Little Prayers for Ordinary Days

Tish Harrison Warren, Flo Paris Oakes, Katy Hutson 

Illustrated by Liita Forsyth  

IVP Kids 2022

Reviewed by Sue Careless

FOR their spiritual formation children need Bible story books but they also need prayer books suited to their young age. There are certainly some classics out there and a new one has just joined their ranks.  

Tasha Tudor’s tiny hardcover First Prayers (1964) and Michael Hague’ board book A Child’s Book of Prayers (updated 2018) are fine examples of artists illustrating traditional prayers in a way that will engage young children. After all, even when children cannot read the words they can always read the pictures. 

And so, one of the great blessings of Little Prayers for Ordinary Days is the delightful pen and water colour drawings by Liita Forsyth. The cover alone will encourage children to peek inside. 

But instead of the traditional prayers that have nurtured past generations, this book is brimming with fresh devotions that address situations all children face:

For when I break something, For when I’ve lost something, For looking in a mirror, For the end of a school day, For doing chores, For waiting, For when I do what I shouldn’t, For when I have to eat something I don’t like, For petting an animal, For brushing my teeth, For making something, For a really great day – and more, twenty-nine prayers in all. 

Seemingly ordinary situations are approached by the three authors—Tish Harrison Warren, Flo Paris Oakes and Katy Hutson—with great honesty. “For a hard day” begins “This was not my favourite day, God… this one was pretty bad.” But it concludes with spiritual wisdom and theological depth: 

“Thank you that I don’t have to pretend that things are okay. You can bring good even from terrible days. Help me to trust you when all I see is what’s hard.”   

Another prayer, “For trying something new” opens: “God I’m trying something new. It’s scary. And exciting! What if I don’t get it right?” but continues, “I know I can’t do anything to make you love me more or less. You just love me….”  

We adults might want to pray some of these ourselves.

All the prayers are addressed simply to God, so the volume would be suitable for Jewish children as well. 

For over a decade Hutson and Oakes have been writing and performing songs for children with the band Rain for Roots. Harrison, a priest in The Anglican Church in North America, is the author of Liturgy of the Ordinary and Prayer in the Night. Forsyth is an art teacher who also owns a studio for kids of all ages called The Little Bits Workshop.   

In their introduction the authors assure the children: “God meets you in each moment. You don’t have to talk to God with big words or only about extra-special things.… God always listens, God always loves you. You can tell God everything.”

I hope this gifted team will consider a second volume, perhaps one titled Little Prayers for Extraordinary Days, one that might include prayers for birthdays or when someone is seriously ill or a loved one or pet has died, as well as for high days and holidays. 

This small volume will tuck nicely into the hands and hearts of your children, godchildren and grandchildren or any of the little folk in your life. 

***********************

For parents seeking not only more prayers for children but also how to get started (and keep going) in the practice of family prayer, Bless This House: Prayers for Families and Children (2004) by the husband-and-wife team of Gregory Wolfe and Suzanne M. Wolfe is a terrific resource. They raised four children and seem to understand the child psychology involved from toddlers to teens as well as the theology of prayer. Theirs is a spiritually rich book that is well worth exploring.