Smack Dab in the Middle of God’s Love

Title of Book:  Smack Dab in the Middle of God’s Love

Author:  Brennan Manning and John Blasé

Illustrator:  Nicole Tadgell

Publisher and Publication date:  Tommy Nelson (a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.), 2011

ISBN number:  978-1-4003-1713-4

Audience:  Ages 4 – 8

Summary:  Childless couple, Willie Juan and Ana, share much of their lives with the neighborhood children.  One evening Willie Juan asks a question ‘What do you think Abba will ask you in heaven?’  The conversations that follow, while eating Ana’s homemade sopapillas, help the children to understand that they are smack-dab in the middle of God’s love and that all the good gifts in their life are from God.

Literary elements at work in the story:  This story starts off acknowledging that ‘smack-dab’ is fun term to use and say.  It gives its definition as ‘precisely in the center’ and then throughout the story has a repetitive use of the term ‘smack-dab’.   The book drives the term home by reminding us that ultimately we are smack-dab in the middle of God’s love for us.  Reading the book aloud and encouraging the audience to say ‘Smack-dab” with the reader each time it appears, would be a fun way to involve the audience in participating.

Presentation of gender/race/culture/economic status/age/disabilities/etc:  All ages and genders are represented in the illustrations in the story.  The setting is in a small, modest Mexican village but many races are also represented by a variety of skin tones and hair colors and textures.  The story has a strong sense of community and sharing with ones neighbor.  The story introduces Hispanic culture in a way that explains the terms to those who may be new to them.

Theological conversation partners:  John 3:16-17, Romans 8:39, James 1:17, Heidelberg Catechism Question 1.  The story also has a conversational style that allows the reader to imagine their own questions and responses to Willie Juan.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What do you think Abba will ask you when you get to heaven?  (Willie Juan’s question)
2. What will you ask God when you get to heaven?
3. If you’re smack-dab in the middle of God’s love, what is smack-dab in the middle of your love?
4. What are some things should be smack-dab in the middle of your love?
5. What might it look like to love God?
6. What are some good gifts that you have been given from God?
7. What are some ways that you can share your gifts from God?
8. Who are the Willie Juan’s and Ana’s in your life?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Lisa McClennan

See the Ocean

Title of Book: See the Ocean

Author: Estelle Condra

Illustrator: Linda Crockett-Blassingame

Publisher: Ideal’s Children’s Books

ISBN: 1-57102-005-5

Audience: K – 3rd grade

Summary:  Nellie and her brothers Gerald and Jamin always go on a family vacation to See the Ocean.  They always have a contest to see who will be able to see the ocean first.  Nellie usually never plays with her brothers until one year Nellie was the only one that could see ocean. This is a compassionate story about a girl that, although blind, can see the world in her mind and spirit.

Literary elements at work in the story:  The story reminds you of yearly family vacations.  The reader will experience the day in the cool salt water, play with siblings, stories told by parents and laughter shared among them all.  The story takes you through the beach vacations when Nellie was a little baby until she is a young girl.  The poetic imagery used when Nellie describes the ocean is captivating and paints a vivid picture in the mind of the reader.  In this picture book, the oil paintings support the story well.

Perspective on gender/race/culture/abilities/disabilities/economic:  The story is about a Caucasian family (a mother, father, and three siblings) taking a yearly beach trip to see the ocean.  Their daughter, Nellie, is blind.  Although this story portrays the family to be of one race this story can easily apply to any race or culture.

Theological Conversation Partners:

John Calvin explains that there is an inherited notion that we all have implanted within that God gives us awareness of God. “God has implanted in all men a certain understanding of his divine majesty (Institutes pg. 43).  All creation has come to the knowledge of God to the extent that God “repeatedly sheds fresh drops” of this knowledge to us in an attempt to renew our memory and awareness of God on a regular basis.  We cannot deny this awareness that is given from God to all and to do so is of our own doing because we all have been given the awareness from birth.

