In Our Image: God's First Creatures

by Nancy Sohn Swartz, Melanie Hall (Illustrator)

Overview

“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth...But something was missing...”

Before creating humans, God said, “Let us make humans in Our image, after Our likeness.” In this playful new twist to the Genesis story, God asks all of nature to offer gifts to humankind—with the promise that the humans would care for creation in return.

Then, woman and man were formed from the dust of the earth, in the image of God and in the image of all of nature. And it was very good, indeed.

Whether you’re large like the whale, small like the ant, lazy like the lizard, or busy like the bee, this spirited story with its lively illustrations celebrates the interconnectedness of nature and the harmony of all living things.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580235204
Publisher:	Jewish Lights
Publication date:	09/29/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Nancy Sohn Swartz is a certified elementary school teacher with more than 30 years of experience in various educational settings. She enjoys incorporating storytelling into her work with children. She lives in Randolph, Massachusetts, with her family.

Melanie Hall has illustrated more than twelve children's books, including In Our Image: God's First Creatures.

What People are Saying About This

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, author of In God's Name, A Prayer for the Earth: The Story of Naamah, Noah's Wife, and other books:

In this beautiful book all of nature offers its gifts to the first man and woman, and Nancy Sohn Swartz gives a gentle, loving gift to all of us.

Walter Wangerin Jr.

Walter Wangerin Jr., author of The Book of the Dun Cow, The Book of God, and other books:

What a pleasure to see the sweet community of all creation manifest in humankind -- and one in God.

Harold Kushner

Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People:

A message all children should hear, presented in words and pictures that children will find irresistible.

Mitch Finley

Mitch Finley, author of The Joy of Being Catholic:

This book shines like the stars and beams like the sun. It is very, very good.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 3: A nondenominational, nonsectarian retelling of the creation story that focuses on the period before man and woman were created. The animals tell God the gifts they would like to present to humankind. "The chimpanzee chattered, `Let them always be curious.' The ostrich bent low. `Let them mind their own business.'" After being told that humans will have dominion over them, the animals are frightened but God reassures them that people will care for the world and its inhabitants. There is no gender hierarchy; God is not referred to as either male or female, and both man and woman are created simultaneously. The vibrantly colored illustrations nearly leap off the page in this delightful interpretation.

School Library Journal

"This book shines like the stars and beams like the sun. It is very, very good."
—Mitch Finley, author of The Joy of Being Catholic and Prayer for People Who Think Too Much

"A message all children should hear, presented in words and pictures that children will find irresistible."
—Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

"What a pleasure to see the sweet community of all creation manifest in humankind—and one in God.”
—Walter Wangerin Jr., author of The Book of the Dun Cow, The Book of God and other books

“In this beautiful book all of nature offers its gifts to the first man and woman, and Nancy Sohn Swartz gives a gentle, loving gift to all of us.”
—Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, author of In God's Name, God's Paintbrush and other books

From the Publisher