Status
Coming Soon
Call number
Collection
Genres
Publication
New York : Scholastic, c1999.
Description
Discovering that making a world takes a lot of work, God calls on his secretary Bruce and the angel Shaniqua to help him create bushes, grass, flowers, and butterflies.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
One of two picture-books about an African-American heaven that I have read recently - the other one was Margot Zemach's controversial Jake and Honeybunch Go to Heaven - prompted by Betsy Hearne's article, Nobody Knows... (available in the September/October 2009 issue of the Horn Book Magazine,
First, the good: I loved the idea behind this retold creation story, apparently adapted from and inspired by an African-American folktale, How God Made the Butterflies, which can also be found in Zorah Neale Hurston's Mules and Men. I see that some online reviewers were offended by the idea that God would require any assistance in creation, or that heavenly relations would be so informal. For my part, I appreciated both of these things, having never interpreted the bible literally, and having been taught to see it as a jumping off point, for a personal relationship with the divine, rather than a guidebook, or some sort of "history." I also really loved Joe Cepeda's bright illustrations, done in oil paint, with their brilliant colors and expressive sense of humor.
That said, I did not really care for some of the language choices here. Humorous colloquialism is one thing - God's secretary, Bruce, responds to him with a "Yo! What's up, Deity?" at one point - but poor language - the angel Shaniqua's demand "God? What you call that down there?" - is another. Of course, the border between the two is rather porous (and ever moving), and some might feel that the language here will function to make the story more "real" for young readers, but Lester's text just skated a little too close to that "other side" for my taste. Still, mileage varies, and so do opinions on this issue, so my recommendation would be to pick up the book and see for yourself. Really, that usually is my recommendation (and my practice!) in these cases...
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devoted to the theme of "Trouble"), What a Truly Cool World is one of those books that I really want to love, but can't.First, the good: I loved the idea behind this retold creation story, apparently adapted from and inspired by an African-American folktale, How God Made the Butterflies, which can also be found in Zorah Neale Hurston's Mules and Men. I see that some online reviewers were offended by the idea that God would require any assistance in creation, or that heavenly relations would be so informal. For my part, I appreciated both of these things, having never interpreted the bible literally, and having been taught to see it as a jumping off point, for a personal relationship with the divine, rather than a guidebook, or some sort of "history." I also really loved Joe Cepeda's bright illustrations, done in oil paint, with their brilliant colors and expressive sense of humor.
That said, I did not really care for some of the language choices here. Humorous colloquialism is one thing - God's secretary, Bruce, responds to him with a "Yo! What's up, Deity?" at one point - but poor language - the angel Shaniqua's demand "God? What you call that down there?" - is another. Of course, the border between the two is rather porous (and ever moving), and some might feel that the language here will function to make the story more "real" for young readers, but Lester's text just skated a little too close to that "other side" for my taste. Still, mileage varies, and so do opinions on this issue, so my recommendation would be to pick up the book and see for yourself. Really, that usually is my recommendation (and my practice!) in these cases...
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LibraryThing member cmiersma
This book is about God deciding to add more unique features to the Earth. He gets some help from his secretary and another angel and together they all create grass, flowers, and butterflies.
This is a good example of a fantasy because the events could not take place in this world, such as God
A teacher could use this book in the classroom for pure entertainment, use of listening skills, or for students to practice reading.
Media: Oil Paints
The setting that takes place is in a place that is supposed to be heaven. "Heaven" looks pretty much like Earth. Because this story is just being pure humorous, the setting could take place pretty much anywhere.
This is a good example of a fantasy because the events could not take place in this world, such as God
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having a wife, God needing advise, or God making mistakes. The story takes a Black man and portrays him as "God", making him magical. A teacher could use this book in the classroom for pure entertainment, use of listening skills, or for students to practice reading.
Media: Oil Paints
The setting that takes place is in a place that is supposed to be heaven. "Heaven" looks pretty much like Earth. Because this story is just being pure humorous, the setting could take place pretty much anywhere.
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LibraryThing member sharmon05
The plot to this story is very slow and boring. This book would not engage children and they would not enjoy it. However, this book is a good example of a fantasy, because it is talking about the creation of the earth. Also the story mostly takes place in heaven.
LibraryThing member manich01
The author claims to be "playing with God" in this fun revision of the creation story in which God has help from his family in improving the world He created, adding music and color and even flutterbys. An accessible and just plain fun introduction to origin myths as cultural products--or simply a
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contemporary take on an old tale of the construction of our World. Show Less
LibraryThing member Desirichter
This upbeat tale of creation uses colloquial language and common naming in order to make bring God and the creative process out of the mystical into the relatable. A fun read, but I'm not sure of how to use it at this point
LibraryThing member tsmom1219
Wonderful illustrations and use of language. I've read this to both second and fourth graders. Both really liked it.
Awards
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (1999)
NCTE Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K—Grade 6 (12th Edition: 1996-1998)
Language
Physical description
30 cm
ISBN
9780590864688