We remember your baptism

A family keeps God's promise of love and presence front of mind by retelling the stories of their children's baptisms. Young people love hearing tales from their babyhoods and poring over pictures of themselves, and that's where Carlson begins and ends her book, baptismal candles burning in each scene. But she goes deeper than her characters' own baptisms, connecting those to the larger world church (and baptisms from around the world) as well as to biblical stories involving water. Carlson makes water an obvious but joyous theme: It brings joy and life, and its everyday nature means it can be a constant reminder of God's love, grace, and mercy. While very young children may not completely grasp the text--"God's promise adores the truest you, / and the you who's still becoming"--love and community come through loud and clear, and given that families may want to return to this book year in and year out, kids can grow into the promises laid out in the text. Anganuzzi's bright colors give life to scenes depicting biblical stories, people enjoying water, and neighbors working in a community garden. The characters are diverse, and the family at the center features a light-skinned parent, a bearded and dark-skinned one, and two children with skin tones in between. Backmatter includes a note for caregivers and places to insert a child's baptismal photo and to write in personal details and blessings. Will provide a spark for new family traditions in celebration of baptism.(Picture book. 3-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.