Book Review: Prayers for Faithful Families by Traci Smith

I have a secret:  I LOVE children's books, children's storybooks, and books designed for children and caregivers to enjoy together.

See that? My love is deep enough that I had to add some bold, underline, and italic flair to really get my point across.

But on the other hand, I guess it's not so much a secret. My Amazon deliveries know it to be true. I often meander through the storybooks in the Target aisle, marveling at the beautiful artwork and the inclusive storylines displayed on the shelves.  I've been known to bring new books home from trips in the interest of "an unexpected gift for my child" or "doing research for work."  (It doesn't work. My wife sees right through it!)

But children's books about God, and faith?  I have more of a LOVE/HATE relationship with those. 

---

Perhaps that sounds a little bit strange coming from a pastor... and you'd be forgiven if that thought crossed your mind. But the truth is: I've found that LOTS of children's books marketed to Christian families feature troubling, or even damaging, theology.  At best, these books venture into shallow platitudes (think of it as theology-lite) that removes the incredible power of God's Grace and Love. At worst, they make sweeping generalizations about the biblical narrative, perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and promote a view of God that is either a divine butler whose goal is to serve our every desire, or a harsh judge meant to coerce children to behave, "or else."

*shudders* 

Rest assured: Prayers for Faithful Families is not one of those books.

This is the second book by author and PC(USA) pastor Traci Smith. I also served on the launch team of her first book, Faithful Families, published a couple years ago. If that first book was a treasure-trove of resources for creative faith-forming activities for families, this new book is a treasure-trove of faith-forming prayers... ​all organized with a handy table of contents.

To read my 2017 review of Traci Smith's first book, Faithful Families, click here!

• There are simple prayers to frame the day: morning, meals, and bedtime.
• There are simple prayers for family milestones: baptism, new babies, a lost tooth.
• There are simple prayers for all the varying emotions children feel, to help them find word
  

• There are simple prayers to frame the day: morning, meals, and bedtime.
• There are simple prayers for family milestones: baptism, new babies, a lost tooth.
• There are simple prayers for all the varying emotions children feel, to help them find words for those feelings: joy, fear, anxiety.
• There are simple prayers for difficult times: the death of a pet or loved one, or before a surgery, or reflecting on a traumatic news event.
• The end of the book includes several creative, multi-sensory forms of prayer: praying through movement, praying through art, praying through blowing bubbles!

The prayers offered within the pages are inclusive and theologically appropriate, while not being too dense or mature for the youngest children among us -- even infants and toddlers!

Are you a parent or guardian who wants to live into your vocational calling as the primary faith teacher of their children, but aren't quite sure where or how to begin? I believe you'll find Prayers for Faithful Families (and its older sibling Faithful Families, too) to be an essential reference guide to have on your shelf.

---

Prayers for Faithful Families launches TODAY, February 11, 2020! Get it on Amazon or at your local bookseller. (Bonus: CLICK HERE to read the author's perspective of how and why this book came to be.)

I'm grateful to Beaming Books, an imprint of 1517 Media, for the invitation to be a part of the Prayers for Faithful Families launch team and for sending an advance copy of the text.