For Calvin, another way we know God is through creation.  “…he not only sowed in men’s minds that seed of religion of which we have spoken but revealed himself and daily discloses himself in the whole workmanship of the universe.  As a consequence men can not open their eyes without being compelled to see him” (Institutes pg. 51-52).  Calvin points to the nature of God as our creator and in observing God’s creation we can come to know God. The universe becomes as a “mirror in which we can contemplate God, who is otherwise invisible” (Institutes pg. 52-53).

We also come to a  knowledge of God not in the searching for him but in the awareness of God’s mighty works at play in our lives on a consistent basis.  We come to this awareness not on our own but by God’s revelation to us through God’s works. Calvin says that we come to this knowledge of God’s mighty words through the revealing spectacles of scripture.  The true knowledge of God, for Calvin, is found in scripture.  Calvin says that scripture is like spectacles.  The scripture gives us a clear picture or knowledge of who God is without confusion

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Where did Nellie’s family go every year?
2. Did Nellie like the ocean?  How do you know?
3. How did her parents explain the ocean to her?
4. What competition did the siblings have on the way to the ocean?
5. Did Nellie participate?  Why do you think she did or didn’t?
6. Who saw the ocean first on the last trip?
7. How did she know what it looked like?
8. What experiences have helped you to form an image of what God looks like?
9. What experiences have helped you to know God?
10. How does scripture help you to know God?
11. What do you think God looks like?
12. Who is God to you?
13. Draw a picture, create a collage, or write a poem or letter to express who God is to you.

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Phanta Lansden.

God’s Rainbow

Title:  God’s Rainbow

Author: Allia Zobel Nolan

Illustrator: Chi Chung

Publisher: Kregel Publications, 2007

ISBN: 978-0-8254-5537-7

Audience: Ages 3-6

Summary of Book:  God’s Rainbow is a picture book which tells the story of Noah building the ark.  God speaks to Noah and says “the world has forgotten about me, so I am starting over.  Here’s what I want you to do.”  Noah was obedient and he and his sons did just what God asked them to do and they built the ark.  Then God sent the rain.  It rained for forty days and forty nights but the ark sailed along and everyone and everything on board were safe and sound.  After the rain stopped the ark came to rest on a mountain top and Noah sent a raven out to find land but the raven came back.  A few days passed and Noah sent a dove out and it returned with an olive leaf in its beak.  This was a good sign for Noah.  A few days later and Noah sent the dove out again and it did not return.  Then God spoke to Noah and told him it was safe to come off the ark.  So everyone and every animal got off the boat and Noah and his family fell to their knees and thanked God for keeping them safe.  When they looked up they saw beautiful colors in the sky, the first rainbow.  The rainbow was a sign of God’s promise that he would never flood the whole earth again.

Literary Elements at Work: This book is a great teaching tool for young children.  The author does a good job of telling Noah’s story.  The author is assisted by the illustrator who does a very good job of helping to tell the story.  The illustrator does a masterful job of slowly phasing out the ark and bringing in the rainbow.  The pictures are bright and colorful and really enhance the story.  

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  In this retelling of Noah and his family building the ark the perspective of race, culture, economics and ability really do not come into play.  Noah was obedient to God and God took care of him and his family.  The illustrator does show Noah and his wife working together as equals on several pages as well as his sons and their wives.  It also shows them all kneeling together in prayer to thank God for keeping them safe.

Theology: This book is a great way to introduce children to the biblical story of Noah and the ark.  It shows that God makes promises and he keeps them.  It shows that God wants a relationship with us and that he loves us.  Every time we see a rainbow we are reminded of this.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. After reading this story what will you think of the next time you see a rainbow?
2. Did you like the pictures in the book? Why or Why not?
3. Do the pictures in the book help tell the story? Why or Why not?
4. If God had spoken to you instead of Noah would you and your family have built the ark? Why or Why not?
5. How big do you think the ark was?
6. How long do you think it took Noah and his family to build the ark?
7. If God asks you to do something that is difficult or hard to do, what do you do?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Bob Martin.

