Customer Reviews

Psalm Twenty-Three

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is so special, after reading it I want to get a copy for everyone I know. This is a book not just for children, but for adults who need the constant reassurance and reminder of God's love for us. It is beautifully done, in a manner that should humble all of us.

The beauty and power of these words originally penned thousands of years ago are fresh, relevant and alive again in the magnificent artwork of Tim Ladwig. This is not the Psalm recited in the pristine pasture of the Mediterranean region. It is the Song of the Urban Neighborhood and it will resonate in your soul. A must get for everyone whether you associate with kids and grandbabies or not.

I remember the first time I saw this book. I loved it then. I love it now.

I discovered this book as I was working in a Christian outreach for inner city children in Kansas City. In the context of the ministry I was working in, this book made sense and rang true to some of the kids' lives.

I have used in since several times in all sorts of different cultural settings. The book is always appreciated. The illustrations in the book tell the story from a particular setting, but the way the illustrations are drawn have a universal quality to them. Any child from any background seems to be able to relate the pictures to the message and be able to understand Psalm 23.

I'm a library person all the way, but every so often I find a book that I want to own... Psalm Twenty-Three is one of those books. We first discovered it back when my kids, now in college, were in grade school. Tim Ladwig's sublime paintings capture the exact feel and atmosphere of every scene: the children's bedroom, the family kitchen, the playground, the classroom, the scary walk home. His paintings must be anointed, as they bring the meaning of this Psalm to vivid, relatable life. God's word is still fresh, and this book socks it home in a way any reader, of any age, can GET. I agree with all the points made by the other five-star reviewers here, and urge you to read their comments. I particularly like and agree with Robert Kellemen's statement: "The scenes are not so much "heavenly," as they are depictions of God's earthly provision through "Jesus with skin on"--loving parents, teachers, and other adults and extended family members." We're all called to minister to others and this book creates a desire to do just that, so thank you Tim Ladwig!
P.S. By the way, you may have read that at age 8, Tim Ladwig lost an eye in an accident. With that in mind, notice the scenes of the Grandmother sewing an eye back on the stuffed lamb... that just gets me every time, along with the stained glass window at the very end. Oh my! Another one to knock your socks off: "This Is the Star" by Joyce Dunbar, with breathtaking illustrations by Gary Blythe. You'll see the Nativity with a new and startling clarity that I predict will fill you with joy!!

Psalm Twenty-Three, illustrated by Tim Ladwig, is one of those books that uses Bible passages as its text. (This one, of course, is from Psalm 23.) What sets this book apart from the others, though, is the artwork.

True-to-life, vibrant paintings of a contemporary extended African-American family highlight each double-page spread. The images are realistic and three-dimensional, making you feel like you could reach out and touch the persons depicted in the paintings. Set in an urban neighborhood, the pictures correspond in a modern way with a text that is hundreds of years old.

For instance, the line, I shall not want, is illustrated with a painting of Grandma and Grandpa sitting at the kitchen table with a young boy and a young girl (and a dog), eating breakfast and preparing for a day at school. Two young boys playing in a mud puddle are paired with the words He leads me beside quiet waters.

What I Like: Everything. The artist did a wonderful job in the way he used words from the Bible to illustrate life in an urban setting.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: The publisher suggests 4-8 years as the appropriate age for this book. I think youngsters of that age would enjoy the illustrations along with the simple text. But, because of its universal appeal and the way the illustrator ties the text to everyday life, I believe this book is appropriate for all ages.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review

Tim Ladwig is the accomplished illustrator of numerous Christian-themed books. In "Psalm 23," Ladwig translates onto canvas the most famous Psalm of all, incorporating stirring paintings of African children in a loving family setting.

Ladwig has applied the ancient rural setting of this Psalm to the modern urban world. No Pollyanna portraits, Ladwig combines the bleak nature of potentially menacing city life with the comfort of God's presence.

The scenes are not so much "heavenly," as they are depictions of God's earthly provision through "Jesus with skin on"--loving parents, teachers, and other adults and extended family members.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

I already owned a copy of this book, but ordered more to give as gifts. Primarily, I like the illustrations that go along with the phrases of the Psalm because they picture life in the city. For example, "streams of water" is a puddle in the street - this is a very good way to bring Ps. 23 to life for those who are living day to day in an environment where sidewalks, empty lots, crossing streets, etc. are most familiar. It goes through an example of a typical day for two children as they encounter different places and people and are ultimately and always cared for by their Shepherd.
By reading it in a picture story format, one of our children had this Psalm in its entirety easily memorized at age 2.

This book has brought us to tears on numerous occassions. As urban dwellers (city folk) or those living in rural lands around the world, this book speaks to the eternal power of the Psalms and gives hope to us all. The art is phenominal - cutting to the core of a day-in-the-life for two African American inner-city children. The love, protection and abundance of God's provision is shown through the mundane - or is it the sacred? In God's world there is no difference. My wife and I give this book as a THE staple gift for all newborn children we know and love.

Buy, read, re-read, enjoy, meditate, ponder.

This book is fantastic. My children and I both love it. It brought me to tears the first time I read it. The thing I love about it is that it brings scripture to life. It makes it real and meaningful, easy to understand and apply, both for me and my children. You SEE how it is for today. Not to mention the art work is beautiful. We have enjoyed this book over and over again. I give it 5 stars.

I love beautifully illustrated children's books. This book is certainly one of them. I implore you to consider picking up a copy for yourself or someone that you know. The artwork is simply breathtaking. The realism and detail are unparalleled. Of course paired with the 23 Psalm just makes this visual treat even better.

We found this book because we have What Does the Sky Say? also illustrated by Tim Ladwig. The pictures were simply so beautiful we searched on the internet for anything we could find out about this artist. I encourage you to check out that book, too. You will not be disappointed.