Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Monmouth Public Library | J 398.2 WOOD | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Willamina Public Library | JP Wood, D. | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
This enchanting fable promotes a deeper understanding of the earth and our relationship with all the beings who inhabit it. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to environmental healing and international understanding projects. Watercolor illustrations. ABBY Award winner.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS Up-- In a mythic time when all living things could speak and understand each other, an argument begins over the nature of God. Each creature attributes its own ideal of excellence to the deity, but when the discussion grows too loud, all are silenced by Old Turtle. He says that God is all those things and more, referring to the coming of those made in His image, people. But these new creatures also argue about God, and kill and abuse each other and the Earth until the very stones cry out. At last the people hear Earth's message of beauty and love--``And Old Turtle smiled. And so did God.'' The pictures illustrating this poetic work are spectacular. Soft, liquid watercolors are used to show the beauty of the natural world; rocks and waterfalls, mountains, seas, and flowering hills form a backdrop for everyone. Environmentally conscious, gender-balanced (references to God include ``She''), and spiritual in mood, this is a New Age fable; its message of saving the Earth is told in lyrical prose and in pictures that delight the eye.-- Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Long ago, an argument arose between mountains and rivers, stars and ants, lions and bears on the nature of God. A terrible cacophony of quarreling voices rang out until wise Old Turtle quelled the din, explaining that ``God is all that we dream of, and all that we seek. . .all that we come from and all that we can find.'' But soon disagreement was heard again as the world's people raised voice and fist against each other, harming the natural order. Illustrated in exquisite watercolors, this eloquent plea for unity and understanding between people and nature is both frank and understated. Chee captures the mysterious beauty of the world in pastels imbued with quiet energy, complementing the lilting cadence of the poetic text. Certainly both author and artist have combined rare talents to produce an enchanting book, yet one that is barely accessible to a child. Difficult ideas, painterly art and sophisticated language make this a book primarily for adults. All ages. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
A well-designed book with dreamlike watercolors tells of an ancient time when the animals argued about God's attributes. Old Turtle ends the disagreement by assuring them they are all correct. Humans then begin to pollute the earth until one day they finally see the beauty of God in creation. The concept of God as many-faceted and as both male and female is intriguing, but the meditative story with its plea for the environment lacks appeal for young readers. From HORN BOOK 1992, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In a poetic fable, all creation debates the nature of God, each thing imagining that God reflects its own image: the antelope insists that God ``is a runner, swift and free,'' while the willow murmurs that ``She is a great tree...always growing, always giving.'' The wise old turtle ends the argument: God is all these things, and more. She also makes a prediction: ``There will soon be a new family of beings'' who will be reminders of what God is. However, the people in turn begin to argue about God, and also to harm the rest of creation. Then the ocean, the breeze, and even the stars remind them of God's presence and love, and in time the people begin to listen. Wood's graceful phrasing and understated irony give his plea unusual power, especially as complemented by Chee's outstanding watercolors, joyfully celebrating the world's beauty; his portraits of Old Turtle are masterfully detailed and delightfully subtle. A handsome, thought-provoking book, especially appropriate for collections that support religious instruction. (Picture book. 4+)
Booklist Review
Ages 5-9. In an eloquent fable illustrated with sumptuous watercolors, wise Old Turtle makes a simple plea for mankind to save the world by experiencing "God in one another . . . and in the beauty of all the earth." This Asian-influenced philosophy inspires Chinese-American Chee's fluid paintings of natural objects and landscapes, which are rendered in shimmering, muted hues. Chee reinforces this message by first showing the small details (rocks, wind and waters, trees, birds, fish, people) before he reveals how they make up his spacious canvases. The diverse placement of the brief text and the use of different type sizes mark the verbal rhythm for reading aloud. While the spiritual tone of the book may not appeal to some, the message about peace and environmental awareness is delivered with a light, graceful touch. ~--Julie Corsaro