Review of Snuggle Time Prayers

Snuggle Time Prayers is another beautiful board book. It measures about 5 inches by 7 inches and has a slightly plush cardboard cover and about 15 sturdy cardboard pages inside.

The premise of the book is fairly simple. Each page features a short poem. Each poem has a simple title such as “I’m Amazing” or “God’s Love” and is accompanied by a scriptural reference and a beautiful full-color illustration that spans two pages.

The poems themselves are simple and each is written as a prayer to God, thanking Him and praising Him. While I did appreciate the message in each poem, I have to admit some of the poems just read a bit stilted to me, as if the author relied a bit too much on a rhyming dictionary to piece together the verses.

For everyone I played with / For food, and fun, and rest; / For every smile that came my way / Thanks, God–you’re the best!

Granted, the audience for these books is infants, toddlers, and young children who probably don’t care too much about sophisticated rhyme and meter, so we can cut the author a little slack. That said, I’d be sure to thumb through a preview of the book before you rush to buy it if you’re a bit picky when it comes to children’s poetry. I think most children and many adults will appreciate it, but there is a subset of adult readers who may have that “fingernails on a chalkboard” feeling when reading these rhymes. Simplicity is fine, but some may find the verses lacking a certain bit of artistry.

Similarly, the illustrations are beautiful, but while some might look at them as adorable and cute, I can see others possibly seeing them as a bit too schmaltzy or sentimental. If you like things like Cherished Teddies or Precious Moments figurines you’ll probably appreciate the artwork, but if you find those things a bit too “cutesy”, you may want to move on.

This is definitely one of those books that’s probably best judged “in the eye of the beholder”.  It wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, but it may be yours.