My Father's House - Hardcover

Kathi Appelt lives in College Station, Texas.

Raul Colón lives in New City, New York.

Taking a cue from John 14:2—"In my Father's house are many mansions"—Appelt pays tribute not to God's heavenly creation but to the wonders here on Earth. Singsong quatrains express gratitude for the diversity and beauty of nature, including a variety of landscapes—prairie, marsh, desert, mountains—as well as the animals who inhabit them. The slant rhymes in several of the stanzas may cause some readers to stumble, but the ecological concern behind the poetry will speak to children. Though occasionally Colón's intrepretations of the text seem too literal, his paintings' rich textures and colors, often suggesting the stylized designs of stained glass, support the text's reverential, celebratory tone. Reminded of the splendor of Earth's biodiversity and the mysteries of the heavens, readers of many faiths will echo Appelt's heartfelt conclusion: "Oh my Father, thank you / For all your many mansions . . . / I'll keep them fast inside my heart, / For this is what I know . . . / That each and every mansion / Makes this planet we call Home." Nolan, Abby
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