A Very Big Problem

In the beginning, God creates land, and the first garden flourishes. The sky and everything in it are also His to claim. Soon, He moves on to supply animals to inhabit the land, and then with children to share the same grounds. These are all magnificent and necessary for life to perpetuate, but conflict arises from the start. Land thinks it’s superior, while Rain argues its value is the greatest. Sun states that “a garden can’t live in the dark,” and says Land would be a “mushy mess” without it. Birds and Earthworms each elucidate why God must love them most. Children boast about their supremacy as well. In response, God smiles and assures them all of their significance and of the omnipresence of His love.

Authors Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso weave a unique twist into the story of creation. Children will learn the general sequence of creation as it’s laid out in the Bible, with earth being created first and then blessed with one form of life after another. They’ll relate to the characters in the story as well, each one believing he or she is more sacred than the rest. The illustrations throughout appear in an array of colorful hues, and the precious critters within them will catch the eyes and admiration of the littlest ones. The reading level of this treasurable text is approximately third grade, with it’s target audience being youngsters aged five to nine.