CHILDREN’S PSALMS TO PRAY, SING AND DO, by David Haas. St. Anthony Messenger Press (Cincinnati, Ohio, 2003). 72 pp.

Reviewed by Angela E. Pometto
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 7/29/04)

The Psalms offer prayers for every circumstance. It is the largest book in the Bible, and perhaps the most widely loved. Everyone has their favorite psalm. Whether spoken aloud or put to music, they are familiar and soothing — and not just for adults.

Children’s Psalms to Pray, Sing and Do, by liturgical musician David Haas, presents the beloved Psalms in a format that children can appreciate. As the composer of classics such as "Blest Are They," "We Will Rise Again" and "You are Mine," Haas is a familiar and trustworthy name to most Catholics.

In the book, Haas separates the Psalms into four categories: happiness, thankfulness, loneliness and faithfulness. He then takes the scriptural psalms and rewrites them in a format fit for children. For example, the biblical Psalm 23 reads: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul." In the book, this has been changed to: "God, you always shepherd me, and I need nothing more. The grass you lead me to is so green, and very peaceful. You give me cool water that calms me, and helps me feel like a new person."

While this does make it easier for children to follow and understand, the Psalm loses the rhythm and ancient language intended by the original author. This sort of children’s translation would not be appropriate within the context of the Mass. Although children often do not understand the big words and may find it difficult to follow the archaic writing style, they still learn the stories and remember the sound of the words proclaimed while growing up. Cradle Catholics often know the stories of the Bible and how the phrases are worded — a much-needed skill once grown up — if not the verse and chapter.

But Haas’s book is not meant for the Mass. It is specifically intended for children’s reading separate from the liturgy. Along with the loosely translated psalms, each example is cited. In this way, as children grow up, they are able to return to the Bible to continue their study.

Each Psalm is also accompanied by a short meditation guide. This asks questions of the children to get them thinking and engages them more actively in the psalm. For example, along with Psalm 84, the meditation reads: "Where do you go to seek God? At Church? At home? In your yard? On the school bus? (Hint: No matter where you search, you’ll find God. God is everywhere!)." These not only encourage children to think more deeply on the psalms, but also suggest options for related crafts.

Within the title and the introduction, there is mention of setting the words to music. There is no music written in the book, but the words are simple enough that any child could easily make up a tune to fit.

For information or to purchase Children’s Psalms contact St. Anthony Messenger Press at 1-800-488-0488 or catalog.americancatholic.org.