Horn Book Review
Few readers won't feel joyful as breezy rhymes describe a typical Sunday at a "church for all" that welcomes "weak and healthy / Neat and messy / Poor and wealthy / Plain and dressy," etc. An author's note explains that the book was inspired by churches that welcome LGBT and other marginalized people, who are represented in the stiff-looking illustrations. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
This cheerful introduction to attending a Sunday-morning church service provides an overview of the experience in an inclusive, liberal Christian church.The story opens with two dads (one white, one black) serving breakfast to their daughters, who are black. The family walks to church, meeting other adults and children of many ages, ethnicities, and body types as the congregation gathers. The huge cast of characters entering the church includes gay and lesbian couples, several people with canes, a child using a wheelchair, interracial families, and people with all sorts of looks, including shaved heads, mohawks, and tattoos. The church choir and the black pastor wear traditional robes, but the dcor of the church is upbeat and contemporary, with banners proclaiming the welcoming and inclusive philosophy of this congregation. A simple, rhyming text describes some of the aspects of the worship service and different kinds of church members, with a repeated refrain emphasizing this church is for everyone. A cross is displayed at the front of the church, and one banner reads "God's Doors Are Open to All," but God and Jesus are not mentioned in the text. Cheerful, busy illustrations expand the minimal text with the intriguing cast of definitely diverse churchgoers, charmingly including children who can't sit still. An author's note explains the story was inspired by the Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. A humorous, upbeat look at a contemporary church community where all are welcome. (Picture book/religion. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
It's Sunday morning, and two men one white, one black along with their African American daughters, are getting ready for church. Once there, readers will see a wide array of people of various ethnicities, ages, genders, and sexual identities. The joyful text, one line per page, explains: Poor and wealthy / Plain and dressy / All embracing / Spirit gracing. Despite its brevity, the text captures the feelings of being in a place where one belongs. The words are bolstered by the two-page spreads with pictures that may not be the most inventive or expertly executed, but still brim with life and love as they reveal a connected, dynamic congregation. An author's note explains that the book is a tribute to Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, where Pitman found a spiritual community. Since the 1960s, Glide has been a bastion of social justice and a home to a diverse congregation that's also known for its gospel choir (which plays a big part in this book). An inspiration in several senses of the word.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2018 Booklist
