GOOD MORNING, WORLD!

Anthropomorphized animals follow typical morning routines including play and prayers.

A dog, goat, hedgehog, sheep, and dove greet each new activity cheerfully. Then, with eyes closed and paws, hooves, and wings folded, they thank God “for food to eat and friends who share.” After washing up in a river and then wiggling, stretching, and jumping in a meadow, they celebrate: “God has made today. Hooray! Good morning, God!” Pastel backgrounds are vaguely reminiscent of stereotypical images of the Holy Land, with sandstone-colored buildings and a domed tower. The rising sun becomes increasingly prominent, finally appearing as a yellow half circle on the final spread. Toddlers will soon chime in on the “Good morning” refrain. Designed as curriculum for Christian churches, the message is clear and consistent. The best thing about the book is the final message addressed to parents: a gentle assurance that “It’s not easy being a toddler—or the parent of a toddler,” along with advice on how to establish routines and the importance of making one-on-one time part of that routine almost make up for the unsubtle animal illustrations and slight and preachy storyline. Parents seeking such support might do better to sign up for the online newsletter advertised on the back of the book.

A slight but pleasant faith-based morning story