What Is Prayer?

(Little Blessings)

by Kathleen Long Bostrom, Elena Kucharik (Illustrator)

This hardcover book helps introduce preschool kids to the concept of prayer. Scripturally based text intermingled with warm illustrations makes What Is Prayer? a perfect tool for parents who want to help their young ones begin a lifelong conversation with God.

Genres: Christian

Hardcover

First published February 7, 2002

About the author

Kathleen Long Bostrom is a full-time writer who lives in Pasadena, California, with her husband and little dog, Sophie Grace. Her grown children and families including two young grandchildren live nearby. She served as an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for 30 years but now focuses on her writing. She has published over fifty books, most of them for children. Her books are published in 30 languages around the world, with well over two-million copies sold since her first book, What is God Like?" was published in 2008.

Two of her books—Stories from the Bible, and Since the Baby Came (2023), received first place honors from the Northern Lights Book Award. Her book, "Who is Jesus?" was a finalist for the 2000 Gold Medallion Award, awarded to the outstanding books in Christian publishing,."What About Heaven?" was nominated for the People's Choice Award. She is included in a 2003 and 2021 edition of "Something About the Author" and "Contemporary Authors," two of the premiere reference sources for information on children's authors.

Kathy is the recipient of the 2014 David Steele Distinguished Writer Award, the highest award for writing awarded by the Presbyterian Church. She was named the Distinguished Alumna of Princeton Theological Seminary in 2013, most because of her books for children. Over the years, she won awards for preaching and is often requested to speak for groups at the national level. She has published numerous articles in various journals and newspapers as well.

Kathy served on the board of the Presbyterian Writers Guild and served two terms as president. She is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and The Authors Guild. She earned a master of arts in Christian education and a master of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, and a doctor of ministry in preaching degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how it asks lots of questions and answers them in verse. Although I can't say I think suggesting that a prayer can be said while standing on your head to a preschooler (a more impressionable one might try it and I'm afraid my son could use it to excuse not being polite during mealtime prayers), the answers all seem sound. The illustrations are unfortunate because they make the book seem much more dated than it is and probably wouldn't keep as many kids attentions as a brighter, more graphic method. Overall, though, useful and easily readable.