Faith
Name of Book: Faith
Author: Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis, Cynthia Pon
Illustrator: Various photographers
Publisher: Charlesbridge; Global Fund for Children
Audience: Ages 8 -12
Summary: A book of photographs of children from across the world, of various faiths, participating in elements of their particular faiths. The elements of faith included are: prayer, chanting and singing, reading holy books, listening and learning, cleansing, holy places, holidays and festivals, marking important life events, dress, food and drink, and caring for and helping others. There is also a glossary of terms at the end of the book.
Literary elements at work in the story: This is an informational, book of photographs that include images from settings and locations all over the world. The information about the photographs and events is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator. All of the pictures include children engaging in the faith elements and events.
How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability make a difference to the story? The book shows children of varied races, cultures and economic statuses and is very good to show both boys and girls involved in the activities. There are no photographs of physical abilities, but strong mental abilities are assumed based on some activities the children are engaging in.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7
Theology: As loved children of God, we are created to enjoy the creation of God. We do this by living in community with one another; caring for, loving, living in faith with, and loving one another. We believe that we are a community of faith, called together by God, and that God calls us to live our lives by having faith, not by just relying on what we can see, touch and feel.
Faith Talk Questions:
- What are some of the things the children are doing in the book?
- Do you do any of those things?
- What do you do that they are doing?
- How is what we do different or the same as what the children in the book were doing?
- Does God hear prayers from all children?
- Can we still worship God even if we don’t go to this church or Sunday School?
- Do you know anyone that has different beliefs than you?
Review prepared by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Mason Todd
Faith by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
