The Lord is My Shepherd Hardcover – January 24, 2008

I really like Gennady Spirin's work, but this time I was kind of disappointed. The pictures were lovely, but didn't seem to have much relevance to the 23rd Psalm. Pictures were more of a celebration of the glory of god. I think that the 23rd Psalm offers a great opportunity to provide very specific scenes and these were not.

Gennady Spirin's fame is established; and after viewing his 'The Lord is my Shepherd', it can only be hoped that it will continue to grow as one of history's great artists of children's books. The imagination and excellence which he places beside this immortal psalm is likely to produce a sense of awe in any child to whom this book was given. That the publisher decided to print the entire painting, which appears in details throughout the preceding pages, as a foldout is a major printing gift to the eye.Should the reader of reviews have any hesitation in purchasing this book, there really is only one piece of advice from this reviewer: don't wait.

I gave my 5-year-old son this beautifully illustrated book for Christmas, and I have read it to him many times. The text is the King James version of the 23rd Psalm. It is a proud addition to our home library.

My children love this book and I think that they will for a long time. It is a beautiful depiction of the Psalm and I am happy to have it in our collection.

The artwork in this book is really what sells it!! This book is for anyone interested in looking at the verse in a new, engaging way.

The illustrations of the book are only coincidently and loosely associated with the 23rd psalm. For instance, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures" is accompanied by a forest scene with antelope and flamingos. "He leadeth me beside the still waters" shows a canoe going down a river amid storks. Some of the pictures that are supposedly of angels look strikingly Hindu, and I found them a bit disturbing. The valley of the shadow of death is depicted as a hallway of pillars filled with water with three white swans and a black bird of some sort...death by honking? "I will fear no evil" is depicted by a two somewhat impractical sailing ships tied in port while a group of people walk off or mingle aboard the ships. "Thy rod and thy staff" is depicted by an angel wielding a scepter hovering over waters. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me..." is accompanied by a scene including gigantic stone unicorns. etc., etc., etc.The only two pictures that make any sense are one showing shepherds and another showing a feast having being laid out.I would recommend a definite pass on this book. There is nothing here that is edifying for a young reader, except for the psalm text itself.

The Firebird By Gennady Spirinand many other Books Illustrated by Spirin.A great Illustrator.And this Psalm 23 is my favourite, I pray it all nights!Suggested by:Malena Lacayo, Spain

The book had some glue between the last two pages. If it was not for the fact that I am Portugal I would have send it back.