This all-in-one reference smoothly imparts the essence of the world's major religions and their roles in the lives of believers. An introductory spread explains the universals (faith is what people "trust, hold true, and are loyal to") followed by a world map, color coded by each country's main religion. The specific faiths are examined in successive chapters, with the remote facts about statistics, tenets, and ancient prophets, gods, and gurus followed by impassioned commentary from contemporary young believers. The book concludes with explanations of less-common faiths, including Zoroastrianism and Baha'i. The stream of religion-specific terminology can be dizzying, and it's confusing that the child to whom the first-person commentary is attributed is rarely featured in the photos. Nonetheless, the browsable format makes the book a comfortable option for children curious about beliefs that bring comfort and purpose to kids around the world.