3 in 1 (A Picture of God)

Name of Book: 3 in 1 (A Picture of God)

Author:  Joanne Marxhausen

Illustrator:  Benjamin Marxhausen

Publisher: Concordia Publishing House

ISBN:  0570077907

Audience: Appropriate for Pre-readers through age seven.  I would use this book as a teaching tool with any elementary age, even a Confirmation class.

Summary: This lovely picture book explores the notion of how an apple is like the Trinity.   Just as an apple has three distinct parts – the peel, the flesh and the core  – there are three distinct aspects of the Trinity.  Although the text is minimal, it is the bright illustrations that the drive the story. Illustrator Benjamin Marxhausen employs bright, mostly primary colors in his simple clean images of all things apple. The familiar images of apples lend to the telling of this story. Author Joanne Marxhausen writes in a clear and precise language.  The familiar apple is a tool to open the mystery of the Trinity.  The beauty of this book is it’s simple explanation of the triune nature of God.

Literary elements at work in the story: The simple design of 3 in 1 is the beauty of this book.  Generally, the layout follows a pattern of images and text describing attributes of an apple followed by images and text describing attributes of God.   Each page has minimal text so that the eye is drawn to the illustration, such as a bright red apple with a single green leaf or a bright yellow circle on the facing page.  Illustrative of this pattern, the book begins with a description and illustration of an apple as whole, followed by depiction God as one.  Another example is the apple as three distinct parts followed by God as three distinct beings.  The entire text is in bold capital letters.  Some adult readers may find this distracting. I find it adds a silent significance to the story.

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? The author consistently assigns the male gender to God.  Those sensitive to gender-neutral depictions of God and the Trinity must be aware of this.  Otherwise, myopia has blinded me.  I see this story as a race/culture/economics/ability neutral.

Theological conversation partners: The book invites conversations about the meaning of the Trinity.  The stripped down analogy of how an apple is like the Trinity allows for basic understanding of very weighty theological issues.

Faith Talk Questions:

Because 3 in 1 is  sublimely simple, it can be used as a teaching tool at many levels.

• Elementary age group, possible faith talk questions might include:

a)    Besides the apple in this story, can you think of something else that has three distinct parts, yet is one?

b)    The peel protects the rest of the tasty apple.  Can you think of ways that God protects us?

c)    How can you plant a seed of faith in yourself?  In other people?

d)    What are some ways you can make you faith grow big like an apple tree?

e)    The book tells us grown up faith is strong and bears healthy fruit, just like an apple tree.  What are some of the fruits of a grown up faith?   Did you know these are called Fruits of the Spirit?

•  In a Confirmation class, possible faith talk questions might include:

a)  Read Jesus’ Great Commission, found in Matthew 28: 16-20.  Do you recognize the three aspects of God here?

b)  Why would Jesus use this way of describing his own divinity at this time?

c)    Do you remember your own baptism?  Or a baptism you have seen in church?  Why do we baptize in the name of “Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

d)  Find a copy of both the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed.  Do you recognize the three aspects of God in these creeds?  Why is it so important for us to state this?  Are these two creeds important to your individual faith?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Cheryl Couch-Thomas.

In God’s Name

Name of Book:  In God’s Name

Author:  Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

Illustrator:  Phoebe Stone

Publisher:  Jewish Lights Publishing

ISBN: 9781879045262

Audience:  Ages 4+

Summary: After the world is created, people realize that everyone and everything has a unique name except for God.  What is God’s name?  Each person recognizes God by a different name based on their own life experiences, such as Source of Life, Mother, Father, Shepherd, or Rock.  They argue with one another that their own name for God is the right name and that it is the best name.  Then one day all the people are gathered at a lake that reflects each one of their faces, and at the same time they all proclaim their name for God.  At that moment, the people know that all the names for God are good and they call God One.

