Anna's Prayer

Anna's Prayer by Karl Beckstrand, illustrated by Shari Griffiths When I received this book a couple of weeks ago to review, I had planned on reading it to my live-in 9 year old granddaughter Violet, but I didn't get the job done until yesterday when I also read Nubs to her. She loved both, as did I. Anna Anderson and her older sister Ida, along with their mother, live in a small Swedish village. They are poor, but happy. When they join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they are persecuted and their mother is fired from her job. Soon, she sends both Ida and Anna to America for a beter life and Ida gets a job in Idaho and lives with a member family and Anna travels alone to Salt Lake to stay with an aunt. When Anna arrives all alone late at night at the train station, she finds her aunt not there waiting for her. Anna says a prayer that her aunt comes for her and her prayer gets answered in a way that is remarkable. On coming to a strange country where she doesn't speak English makes things a whole lot harder for Anna. This is a true story and the illustrations are exquisitely done by Shari. I highly recommend this book for everyone who enjoys stories about their ancestors. Forever Friends Rating 5 Stars by Teri Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook. Leatherwood Press Published: October 2008 ISBN: 978-1-59992-113-6 30pp

What a beautiful book! The story is wonderful and the illustrations are stunning. All American families had their start elsewhere, and this story made me want to learn more about my first ancestors who immigrated to America. Anna's Prayer would make a great gift for any child--or adult, for that matter.

I was intrigued by the title and art work on this book so I bought it and took it home to read to my grandchildren. Within the first few pages we were drawn into Anna's life. Tears came as we felt her plight and then the miracle that followed! This book is a timeless, invaluable gift of faith. Thanks Karl. - Patricia Potts, author of My Journey from Darkness to Light