The Children's Book of Poems, Prayers and Meditations - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1901881857 ISBN 13: 9781901881851

Publisher: Element Books Ltd, 1998

Synopsis

A collection of poems, prayers, and meditations arranged by theme includes writings on friendship, pain, laughter, sadness, and our relationship to all living things

About this title

Review

"Do I contradict myself ... I contain multitudes." Walt Whitman might have been talking about this diverse collection of poems: one of the best things about it is its multiplicity of competing voices. A Syrian Orthodox verse begins "Lord of the morning and ruler of all seasons, hear our prayer"--but John Lennon is also here, asking us to "imagine no religion." A quick sampling of other contributors includes Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Chief Seattle, Anonymous (many different times, from many different cultures), and Jack Prelutsky. The illustrators, 10 in all, are as diverse and talented as the authors. The compiler, Liz Attenborough, promotes these selections as a basis for meditation, and each of the 10 sections ends with a special meditation piece, but this is, first of all, an excellent, thought-provoking collection of verse. (Ages 5 to 12) --Richard Farr

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-Attenborough has compiled a wide range of poems in this diverse volume. Some are simple enough for kindergarten, others are more suited in theme and length to older children. Some are familiar, some are fresh, some are funny, some are serious, and all are well chosen. The interesting variety includes selections by St. Francis of Assisi, Bob Dylan, Emily Dickinson, Jack Prelutsky, and Mother Teresa, among many others. The selections are divided into 10 sections, each with a theme such as words, emotions, friends and family, or nature, and each one is illustrated by a different artist. Bright cartoons predominate, but some of the artwork is delicately done in ink and watercolors. Some pictures are powerful, but most are humorous and exaggerated. They are all shapes and sizes, making the page layouts lively, but the colors are so blindingly bold, and there is such an abrupt change from one illustrative style to another that the overall effect is jarring. The poems themselves are the best part of the production. At the end of each section is an effusive meditation that directs readers or listeners to lie or sit in a quiet place; breathe deeply; and imagine lovely scenes of nature, explore one's emotions, send out a web of love, purify one's thoughts, and generally feel wonderful during and after this experience.
Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Element Books Ltd
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 1901881857
• ISBN 13: 9781901881851
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128
• Editor: Attenborough Elizabeth