“A Child’s First Bedtime Prayers” by Dandi Daley Mackall

A Child’s First Bedtime Prayers

Dandi Daley Mackall
Tyndale Kids (2022)
ISBN 978-1496454218
Reviewed by Lydia (age 8) for Reader Views Kids (07/2022)

“A Child’s First Bedtime Prayers” is a book with twenty-five different prayers that you can pray to Jesus before you go to sleep. When I go to bed, my family does The Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s Evening Prayer, but in this book, the different kinds are more like different things you can pray to Jesus about.

The different topics include asking Jesus questions about how things are done, like how is the best way to talk to him and how Jesus keeps us safe. Other topics are happy or sad, like how he forgives us and makes us like snow, thanking him for animals, colors, and family, and praising him for the good things he does; sad things are when we feel lonely, guilty, or impatient. Each chapter begins with a prayer from a child, and then Jesus’s answer back, then a Bible verse at the end to show that his answer is the same as what he said in the Bible; last is a question you can ask yourself, or whoever’s reading it can ask you, that makes you think about what Jesus tells us.

“A Child’s First Bedtime Prayers” is written in rhyming words, so it’s not always the easiest to understand; I understand most of it, though. I like that it seems like Jesus is actually talking to me in the book; I get jealous of people in the Bible who actually got to hear his voice. The things to pray about are a lot. I don’t think about all the twenty-five things normally. This book is a good reminder for me to remember to keep praying when things happen – good and bad. I like the pictures throughout the book that show little kids and Jesus, and then the little kids with Jesus.

A Note from Mom: “A Child’s First Bedtime Prayers” includes many of the feelings that people of all ages feel, but unfortunately, people of all ages don’t always know how to handle them or where to turn for the proper help. I don’t know if Lydia got the full depth of the topics pertaining to the prayers, but I believe she could scratch the surface and understand them in generalities, which is much better than nothing. I like that there are a variety of prayers that cover both happy and sad things, which makes them versatile for families across the world and each individual struggling or not knowing the right words to express each topic on a daily (or multiple times a day) basis. The words from Jesus sound as though he truly spoke to them, and including the Bible verses at the end of each chapter helps solidify this thought. This book would make a worthwhile addition to every home, not just Christian ones, especially keeping it out in view and not “out of sight, out of mind.” The chapters can be as light or deep as you are comfortable with, but there is room for self-reflection and customization within each prayer.