What I Believe: Kids Talk about Faith

The Birdseyes (She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain) didn't need to look farther than their own hometown of Corvallis, Ore., when assembling the interesting cross-section of young people that provided information for this book. Six children, all aged 12 or 13, discuss their religion and what it means in their lives. A Jewish girl fondly remembers the celebration of her bat mitzvah, a Hindu girl explains her interpretation of karma and reincarnation and a Muslim boy describes how he prays to Allah five times a day. Although the writing is a bit stilted and the format of each entry is exactly the same, readers will be able to compare and contrast how their peers assimilate their faith and perhaps identify some common ground between different beliefs. This individualized and accessible approach should prove an excellent jumping-off point for discussion of world religions. Crum's serviceable color photographs capture the book's subjects as they pray and play, lending an element of intimacy to the proceedings. Ages 4-7. (Dec.)