As a little girl, Doreen ‘talked to angels’ for comfort and advice, and as she grew and had children of her own, she also taught them the feeling of safety and happiness angels can bring.
Written with a refreshing openness and honesty that traverses all manner of spiritual orientation, Thank You, Angels! is much more that a wishy-washy, wish-upon-a-star creation. Although Virtue prefaces the book with her belief that every human has a guardian angel and that all we have to do is to call on them and they’ll be there, it’s clear the author understands that angels can mean many different things to different people.
Sometimes an angel appears in our lives as a positive thought. Sometimes they appear as an angelic friend or neighbour. Sometimes they appear as a firefighter or hospital worker or teacher. Sometimes they are that intuitive feeling that we can’t ignore, or the spirit of a loved one watching over us.
Whatever our beliefs, this book is a beautiful introduction to help encourage faith and belief in children – and also to know that if they just reach out and ask for help, they will receive it.
But this book is about more than angels and what they can do for us. It’s also about gratitude, love and acceptance, and knowing that children everywhere have a right to feel safe, nurtured and have someone to lean on.
Illustrator Patricia Keeler fills this story with a collection of lovely pictures that children will enjoy, offering her interpretation of a variety of angels, waiting up in heaven, playing draughts, reading, listening to an iPod, just waiting on their child to call.
She has drawn loads to keep little eyes busy – angels rollerblading right behind their chosen child, helping them cross the street, giving them clues, watching over them at the dentist, sending them signs – even if it’s in the guise of a rainbow after rain.
Told from the angel’s point of view, the text is warm and pleasurable to read, and will quite possibly fascinate children. Culminating with a little more interesting info on angels and their idiosyncrasies, older children will enjoy learning such facts as the difference between a guardian angel and an archangel, and how someone else can also call on an angel on your behalf (I didn’t know that!).
But what I love most about this book is the understanding that no matter where you are or what is happening in your life, asking an angel for help is a psychological, emotional and spiritual comfort that cannot be underestimated.
Now excuse me, I’m off to chat with my angel.
Author website
Title: Thank You, Angels!
Author: Doreen Virtue, with Kristina Tracy
Illustrator: Patricia Keeler
Publisher: Hay House, A$21.95RRP
Format: Hardcover with dustjacket
ISBN: 9781401918460
For ages: 4-10
Type: Picture Book