Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Our Father by Rainer Oberthur & illustrated by Barbara Nascimbeni

About the book: The Lord's Prayer is essential to the Christian faith, yet the language and the ideas it conveys can be daunting to children. Our Father addresses children's questions in a way that is both clear and poetic; Rainer Oberthür beautifully explains the meaning behind each line of the Lord's Prayer, making it more accessible for young readers.

With bold, inviting illustrations that perfectly complement the text, this book will give readers of all ages a deeper understanding of God and the meaning of faith.

My thoughts: The "Our Father" prayer from Scripture is decidedly Christian and is from the Holy Bible, New Testament. Any interpretative rendering of it can be open for discussion and may vary amongst individuals and groups.

This children's book by Rainer Oberthur is a beautifully presented combination of imagery and textual explanation of the basic text from the Lord's Prayer or the "Our Father."

I really enjoyed it and see it as a wonderfully simple and thorough explanation by a "parent" to a child. The book begins with a "chat" where the parent is explaining and answering questions that a child might post.... Where did the world come from? Why does it exist? as they open gateways for discussions about God.

The main objection I have about this lovely book is the answer to what is heaven. I find it different from that which I believe and others most likely will, too. However, this can easily be handled by the parent as the book is read to and with the child. As with any spiritual lesson, parents should take the lead and carefully ensure that lessons agree with Scripture.

I still endorse this book and believe it would be a good addition to a home or library.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing about this book! It sounds like a good read. The Lord's Prayer gives us keys to the Christian life in a few sentences. I think people who are used to reciting it can easily switch off and miss the power behind the words. Visiting from Booknificent Thursdays. Tina from Amanda's Books and More

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the heads-up about the definition of heaven given. Thanks so much for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday this week!
    Tina

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