Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden [Hardcover]

Jane Ray (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

At the very beginning of the world the earth was a dry and dusty place, where nothing could live and nothing could grow. So God made a mist which watered the ground all over. Then with his great hands, he formed the first man out of the clay of the newly watered earth. Jane Rays beautiful version of the familiar story takes into account creation myths the world over. The story of Adam and Eve is powerful because it is the story of all children growing up and going out into the world. It also reminds readers of all ages of the need to live in harmony with the earth.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

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 © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (February 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802852785
• ISBN-13: 978-0802852786
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #720,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Jane Ray book that delights, February 20, 2006

By 

Nancy Jackson (Vallejo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden (Hardcover)

Another Jane Ray book full of artwork that delights the eyes and the soul.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, March 28, 2007

By 

grerp (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adam & Eve & the Garden of Eden (Eden Project) (Paperback)

Ray's illustrations are lovely - colorful and luminous, with gilded touches to make everything everything in Eden seem newer, shinier, and more wondrous. Certain pages are framed with smaller, detailed pieces including maps, old-fashioned line drawings from scientific illustrations, and pieces of musical scores - that give them the appearance of sophisticated story quilts. Ray's people and animals are a wonderful example of the naive art style.

The story follows Adam's creation, the formation of the Garden, the creation of the animals as (not entirely satisfactory) companions for Adam, Eve's creation, and then the Fall and exile Adam and Eve's separate punishments are lumped together and made less sexist and more palatable: "Now you will learn what it is to be sad as well as happy," God said. "You will work your fingers to the bone growing food to eat and raising your children. And when you die, you will return to the earth from which you are made."

Interestingly enough, the book's final illustrations make Adam and Eve's eventual fate look not as bleak as traditionally pictured with the two of them venturing off into a dull, dusty earth and making a respectable home of it for themselves - a garden outside of the Garden or a piece of Home - a redemptive task in and of itself.

Adam and Eve are nude - and funkily enough, tattooed - throughout (except in the final pages), but they blend in naturally with the varied patterns and coloration of the numerous animals surrounding them. Perhaps I myself fall a little on the laissez-faire side as regards nudity, but I think any parent who gets upset at the tiny peek we get at Eve's nipple here has perhaps a few issues to work through.

In any case, my three-year-old son likes it and I think it's beautiful and well told, so thumbs up from us.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely artwork, but this is not a completely Biblical retelling of the story, January 28, 2010

By 

Christine M. Irvin (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden (Hardcover)

Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden, written and illustrated by Jane Ray, is a basically a retelling of the story in the book of Genesis. However, although the author includes all the elements of the Biblical creation story, this version differs from the Biblical story.

As the publisher says in a blurb on the book's jacket flap: "Jane Ray's beautiful version of the familiar story takes into account creation myths the world over." Thus, her story includes features never mentioned in the Bible, such as a fountain in the middle of the garden. Also, in this version there are two trees called the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life; the Bible says there was one tree called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

After Adam and Eve are banished from the garden, the text says: "God gave Adam and Eve warm clothes to wear. He handed them some seeds and cuttings from the garden. Then God sent them out into the world." When they leave the garden it says, "IN the bear earth beyond Eden, Adam and Eve planted anew garden for their family."

The illustrations in this book are truly beautiful. They provide a feast for the eyes with a plethora of colors and shapes. All of the pages have borders, some of which are greatly detailed with line drawings, pieces of musical scores, etc., giving the edges a quilt-like effect.

What I Like: The artwork is my favorite part of the book. Be warned, though, it might be considered by some to be a bit sophisticated or inappropriate for children, as both Adam and Eve are clearly naked until they are removed from the garden. In one of the illustrations, one of Eve's naked breasts is rather prominent.

What I Dislike: I like the different approach to the creation story, but I'm uncomfortable with the idea of the author using ideas from different "creation myths" for the book, as this implies the Biblical story is not true, it's just a myth.

Overall Rating: Good.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Revew