When Daddy Prays
Kindergarten-Grade 4--Brimming with love and faith, Grimes's poems celebrate a father's devotion as seen through the eyes of his child. Conversational, simple, and deeply moving, they stress the man's reliance on God in all aspects of his life. Whether cheering at a Little League baseball game, waiting anxiously at the school bus stop, comforting a feverish little boy, begging God to guard the neighborhood, or celebrating the New Year at a Watch Night service, Daddy is a fine role model and source of strength for his children. Some of the poems are lighthearted, too, as when he searches for lost keys or trips over Rollerblades lurking in the hallway. Ladwig's full-page, dynamic illustrations in gouache, gesso, and oils are interestingly lit and offer views from a variety of angles. They show a powerful, dignified African-American man at work and at home. As in the text, his obvious physical prowess contrasts tellingly with his spiritual dependence on the Lord. Poignant, beautifully expressed poems with a decidedly Christian slant.Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.