Parents' Guide to

All Things Bright and Beautiful

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Stunning collage work brings simple hymn to life.

Book Cecil Alexander Picture Book 2010
All Things Bright and Beautiful Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 3+

Based on 1 parent review

grandmomsgal
grandmomsgal Parent
March 31, 2010
age 3+
love it

This title has:

Great messages
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

The pages of ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL illustrate the first verse of Cecil Alexander's classic hymn of praise for all of Earth's creatures. It's followed by a quick biography of the 18th century author and the sheet music with words for singing, or playing, the entire song. The scissors pictured inside the back cover are those that illustrator Ashley Bryan used to create the book -- and, as he explains, they're the same scissors that his mother used for sewing and embroidery.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The book's artwork is as bright and beautiful as the title ... and that's what this book is all about. Some readers may be less enthusiastic about the book's religious content than others, but anyone who picks it up should be able to appreciate the illustrations, which are breathtakingly hued and detailed.

Some parents will recognize the hymn as one they themselves sang as children or one that they've heard sung by choirs around the world.

Amazing "bright and beautiful" collages fill the book's pages. The colors are alive and vibrant, and the amount of detail created by different shades of paper is masterful. Water swirls down mountainsides, a multi-toned whale swims among fish of all shapes and sizes, and birds with glowing colors and tiny wings flutter against a rainbowed sky. And that's just the beginning!

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the hymn and what it means to them. Readers might want to make up other verses of their own, and they can learn the tune and sing it together.

  • How do the collages illustrate the verses? How does the artist make the scenes seem three-dimensional? What do you think about the scissors shown at the end? Why are they important?

Book Details

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