*When Daddy Prays by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Tim Ladwig

When Daddy Prays shows a child’s view of his pastor father, praying during all of life. Beautifully illustrated.

*When Daddy Prays by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Tim Ladwig. Eerdmans, 2002. 32 pages.

Reading Level: Picture books

Recommended For: Ages 4-8

“When Daddy prays/ my fear of darkness disappears/ and angels tiptoe down the hall.”

Daddy prays about all of life in this lovely, lyrical picture book. For mercy during fears at night, tense school bus stops, and feverish heads. Giving thanks for food and sunshine and health. Each prayer and vignette is its own poem through a child’s viewpoint, save the first poem which is the Daddy’s prayer. Tim Ladwig’s illustrations perfectly complement Grimes’s poetry, showing a Black father and his son living and serving and worshiping in their urban setting. This would make a lovely Father’s Day gift, especially for new dads!

Considerations:

• Language: There are a couple of times when the father could be accused of taking the Lord’s name in vain, but given that his entire life is depicted as one of prayer, I chose to assume those moments were reflective of the full gamut of emotion during prayer.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 5 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 5 out of 5

Read more about our ratings here. *indicates a starred review

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Review: Beautiful Moon (another picture book about prayer in an urban setting)
• A Review: Last Stop on Market Street (a picture book)
• A Resource: Books for Dads to Read to Their Kids (a book list)

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