Peace on Earth

Simplicity and dignity characterize this perceptively edited anthology of prayers. Gathering hymns and songs of praise from the Inuit, the Baha'i, Breton fishermen, Pakistani children and diverse other groups, Le Tord gracefully suggests the universality of religious experience without drawing attention to particular denominations or creeds. Prayers are arranged according to natural phenomena (``Morning and Sun,'' ``Plants and Harvesting,'' ``Animals,'' etc.), with holiday offerings grouped together under the rubric ``Songs and Celebrations.'' The artist's apparently effortless, delicately hued watercolors blend an appreciation of the everyday world with an intimation of the mystical--here, spirituality is both lightly worn and spontaneous. All ages. (Oct.)