When I Talk to God, I Talk About Feelings

December 15, 2024
Actor Metz and songwriter Collins join illustrator Fields in their second faith-related title for young children. Instead of focusing on the language of prayer--what to say or how to say it--this book explores a topic central to the lives of the very young: their feelings around talking to God. Rhymes and near-rhymes in the AABB verses enumerate the simple challenges and triumphs experienced by a series of animals: "Sometimes I'm sad, not sure what to do. / There are days I feel teary, unhappy, or blue. / I fell off a log. I'm embarrassed and hurt. / My coat and paws are all covered in dirt." An accompanying illustration depicts a sad wolf pup, a definite contrast to its siblings, who are delighting in their play. The highlight of the book is Fields' animal characters. Whether happy, nervous, or sad, their expressive faces are easy to read, and their feelings will be familiar to young tots. The beaver's frustration is palpable, and the tears in the scared raccoon's eyes may just make readers' own eyes well up. Some of the animals have a God stand-in to help them with their feelings--a friend or family member--but the final spread shows all the individual animals coming together in a couple of group hugs that express where children can find support (and sweetly defy predator-prey relationships). A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer.(Picture book. 3-6)

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February 28, 2025

PreS-Gr 2-Young readers are introduced to expressing emotions through prayer in this title featuring a cast of woodland creatures. Each spread explores a different feeling, such as sadness, anger, or joy, through the daily lives of these animals and demonstrates how to turn to God for comfort and understanding. The central message is that through each situation, no matter the emotion, God will be there as a guide. Mixed media illustrations use color and expressive animal faces to vividly communicate each emotion, such as the sad owl with downcast eyes or the frustrated beaver featuring red hues and a steely gaze. The gentle rhythm of the AABB rhyme scheme creates a soothing cadence, even though some of the paired endings utilize close rhymes. Unfortunately, the central message and purposeful illustrations are not supported by an engaging narrative, making this story of little use outside of very specific situations, like a family story time or a religious education. VERDICT Purchase only for collections that support religious education or for personal use.-Louie Lauer

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