Lord Help Me

July 15, 2020
Routine activities are grounded in childlike faith demonstrated through everyday prayers and guileless optimism. A brown-haired, beige-skinned girl with the first initial E, who readers might assume shares the name Emme with the 12-year-old author, takes them through a day of simple and sometimes profound prayers. She starts her day with prayers for the motivation to leave her warm, cozy bed, to get out the door on time, and to pay attention in school. E prays to develop her patience, honesty, gratitude, and self-discipline; she prays for her family, friends, and pets; and she even throws in a quick prayer for her favorite animal, the sloth. The author's note reveals that the prayers were inspired by her own daily prayers and how the simple practice of praying throughout the day has brought peace. While the author may not be a household name, her parents (Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony) are, yet despite her famous family the book is endearingly down to earth. Figueroa's cartoons depict E in a comfortable but fairly unremarkable suburban setting; readers will enjoy seeing E's sloth-themed d�cor as well as dog Lady and bunnies Nibble and Skittles. The everyday activities that inspire E's prayers are sure to resonate with many readers, as will the encouraging message to trust God with the small stuff. The full text of the traditional bedtime prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep" appears at the end. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 30.3% of actual size.) An accessible and even fun book of useful prayers for the modern kid. (Picture book. 4-7)

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August 7, 2020

PreS-Gr 2-A young girl reaches out in prayer for help in accomplishing tasks during her day in this quiet and calming title. From the moment the narrator rises, to when she prepares for school and completes homework and chores, she prays for help in accomplishing projects that seem at first glance to be simple, everyday tasks, but that come together to reveal how special each moment is, and how lucky we are to be able to experience even the smallest effort. The subtitle misleads: This is not a list of prayers, but a journey as a young white girl with light brown hair faces lighthearted obstacles (she prays for help getting out of a soft warm bed) and pricklier ones (she breaks a lamp and prays for the ability to own the truth). The text is little more than one or two sentences in each spread, with corresponding illustrations in soft colors depicting each scene. Character expressions depict the real emotions readers experience in an ordinary day, as well as unusual ones-a subtext depicts the problems for sloths facing deforestation. The narrator closes out her day being grateful to Jesus for everything in her life, and finding ways to help the world around her. The words for "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" are included, as is an author's note expressing her wish for children to feel comforted by prayer. VERDICT A solid choice for bedtime stories and for those searching for simple but effective prayer books for a very young demographic.-Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houston

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 8, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 Mu�iz, the 12-year-old daughter of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, shares her belief in the power of prayer and faith in her picture-book debut. The book comprises a collection of simple prayers that show children how easy it is to ask God for help with small problems, like having the energy to wake up for school, as well as large ones, such as threats to endangered species. Though no names are used in the story, the illustrations are clearly inspired by Mu�iz and her family. Salvadorian illustrator Figueroa uses a mix of full-page and panel art to capture the busyness of family life and its tender moments, as when the girl narrator curls up with her large, blended family on the sofa to watch a movie. She feels loved and supported and knows that bad times, like when arguing with a sibling or feeling difficult emotions like frustration, will pass. Short sentences and expressive characters and animals will keep youngsters' attention on this sweet story. Appropriate for Christianity collections and lessons focused on mindfulness, gratitude, and social-emotional learning.

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