Kids and Prayer with Br. Mickey McGrath

K-Gr 5—These are kid-friendly, accessible introductions to the hows and whys of prayer. Content on both discs is divided into four 10-minute sessions: "What Is Prayer?" "Why Do We Pray?" "How Do We Pray?" "Where Do We Pray?" Each section includes interviews with kids, a cartoon scripture lesson, and a field trip that offers a new perspective on the topic. The excursions include a visit to a lighthouse (McGrath) and a visit to Gillette Stadium to talk to player-turned-evangelist Don Davis (Hackenberg). The message on the two DVDs is the same: prayer is communication with God and something anyone can do anytime and anywhere. The production values are excellent. Hackenberg and McGrath come across as friendly, encouraging, and completely at ease in front of the camera. Occasionally, comic book-style graphics, such as thought bubbles, are superimposed on live-action scenes, and photo stills are artificially animated so they appear to spin or jump. The synthesizer musical score is a pleasant, unobtrusive complement to the narration and images. The most significant difference between the two programs is that the prayers featured on the McGrath disc are predominantly used by Catholics and the specific prayers mentioned on the Hackenberg disc are generally Protestant.