I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR YOU

The Bacharach/David 1967 pop hit "I Say a Little Prayer for You" takes on an odd new guise in this picture book. Here a woman of color is expressing her love for her daughter as the two celebrate the girl's birthday. The lines "The moment I wake up,/ Before I put on my makeup.../ I say a little prayer for you" are accompanied by an illustration of Mom waking her daughter in a bedroom bedecked with a "Happy Birthday" banner. The day continues to unfold, depicting Mom at work and the child at school until they meet for a party in the park. The sentiments "Together, together, that's/ how it must be./ To live without you/ would only mean heartbreak for me" seem overly intense in this new context, especially given that these lines form a refrain, and the line "Answer my prayer" becomes undecipherable when directed to the daughter. British artist Littlewood's busy watercolor palette provides energy and excitement but may prove overstimulating to some children by book's end. Ages 2-up. (Apr.)