Literary elements at work in the story : In God’s Name is written as a fable with poetic text and vibrant illustrations.  It celebrates diversity and, yet at the same time, the unity of all people.  It recognizes the conflict that divides different religions and denominations and invites the readers to listen to others, so everyone can have a better understanding of God.  It is about acceptance, openness, and reconciliation.

Theological conversation partners: In our faith journey, it is very easy to come to understand God from our own life experiences and limit the qualities of God to only what we see and know.  However, this book reminds readers that God is so much bigger than any one of us and can only truly be understood when we all come together to proclaim our knowledge of God with others.  In Exodus 3:14, God reveals Godself to Moses as “I AM” leaving the door wide open to our understanding and knowledge of  God.

Faith Talk Questions:

1.  There are a lot of names of God in this book.  Which name most ressonates with you and why?
2. Make a list of other names for God that are not listed in this book.

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Amanda North.

No Matter What

Name of Book: No Matter What

Author: Debi Gliori

Illustrator: Debi Gliori

Publisher:  Harcourt, Inc

ISBN: 0-15-202061-6

Audience: PreK – 2nd

Summary: Small is questioning if Large loves him at all.  He is doing this by question after question like a typical child does.  Large continually reassures Small that a parent’s love is always unconditional.

Literary elements at work in the story: This fictional story is told through rhyme and pictures.  It is told in first person, switching continually between Small and Large.

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? This story is a humorous fictional tale which has illustrations that will engage the reader. The lyrical rhythm of the story will reassure children that a parent’s love will always be there for them. It can represent any culture as the characters are illustrated as animals which will appeal to the younger reader.

Scripture:  Genesis 3, John 3:16, Romans 8:38,39

Theology:  Absolutely nothing can separate believers from God’s love.  With God with us, then our security in God is absolute.  Sometimes people struggle for words to describe this absolute certainty of God’s love for believers, but as soon as you become a parent you understand. God showed this parental love when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him.

The illustrations throughout the book can also be used to discuss the creation story. There are animals from the land, animals from the sky (insects), animals from the water, days, nights, etc.

Faith Talk Questions:

1.  God loves us as God’s children.  How does Large explain this love to Small?

2. What does Large keep repeating?

3. What have you loved that much?

4. God loves us that much; do you remember the Bible verse John 3:16?

5. When do you feel the most loved by your parents? By God?

6. Have you ever felt so grumpy you felt nobody could love you? Don’t worry, your parents get grumpy too, you still love them and they will still love you too.

7. God created the world in seven days; can you remember something you did for seven days?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Cyndi Beerbower.

 

 

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Name of Book: All Things Bright and Beautiful

Author:  Cecil F. Alexander; illus. Ashley Bryan

Publisher: Atheneum

ISBN: 978-1416989394

Audience: Ages 2-5

Summary:  Cut-paper collages depict scenes of people, animals, and nature that perfectly interpret this wonderful 19^th c Irish hymn. Bryan has created a masterpiece in which art and text work together to God’s glory. Children can sing along (words and music are included) and point out all of the things mentioned in the song.  A fun book for all.

Literary elements at work in the story: Illustrations and words come alive and work perfectly together in this visual presentation of the song, making it especially accessible to the very young. The placement of the text also adds a sense of movement and keeps the book moving.

How do the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story: Bryan’s illustrations include not just the glory and beauty of creation but its diversity as well. All races celebrate God’s creation from the ferris wheel at the opening to the rainbow at the end. This is multiculturalism at its best.

Theology: Psalm 8:1

There could hardly be a better song or better illustrations to serve as an example of this verse. God’s glory shows through every phrase and every illustration. It is as if God reached down, touched the author and illustrator and said, “Show forth my glory”.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Can you think of something “bright and beautiful?”
2. God’s creation is so magnificent. What can we do to keep it so?
3. The end of the song says, “He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell, how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.” How can we see and speak better about God and God’s creation?

This review was written by regular contributor Janet Lloyd.

