When I Talk to God, I Talk About Feelings

PreS-Gr 2–Young readers are introduced to expressing emotions through prayer in this title featuring a cast of woodland creatures. Each spread explores a different feeling, such as sadness, anger, or joy, through the daily lives of these animals and demonstrates how to turn to God for comfort and understanding. The central message is that through each situation, no matter the emotion, God will be there as a guide. Mixed media illustrations use color and expressive animal faces to vividly communicate each emotion, such as the sad owl with downcast eyes or the frustrated beaver featuring red hues and a steely gaze. The gentle rhythm of the AABB rhyme scheme creates a soothing cadence, even though some of the paired endings utilize close rhymes. Unfortunately, the central message and purposeful illustrations are not supported by an engaging narrative, making this story of little use outside of very specific situations, like a family story time or a religious education.