Everyone Prays: Celebrating Faith Around the World

by Alexis York Lumbard, Alireza Sadeghian (Illustrator)

Overview

“Christians, Jews, and Muslims all pray. So do Hindus and Buddhists. Many others pray too.” So begins Everyone Prays, a bright and colorful concept book celebrating the diverse ways that people pray. In a vibrant yet accessible manner, young readers are transported on a visual tour across the globe. They will discover the Native American sun dance ceremony, visit the sacred sites in Jerusalem, behold the Shinto shrines in Japan, watch Maasai dances in Kenya, see pilgrimages to the river Ganges in India, and much, much more.
With an appendix to help answer questions children might have, Everyone Prays offers young hearts and minds a chance to learn that although people from other places and cultures may seem different, we all share the diverse world of faith and prayer. And what a bright and beautiful world it is!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937786199
Publisher:	World Wisdom
Publication date:	03/01/2014
Pages:	28
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alexis York Lumbard is the author of the award-winning book, The Conference of the Birds (illustrated by Demi). Her second book, Angels (illustrated by Flavia Weedn) was released in Fall 2013. A busy mother of three daughters, she was motivated to write by her children, and the desire to create high quality stories to inspire young hearts and minds. She lives in Natick, MA.
Alireza Sadeghian is an award-winning children's book illustrator and professional artist. In addition to his design and illustration work, he has also taught art to young children. His first book to be published in the US was the critically acclaimed The Knight, the Princess & the Magic Rock (Wisdom Tales, 2012). He lives in Isfahan, Iran with his wife and two children.

Editorial Reviews

02/17/2014
Storyteller and author Lumbard (Angels) takes a multicultural approach to the subject of prayer. Both beginning readers and those still being read to should find this pictorial journey through the major religions’ prayer practices, as depicted by Iranian illustrator Sadeghian (The Knight, the Princess, and the Magic Rock), to be informative and engaging. The text is minimal, but the colorful, cartoonlike illustrations offer details that can serve as discussion starters. For example, “others use for special ceremonies” depicts a baptism; “Some pray with their heads covered” shows a group of Muslim women wearing veils. Prayers from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, and Shintos appear, and geography, rituals, objects, and reasons for prayer are shown (“People pray when they are happy”). An “About The World’s Religions” page that will help adults answer basic questions about the religions mentioned, and a list of notes for each illustration is provided. While everyone on Earth may not actually pray—around one in six people worldwide is not religiously affiliated—Lumbard’s examination respectfully and simply describes commonalities and differences among the billions of believers who do. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

03/01/2014
PreS-Gr 1—Using simple text, this title touches upon the traditions of prayer in the world's major religions, treating each custom with respect and reverence. The colorful, detailed illustrations will help children to understand some of the elements of the religious practices by showing scenes of prayer in many different cultures. At the conclusion, the author provides an appendix with information about the religions named as well as a description of each of the scenes depicted throughout, both of which will be helpful for adults sharing this book with children. Although at first glance this title may seem basic, it in fact offers a gentle, effective way to introduce the youngest of children to the world's religions and what they have in common.—Sarah Reid, Broome County Public Library, Binghamton, NY

School Library Journal