This is a pretty little book with attractive illustrations containing a collection of graces. The back covers states it is ‘a book of mealtime graces for every occasion.’

There are graces from all around the world, both old and new, light hearted and serious. It’s aim is just to provide families with new graces to say and new ideas for prayer at mealtimes.

What did you like about it?

I liked the illustrations; they are really pretty. I also liked the way the compiler had put a note at the end of each grace saying where it originated and in some cases, where in the Bible it was drawn from.

What didn't you like?

I didn’t like the way it was aimed at children but had a large number of graces using words like thee and thy and phrases like ‘a goodly share’ as I felt they needed to be readily understood by the children praying them. I also felt the collection was rather small.

What will you still remember a year from now?

I will remember that it is healthy not to get stuck in a rut with God in prayer and say the same thing every day! This book is a good starting off point to making the saying of grace a little more interesting to the young child for whom it is sometimes a chore.

Who would you recommend this book to?

I would recommend this book as a small gift to a child you know, maybe a god child. Or it would be good for a children’s church group that eats meals together, maybe a holiday club.

Can you give us a couple of good quotes from the book?

We close our eyes and say a prayer: Thank you for the food we share.
Traditional

The bread is warm and fresh,
The water cool and clear.
Lord of all life, be with us,
Lord of all life, be near.
An African grace

review by Hilary 
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