Sneak Peek: Prayer Is

I'm so excited to share a little sneak peek of the upcoming picture book, Prayer Is, written by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by me, and published by MacKids! Prayer Is is a gentle exploration of the different meanings of prayer seen through the eyes of a girl and her family. Sneak peek incoming:

Also, the first review is in! Read below:

"As a family gathers around the breakfast table, joins hands, and bows their heads in prayer, a child opens one questioning eye to the scene: 'We pray./ But what is prayer?' In the following pages, Fryer Brown and Harris gently expand the notion of prayer beyond one of petition, offering reassuring text and warm-hued slice-of-life vignettes. The practice is defined variously: as 'what's deep in our hearts,' as comfort, as hope, as forms of mindfulness and listening, and more.

And while prayer can often come easily, the text suggests, it can also be challenging, especially 'when we're mad,' as in a scene that finds a child lying, frustrated, in bed. Through it all, the concept emerges as one component of connection to loving community–and 'a gift from God that everyone gets to use.... No matter who we are/ or what we do.' Characters are portrayed with brown skin."

– Publishers Weekly

Prayer Is officially comes out on January 13, 2026, but is available for preorder now. If you preorder a signed copy from Main Street Books, some of the proceeds will be shared with Hearts and Hands Food Pantry in Charlotte, NC.

Prayerfully,
Alleanna