Really Woolly Bedtime Prayers

By: Bonnie Rickner Jensen
Illustrated by: Julie Sawyer Phillips
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: December 2009
ISBN: 978-1400315390 
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: January 6, 2010

Really Woolly Bedtime Prayers, a board book aimed at toddlers and preschool children, is a wonderful book to teach youngsters about the Lord’s love, caring, and forgiveness. The 40-page book is just the right size to be carried by little hands and is sure to become a favorite prayer book.

Every two-page spread has the same layout. The theme of each spread appears at the top of the left page (the Shepherd listens, loves, smiles, watches, etc.), followed by a very short Bible quote. (Most Scripture quotes are from “The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible,” with a few exceptions which are noted.) The rest of the left page is devoted to a prayer. Every prayer rhymes and they are short enough to hold the attention of busy little minds.

I give God all my worries;
He takes away my fear.

I call on Him when I’m afraid,
Because He’s always near.

I ask, and He protects me.
My dreams are gently blessed.

I know He loves me very much –
Because He cares the best.

Each right-facing page has a very brief “Dear God” prayer (Dear God, thank you for taking care of me all through the night) along with a very charming illustration. In fact, the really woolly lambs and their forest friends are a huge draw. It is hard not to fall in love with their antics throughout this book. Because there is no particular order to the prayers, little ones can flip through to a favorite picture for that night’s prayer.

Quill says: If you’re looking for a starter prayer book for a preschooler, you’d be hard pressed to find a better book than Really Woolly Bedtime Prayers.