This is a book about appreciation for God, sun and moon, and everything around us in nature. The illustration in the book is delicate and delightful. It has the unique painting style similar to religious illustrations with frames, decorations, and multiple layers of characters. ( )

Paterson adapts St. Francis' hymm to nature for young readers. The illustrations are lush, warm and very child-friendly, with plenty of little scenes for kids to pore over. This would be ideal for themes of Earth Day, Thanksgiving and environmentalism. ( )

Summary: The characters in the book display their thankfulness to God for the sun, stars, moon, wind, and "every kind of weather." Throughout the book the characters display their thankfulness all other aspects that are related to the weather and the outdoor conditions.

Evaluation/Argument: This book was very different than ones I am use to reading. You do not see writing like this in today's society. There is less praise and thanksgiving to God. The characters in the story are illustrated in a way that other generations dressed and are shown behaving like they did years ago. For example, the women are shown wearing bonnets on their heads and holding buckets of water back to their homes. This dress and behavior is not typical of society today. I did not really like this book, but that may be because of its old-fashioned nature.
The central message of the story is to be thankful for the weather conditions that you have been given. We should be thankful everyday that God has blessed you with the conditions he did and that you are able to continue to provide a living. ( )

What an incredible book, written by two-time Newbery Medal winner for The Bridge over Terabithia and Jacob I Have Loved. Based on St. Francis of Assissi's Canticle of the Creatures, this is a book of purpose, of nature, and of the intertwining of the beauty when nature inspires us and calls us to travel to a different level of consciousness.

The beautiful illustrations are created by the Germanic art of paper cutting into patterns. The Scherenschnitte images are a feast for the eyes. ( )

I'd never heard of the Canticle of Creatures. The words are pretty, but the illustrations are especially nice! ( )