A Child's Book of Prayer in Art

Rating:
Summary: Great Choices of Paintings by Sister Wendy Beckett
Review: 5/2/04 This book was a "great find"(on the shelf of children's books at a 'St Vincent de Paul Society' thrift store...The knowledge that the pictures are not your 'traditional'masterpiece paintings make the 'visual tour' of it one which makes you keep returning to find where did those 'cameo' pictures come from that Sister Wendy Beckett has placed throughout the book (e.g. The jacket is Domenico Ghirlandaio's "Portrait of an Old Man and a Young Boy"(which is on Page 10 and is also listed on the 'picture list'/page 32 as being at the Musee du Louvre,Paris . The book is not too extreme for today's child (1.their cartoons 2.their 'rap artists' & 3.their extreme sports , make this book which would have been controversial in the 1980's ,just contemporary in its year 1995 publication ,first by Great Britain's Dorling Kindersley Limited ,followed by a "First American Edition" by New York,USA's DK Publishing Inc....,with colors enhanced by Verona,Italy's G.R.B. Graphica.

Rating:
Summary: Not appropriate for very young children
Review: Although this is a lovely book, with many lovely thoughts and lessons, there are some paintings that young children will find disturbing. Even my thirteen-year-old daughter was shocked by the painting of the murder of a Pope. There is also some semi-nudity (from the rear) which readers should be aware of. Although this book encourages children to love God, I feel Sister Wendy could have chosen paintings more appropriate for children.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful for all ages
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I took it to work where it was loved by all, including atheists. Sister Wendy truly is imbued with the Holy Spirit and it just comes pouring right out of the pages of this book. Reading level is listed as 4 - 8 years of age, but my 9 year old and I and love it too. The prayers are simple, honest, direct and lovely. Suitable for use with even the youngest child. The paintings and her comments lend themselves to medidation by people of all ages. Sister Wendy helps us to see the divine joy in art, and through it, life.