Song of Creation
Grade 1-4–An author's note introduces this story as an adaptation of the song fromTheLiturgy of the Hours and The Book of Common Prayer. The basis of this text is the song of praise that saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from death in the furnace from the Book of Daniel. Goble includes the familiar verse, in which heavens, angels, sun, moon, and the entire Earth sing songs of praise, and includes animals and plants of America as additional elements that also send out prayers to God. Dandelions, meadowlarks, cranes, vultures, and moths are raised to the level of stars of heaven and winds of God in singing praise. The refrain, "praise him, and magnify him forever," appears after each element sings its praise. Fans of Goble's distinctive style will enjoy examining the detailed illustrations. A white buffalo calf rubs noses with others in his herd, woodpeckers nestle in birches, and great sturgeons swim among sunfishes and trout. Goble also honors the natural world, and the book never becomes didactic or preachy. An attractive, contemporary offering.–Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.