Mr. and Mrs. God in the Creation Kitchen

Name of Book:  Mr. And Mrs. God in the Creation Kitchen

Author:  Nancy Wood

Illustrator:  Timothy Basil Ering

Publisher:  Candlewick

ISBN:  978-0763612580

Audience:  Ages 5 and up suggested by publisher.  I would suggest older adolescent – adult learners could use this book as well.

Summary:  In this picture book, Mr. And Mrs. God are in the creation kitchen cooking and creating what will eventually become the Earth and all of its inhabitants.  Things don’t go as smoothly as you might think.

Literary elements at work in the story: In this picture storybook we find God and Mrs. God hard at work in the Creation Kitchen working on their newest project. This picture storybook relies heavily on the relationship between the text by Nancy Wood and the illustrations by Timothy Ering. While the illustrations, in my opinion couldn’t stand alone in telling the story, they do a wonderful job amplifying the text. The ink and acrylic illustrations however, are very dark and minimal, utilizing line drawings more than anything else. The pages that describe God making the animals may be disturbing for small children – a jar of eyeballs in the foreground, boxes of dismembered hooves, legs and wings, another box containing bones etc. Overall, I think, the artistic style of the book is very somber and dark, especially for small children, which may be why it is recommended for ages 5 and up. The text does cover the “days” of creation, but not in a Biblical “on the first day” kind of way, but in a more fluid way, much like a chef preparing courses for a meal. It does cover the days of creation in the same order as scripture, and is told from both Mr. and Mrs. God’s perspective.

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  This book obviously addresses the issue of God’s gender by having a Mrs. God as well as a Mr. God. However, the way each character is portrayed and presented is very stereotypical – the text portrays Mrs. God as very meticulous in her creation habits, and that she is more concerned with creating creatures that look “beautiful”.  Mr. God, on the other hand, seems to be a little on the befuddled side, making creatures that are, “enormous ghastly and hideous” in Mrs. God’s opinion, but finally coming up with a “masterpiece” when he makes a beautiful Blue Whale. If the book is going to have a male and female God then why not let Mrs. God make the roaring, snarling beasts, and let Mr. God make a hummingbird or a kitten? It  seems that if the author wanted to push the envelope of our understanding of God, she took the easy way out. Also, while the characters of Mr. And Mrs. God are painted in a neutral grey color they have very white Anglo-Saxon facial features. Again, in my opinion, if the author is wanting to advocate for a feminine side to God then why not explore the race issue as well. It seems that the author wants to push the envelope and challenge the reader to think about God in a different light, and then pulls up short before she gets to the edge. Or maybe I am the one over thinking this.

Theological conversation partners:  As an adult, there are a number of theological issues that I have with this book.  I think some of these issues would be even bigger for a child who is just beginning to develop an understanding of who God is and how they are connected to God.  First, Mr. AND Mrs. God???  I understand the modern day need to deal with the gender of God, but by portraying God this way we offer children a polytheistic view of God. If the author wanted to portray God as feminine then why not just do that?  Making God a male and female, I think, makes it even more confusing for small children who are hearing people talk about the Trinity being three, yet God being one God.  . Second, when Mr. God makes the dinosaurs, Mrs. God tells Mr. God that they are ugly, and after a while God begins to doubt his creation saying, “he wished he could take them back, but they had already made some baby monsters, and the baby monsters had made even more monsters.”  Does God make mistakes? Scripture would tell us no, that God is sovereign and therefore God does not make mistakes. As I understand some of the ideas behind process theology, it is that God and therefore creation are always evolving and changing and therefore the dinosaurs are part of that evolving but are not a mistake. I don’t know too many five year old children that are into process theology, so to me I worry that they will hear this as God making mistakes. Third, the way the author deals with God making a mistake with the dinosaurs is to grab, “a red-hot coal from the oven and flung it down…KA-BOOM!” Yes, I know this is the author’s take on why dinosaurs are extinct, but to the concrete thinking mind of a child, this is God blowing up things that are flawed. How does this come across to the child who is already wondering about things like – what will happen if God gets angry with me? Am I a mistake in God’s eyes? Finally, Mr. And Mrs. God make humans as an afterthought, and set them on the earth and basically say, let’s sit back and see what happens to them. This portrays God as distant and removed from all of creation, as well as humans. This seems to be in direct  contradiction to scripture and the creeds we confess in which God is actively involved in the lives of creation. In the jacket notes Ms. Wood states that she wanted this to be a “lighthearted look at creation…Mr. And Mrs. God are having FUN!” She never states that this was a Biblical or Christian look at creation.  If, however,  that is what you are wanting to use it for, I just find too many contradictions to our Christian theology. I think that this book could have merit when used in a number of discussions: creation, images of God, stereotypes concerning God. However, I would only use this book with older adolescents – adults. Ultimately I think that small children would be too easily confused by the language and images contained in the book for it to be useful in an educational setting.

