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Searching... Salem Main Library | J 222.11 Ray 2005 | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
This beautiful version of the familiar story takes into account creation myths the world over and tells the story of the first man and first woman and their relationship with God. Enchantingly detailed illustrations bring to life Adam and Eve, their bountiful garden, and the events that took place there.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-In this lovely account of the creation, Ray celebrates the beauty of nature and humanity's connection to the Earth and all of its creatures. Adam and Eve live harmoniously with the animals that have been named by the first man, until Eve is tempted by the serpent. In rich prose, the author describes the garden in lyrical detail. The descriptive passages are complemented by exquisite illustrations that lend a mystical aura to the narrative. Although the peaceful existence in Eden is inevitably brought to an end, the well-known story culminates on a hopeful note, as the banished couple ventures out into the wider world on their own, much like all children throughout the ages have done, to begin a new life. Ray portrays God, depicted as an all-seeing eye in the sky, as a benevolent and concerned figure who still cares for his children although they have eaten the forbidden fruit. The expressive features of the two humans and their animal companions resonate with graceful dignity. Each beautiful painting is framed in a quiltlike, decorative border. This version of the familiar Old Testament story will have universal appeal.-Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Inspired by creation myths from around the globe, as well as visits to British environmental education center, the Eden Project, Ray (Noah's Ark; Fairy Tales) infuses her picture-book vision with a tone of openness and universality befitting a story that encompasses all the peoples and living things of the world. After God created a mist that watered the dusty, lifeless earth, He formed the first man "out of the clay of the newly watered earth," begins this tale. Adam and Eve live happily in Paradise among the luscious plants and aided and befriended by countless beasts. But their time in Eden is of course cut short by their defiance of God, set in motion by the serpent's temptation. The key elements here will be familiar to readers of many faiths and cultures. However, Ray's intricate and elegant paintings help set this volume apart. Trees blooming with precise green leaves and fragrant with ripe colored fruit serve as the perfect lush backdrop. Throughout, the artwork is accented with gold paint, carefully crafted borders and such collage-like components as maps and sheet music. Starry skies, rolling hillsides and playful animals further convey the initial serenity of the setting. God appears on several pages as a watchful eye, or pair of eyes, carefully monitoring the proceedings. Though some readers may object to Adam's and Eve's decorative body paint or one image that exposes Eve's naked breast, Ray's work embraces a sense of discovery and the lessons learned from disobeying God's word. Ages 5-up. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Ray retells the story of Adam and Eve in contemporary language but retains the poetic style of many familiar biblical translations. The story ends with hope as the banished Adam and Eve plant a new garden ""for their family"" outside of Eden. Ray uses gold accents to add a formal feeling to her detailed, lush paintings. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
The Christian creation story is retold in simple but lyrical prose in this exquisitely illustrated interpretation full of swirling primeval ferns and stylized trees highlighted with touches of gold. God's presence in Eden is gracefully handled in the illustrations by showing just his hands as he creates Adam from clay or his watchful eyes as Adam and Eve tend the garden and meet the serpent. Ray's intriguing paintings reward the unhurried reader with subtle details and touches of humor; for example, a playful monkey sticking his finger into the end of Eve's wooden flute. Many of the spreads feature intricate borders that introduce additional elements such as the earth under the garden, subtly illustrating the renewal of the life cycle, and some of the borders also incorporate symbols of creation stories from other cultures. Children who delight in highly detailed illustrations will enjoy searching the lush views of Eden packed full of every sort of creature, right down to the earthworms crawling underground. (Nonfiction. 5-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
K-Gr. 3. The signature element of Ray's artwork is its radiance. Part of the effect comes from the gold illuminations that touch the pages, but that's just the obvious manifestation. Ray's work combines simplicity of shape with intricate detail and produces something vital. A story of the beginnings of humans in the Garden of Eden is particularly appropriate for her art style. Ray uses the version of the story that presents Eve as the product of Adam's rib. The couple frolic nude (nothing shocking except a discreet nipple), until a tempted Eve makes her decision, and Adam follows along. In the next spread, the couple is wearing leaves, and the garden looks more like a dense jungle than the sun-kissed place it had been. The barren wilderness, to which Adam and Eve are exiled, makes an effective contrast between the security they once knew and the cold, independent lives they now face. Adam and Eve seem younger than they do in many other versions, which may give this evocative telling more resonance for children. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2005 Booklist