Adam & Eve's First Sunset: God's New Day [Hardcover]

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (Author), Joani Keller Rothenberg (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2003

What will Adam and Eve do when the sun begins to set for the first time? Is it their fault? Does it mean that God is angry? Award-winning author Sandy Eisenberg Sasso has created another profound story—a beautiful recasting of the biblical tale of Adam and Eve in the Garden—for today’s children, their parents, and their teachers. This is the story of Adam and Eve’s first test of trust and faith and how they learned to find hope and light—even in the dark.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4--This parable is based upon a Talmudic explication of the Old Testament story of Adam and Eve's first night in the Garden of Eden in which God showed them flints to help them make fire that brought light into the darkness. Enlarging upon the story, Sasso emphasizes the first couple's growing fear as the sun disappears, their realization that they have no control over the natural world, and their thankfulness when the sun returns in the morning. Large, brightly colored paintings are set on rich, fiber-flecked backgrounds of deep rose, violet, lime green, and burnt orange. With their pattern-painted borders, the pictures look like a series of quilts or painted scarves showing lush tropical scenes filled with colorful flowers and animals from many habitats. The anthropomorphized sun and moon close their eyes when they set. The story's message speaks to Jews and Christians. The book can be used in both religious and family settings to teach that faith in God can help to overcome fear of the unknown, and to spark discussion concerning awareness of and gratitude for the natural world around us.--Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
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From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. Sasso continues her successful string of religious stories with this original tale based on a verse of Midrash. On the first day, the sun sinks beneath the clouds, and Adam and Eve worry. They don't know why it has disappeared. Perhaps it is tired, or sad. At first they think they can bring it back, but words are not enough, and their fear turns to anger at each other. Then they pray to God to bring back the sun. As the night wears on, they huddle together waiting for the world to end--only to be surprised by the glorious dawn. Sasso's strength lies in the emotion the story engenders rather than the details of the plot. Although Rothenberg's oversize art offers a nod to Chagall, the colors in some spreads border on garish. That aside, this effectively invites children to think about God's gifts that are sometimes taken for granted, and the idea that God will provide--even when frightening events occur--is one even very young children can grasp. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580231772
• ISBN-13: 978-1580231770
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A triumphant story of hope, January 15, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adam & Eve's First Sunset: God's New Day (Hardcover)

Adam & Eve's First Sunset: God's New Day by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is a multicultural, nondenominational, nonsectarian picture book endorsed for children ages 4 and older by Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish religious leaders. It tells the story of Adam and Eve's first day in the Garden of Eden. At first Adam and his mate Eve enjoyed the peaceful afternoon; then they realized the sun was slipping away, and the air became cold. They were fearful and fell asleep waiting for the world to end, but instead came the glorious dawn of a new day, and they thanked God for creating the light and the dark, as well as all that there is. Impressionably illustrated in full color by Joani Keller Rothenberg, Adam & Eve's First Sunset is a triumphant story of hope that is meant to be shared with children from all religious backgrounds.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, December 19, 2010

By 

Mark S. Kasson (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adam & Eves First Sunset: Gods New Day (Hardcover)

I just read this book to my two girls a few hours ago and loved it. It was my oldest daughter's hebrew school library book this week and both girls understood the story at their own levels. There really is a lot of follow on conversation that could be had from the story line (about blame, fear, God, self sufficiency).

Beyond that, I think the art is fantastic. Wanting to buy a copy for our home brought me here.

4.0 out of 5 stars Eisenberg Sasso fan, September 6, 2010

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SMB "SMB" (MA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Adam & Eve's First Sunset: God's New Day (Hardcover)

Lovely book - As a church school teacher, I have used a few of Sandy Eisenberg Sasso's books and have found them to be presentable at all grade levels since the text is simple but the content is deep. In this story, Adam and Eve panic when the sun goes down, and their anxiety leads them to despair, anger and blame. Then they realize they should turn to God, and the sun comes up again. Even the youngest will see that this was part of God's good plan all along! Such a wonderful lesson about trusting God in difficult times. The illustrations are fabulous and will help even the youngest children to stay engaged.