Prayer for a Child [Hardcover]

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1990

A prayer full of the intimate gentleness for familiar things, the love of friends and family, and the kindly protection of God. Though it was written for one little girl, the prayer is for all boys and girls, and it carries a universal appeal for all ages and races.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rachel Field wrote this prayer for her own daughter, but she now shares it with children all over the world. Her beloved children's books include Newbery Medal-winner Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, Calico Bush, and Hepatica Hawks. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Jtg of Nashville; Puzzle edition (June 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938971646
• ISBN-13: 978-0938971641
• Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 11.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,598,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bedtime must-read for us, August 1, 2001

By 

Ellen Hardy "Ellen Hardy" (Georgia, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prayer for a Child (Hardcover)

My daughter got this book for Christmas when she was just two months old. To my dismay, it would be several months before she would be content to sit in my lap and listen to me read books, but now that we do that every night (beginning at about 14 months old), "Prayer for a Child" is one of our very favorites. It is one of about four that we MUST read each night.

I, like other reviewers, disagree with Horn Book's evaluation of the illustrations being "dated." I also find them sweet and simple and beautiful.

Our paperback copy is coming apart so it's time to replace it with a hardback.

I love that this covers all the bases of prayer that are relevant to children - toys, home, family, food, friends, all the people in the world. (not necessarily in that order)

Reading this book to my daughter will be a treasured memory for a lifetime.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just beautiful!, September 16, 2004

By 

BostonMama (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prayer for a Child (Hardcover)

I am always on the lookout for classic children's books, especially re-releases, and especially Caldecott honor or medal books. I was surprised to find this recently in an airport bookstore, as I had not seen it anywhere else! The book is just beautiful. I had been on the lookout for a children's book that introduces the concept of prayer in a sweet way, without being too scary or too overtly religious or too over-the-top or too boring. You'd be surprised how little is out there. This old book fit the bill. The illustrations are sweet, simple, and gorgeous, and the words are snug, cozy, warm and comforting. I loved everything about it, and bought it immediately. What a treasure; so glad for the re-issue!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great Classic!, January 2, 2005

By 

QueeNess (Crystal Lake, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prayer for a Child (Hardcover)

When my oldest child was born (he is now 22) a very good friend of my mother's sent him this book. When he was old enough for me to read to him, I read this book every night. After my daughter was born (19 years ago) I read it to her, also. Eventually, I had to read the book seperately to them, because they wanted their special time with me, and they each had special parts of the book that was their favorite.

My friend's daughter recently had a baby girl, and when I was pondering what to send, my daughter suggested this book, because it was so special to her. I came to Amazon to see if it was still in print, and thankfully it is! This book is very special for many reasons. It is a thorough, but simple prayer that covers everything a child may have been concerned about throughout the day. The illustrations are good, and it is these illustrations that my children remember and cherish so well after all these years. I got out the worn out book, with torn pages, and relived the special bedtime readings that I had with my children. I highly recommend this book -- it was special for me, and my children just as "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" was special when I was young.