get a good deal of attention, particularly in the images. 

 These include praying outside in nature. 

A few prayer objects are listed such as books, beads, and candles. Look for others.  

The contrast is drawn between those who pray while still and those who pray via singing and dancing.

Water gets special attention here. It's used prayerfully in varying ways. 

Also, head coverings are mentioned. Some cover their heads when praying and some do not.

When a community or individual is likely to pray is also explored briefly. Baptism, perhaps the most joyful ritual for very young Christians, is depicted, 

but prayers for comfort and peace are mentioned as well. 

This last illustration is worth a conversation all on its own. Invite your children to talk about hypothetical whos, whys, whens, and wheres of this illustration and help them relate it to their own lives. 

Hanna’s Comments: I really like the simplicity of this book. You can tell this author understands the conceptual limits of young children. The illustrations are vibrant and will draw interest. Be sure all audience members can see the details. Bring with you to the lesson materials for some sensory experiences (incense, prayer rug, menorahs, crosses, etc.) and pass these around. Even better, invite a few people from other religions to talk personally about their own prayer practices and invite them to bring an object. Be sure to have a few people from your own tradition who will offer varying experiences. You don’t want the children thinking that everyone within a tradition prays in the same manner. Be sure to spend time beforehand with the information in the back of this book about the world's religions and these illustrations specifically. Then you'll be able to answer questions that might arise.

Original Publisher & Date: Wisdom Tales, 2014

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Depending on the direction of your conversation, any scripture on prayer could be connected. Consider using these 3 from the Old Testament: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently… (Psalm 37:7); Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10); Create in me a clean heart O God… (Psalm 51:10) OR The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young elementary-aged children to begin a rich conversation on general concepts and experiences of prayer. Later explore your church or church school’s specific theology and practices.