Faith Talk Questions:

Younger children

1. What do you like best about the story of creation?
2.  What do you think happened to the dinosaurs?
3.  Have you ever made a mistake?
4.  Do you think God makes mistakes?
5.  How do you think God handles the mistakes that each of us makes?
6.  Is God a part of your daily life, or is God just sitting back watching what happens?

Older adolescents – adults

1. What is your favorite part of the creation story?
2.  What images of God do you carry with you?
3.  How do you feel about God being portrayed as two individuals? As male AND female?
4.  What do you think the author hoped to accomplish with this book?
5.  How would you answer questions from a child concerning the language and images in this book?

This post was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Shasta Brown.

Teens and Faith: This Gorgeous Game

Title:  This Gorgeous Game

Author: Donna Freitas

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

ISBN: 9780374314729

Audience: Grade 7 and up

Summary: Life for Olivia Peters is perfect.  A senior at Sacred Heart High School, she has won first prize in an important literary contest, a prize that guarantees her a place in the summer class taught by Father Mark Brenden and revision of her entry under his guidance. Father Mark is a noted and successful author, a charismatic figure, and ( if Catholics had idols) her idol.  Olivia is also beginning her first high school romance with Jamie, a college freshman at Holy Mary University where the class will be held. Olivia is firmly grounded in the Catholic Church: Catholic school, pastoral care from Catholic priests when her father abandoned the family; a mother and sister who take faith seriously.  So when Father Mark’s attentions become personal, his demands on her time more persistent, she feels uncomfortable but keeps reminding herself to be grateful for this opportunity, to remember that he is a priest vowed to chastity.   He insists that she read his short story, “This Gorgeous Game,” paralleling his feelings for her with Thomas Merton’s for “M.” (Merton was a well known author and Trappist monk who fell in love at age 50 with “M”)  Olivia feels trapped.  Essentially Father Mark is stalking her, yet if she complains who will believe her?  If she reveals his story, what will she be doing to her church?  Olivia blames God for this painful situation. Then she draws on the support of friends, family, and Sister June, her high school principal, to confront her problem courageously.

Literary elements at work in the story: “This Gorgeous Game” is the phrase Merton used to describe his flirtation with his young nurse, “M.”  Quotations from Merton’s Journal and his poetry are scattered throughout the book so obviously his history has helped to shape this story.   This is a first person narrative, told in the present tense in the voice of an increasingly troubled teen ager. Much of the story takes place in her rather innocent and immature mind. Nothing “happens” sexually but the author creates a sense of violation and danger as Father Mark’s demands more of Olivia’s time and interest.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? The book is peopled by distinct, believable characters: Olivia’s creative, loving mother; Sister June, a wise and discerning principal; Jamie, a witty, understanding first boyfriend; and Father Mark, himself.  Neither economics or race enter the picture (one of Olivia’s friends may be African-American)  Gender is an issue because male priests have unique positions of power in the Catholic hierarchy.

