Click Here To PurchaseDan and Derrick’s Prayer to the Troops

Author: Monalisa Okhilua

ISBN:  978-1-4327-0753-8

Publisher: Outskirts Press  

In this unusual but totally captivating children’s book, author Monalisa Okhilua brings light to a subject that can sometimes be very complicated to explain to young children.

Ms. Okhilua’s brilliant ingenuity has made this book a must for all children, not just children who have family or friends with family in the armed forces fighting in Iraq.  She helps us to realize that children, even very young children, understand more than we sometimes give them credit.  And quite often a hard to broach subject is best brought out in a children’s story; told by children.

With wonderful originality, Ms. Okhilua allows her characters to speak for themselves on a level that children could understand and appreciate. 

When class begins, the teacher asks the children to stand and tell the class their greatest wish.  While most of the children wished for fame and success, Dan and Derrick’s wishes were for our troops fighting in Iraq and the families who had lost loved ones in the war.

The class learned that it is good to think about others when you make a wish and you feel good when you help others. 

Dan shows his love and thoughtfulness when he helps his brother Derrick, as Derrick struggles to understand the more complicated math problems. 

After much thought Dan and Derrick come up with a very clever and unusual idea of how to get a message for the troops to God in a way that God could answer them back and they would know that he had received their message.

You will certainly want to read this book to your children to find out how Dan and Derrick sent their message and how their message was returned.  It is a beautiful way to teach children about the glory and love of God and how children can be a part of the good that is still in our lives.  It helps them understand some of the confusing times that they may be going through and allows them to express their feelings openly. 

Ms. Okhilua’s story teaches spirituality and humility in today’s war torn world.  A must read for children of all ages.

Click Here To PurchaseDan and Derrick’s Prayer to the Troops

The above review was contributed by: Sandra E. Graham. Sandra is  the author of Amos Jakey and Nicolina published by American Book Publishing. Sandra graduated from Arkansas State University in Joeboro, Arkansas. Many of her articles have been posted on various ezines. To read an interview with Sandra CLICK HERE