Theological Conversation Partners: This Gorgeous Game is told from a Catholic perspective and a number of ideas require explanation- the place of priests, of confession and absolution-and the explanation is clear and simple.  It raises a number of nondenominational questions; What is the responsibility of the church when one of its leaders fails? What is our responsibility to one another when one member of the Body is wounded?  How we do understand such failures and how can we see God at work in them?  Galatians 6:1-5 Ministers in Protestant churches do not occupy the same position as priests in the Roman Catholic Church yet the church does require certain standards for its ministers.  It could be profitable to talk about what good leadership is in the church.  Where are our expectations unreasonable and where not high enough? Are young people familiar with the vows ministers take when they are ordained and/or installed in their churches?

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Describe Olivia’s feelings when she first meets Father Mark.
2. At the end of Section I she offers a prayer of thanks to God for sending Father Mark into her life. Are there indications that her sense of joy and well being will be threatened? Why has she not recognized this?
3. If Olivia had confronted her fear sooner would the story have been different? Why is it so difficult for her to name Father Mark’s infatuation?
4. “No one should bear the burden of our humanity alone”, says Sister June when she talks with Olivia in the chapel.  What does she mean by “burden of our humanity?”
5. Olivia says that this predicament is God’s fault so she cannot pray. Sister June can.  Do you think her prayer is answered?  Why?
6. Olivia finds her way through writing her own version of “This Gorgeous Game.” How does she see God in this resolution?
7. Olivia seems to make a distinction between relying on God and relying on friends like Sister June and Jamie.  Is there a distinction?

This is the third review in our series on Teens and Faith.  Next week, Marcelo in the Real World will be reviewed.

Where Does God Live?

Name of Book:  Where Does God Live?

Author:  August Gold

Illustrator:  Matthew J. Perlman

Publisher:  Skylight Paths Publishing (August 2001)

ISBN: 978-1893361393

Audience:  Ages 3 – 6 years

Summary:  In this picture book for young children a child ask the parents where God lives and the parents respond by telling the child the multitude of places that God lives and how the child sees and feels God all day every day.

Literary elements at work in the story:  The genre of this book is a very realistic one, as it portrays a conversation between a child and her parents when the child asks where God lives. It is also realistic in that it deals with the child’s struggle to comprehend something as immense as God, and where God can be found, and the role of the parents in helping her understand. The book is told from the point of view of the parents as they attempt to show their daughter where God can be found. The setting is the present day. Also, due to the multitude and variety of photographs used, children of all walks of life in a multitude of settings can relate. Since this book is geared to 3-6 year olds the characters are very simple – mother, father and child – and are presented in a simple fashion that mimics conversations that young readers probably have with their own family members. The plot, simple though it is, is about parents helping their child understand their relationship to God more fully. The theme of understanding more about God, is summed up in the title of the book. The combination of the words and the beautiful photographs help the reader “feel” the things that are described in the book.

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  The book uses a wide range of photographs to tell the story. In these photographs children will find other children, places and things that resemble the child and where they live, but they will also be introduced to other children and settings that look very different. Through these pictures children can learn that God is in all people and places and not just people that look and dress or live in similar places as they do.

Theological conversation partners: In reading this book to the children of my church I am reminded of two passages of scripture from the Gospel of Matthew: Matthew 19:14-15  and Matthew 28:20. I think both of these passages are very well represented in the book, and I have used both when I have used this book in preschool lessons. First, by the parents’ loving response to the child they reaffirm for the reader that they are not only welcomed by God, but encouraged to ask questions of and about God. Secondly, by illustrating for the child all the places that God lives, the parents have reinforced our belief that God is with us in all places, times and circumstances forever. One caution I would give to adults sharing this book with children is to emphasize the fact that, while God is present in all facets of our lives, God is still ONE God. The young children who will enjoy this book are very concrete thinkers, and can easily form the idea that God is many and not one. Adults need to keep this in mind as they read and discuss it with small children.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Where do you think God lives? (Ask this question before reading the book.)
2. Now that you have read the book, do you have other ideas of where God might live?
3. Which picture of one of God’s homes do you like best? Why?
4. How does it make you feel knowing God is so close to you?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Shasta Bode-Brown.