Because Nothing Looks Like God [Hardcover]

Lawrence Kushner (Author), Karen Kushner (Author), Dawn Majewski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2000 | Age Range: 4 and up

What is God like? Mixing sparks of curiosity and spiritual imagination, this wondrous book lights children’s creativity and shows how God is with us everyday, in every way.

In this, their first collaborative book, husband-and-wife team Lawrence and Karen Kushner combine their experience to help introduce children to the possibilities of spiritual life. Real-life examples of happiness and sadness-from goodnight stories, to the hope and fear felt the first time at bat, to the closing moments of someone’s life-invite parents and children to explore, together, the questions we all have about God, no matter what our age.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-This gentle book is designed to be "the beginning of a continuing conversation between adults and children about the world and God." Nonsectarian and multicultural, the text suggests a divine presence rather than anthropomorphizing, by utilizing simple questions such as "What does God look like?" and "How does God make things happen?" to guide youngsters' understanding of this very abstract concept. The result is more a feeling than an answer, with God primarily represented by several easily understood metaphors such as the wonder of nature ("God is in-caterpillars chewing leaves from daisies,/And in worms turning leaves into earth"), and the loving cooperation of a family ("See sisters taking turns on the slide,/And brothers sharing a new game"). Clearly there is no way to explain certain aspects of God, thus parts of the text seem beyond the grasp of younger readers ("God is wherever we let God in"). However, because the Kushners' intent is to explore rather than describe God, there is room for children's own spiritual awareness to grow. Watercolor illustrations are simple, bright, and nicely textured, portraying people of all ages in friendly and caring situations. Similar in tone to Virginia L. Kroll's I Wanted to Know all about God (Eerdmans, 1994), this book provides children of many faiths with a bridge between the tangible and spiritual world.-Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los Angeles

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 3-7. How do you know there's a God? What does God look like? Where is God? These philosophical questions can leave adults groping for simple, comprehensible replies. With responses drawn from the familiarity of youngsters' everyday experiences, the Kushners provide answers: God is "in worms turning leaves into earth." God is where people come together for hugs and kisses. "God is wherever we let God in." Children are reassured that although many things cannot be seen, their presence can be felt: cool breezes on a hot night and feelings such as pride, worry, and love. The answer to the final question, "How does God make things happen?" empowers children to do God's work: siblings sharing, playmates helping each other, people donating money or time to those in need. In their overzealous effort to portray the universality of the authors' concepts, the illustrations jarringly offer too-literal scenes and juxtapose pictures (e.g.. nighttime and daytime) with no borders to ease the transition. Glaringly intense colors accentuate, rather than soften, the stiffly drawn characters. It's Majewski's nature panoramas that are most effective in underscoring the meaningful messages in this valuable book. Ellen Mandel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Pub (November 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158023092X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580230926
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.4 x 12 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Judaism
  • #29 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Religious Fiction > Jewish

More About the Author

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't Talk Down to Your Kids December 3, 2000

By Sharon O Sims

Format:Hardcover

I've looked many years for a book that is spiritual, but doesn't talk down to kids, to share with my many grandchildren. There is another: "God's Paintbrush" but we have read it so many times that I needed something new. This is it! A wonderful, delightful exploration of who God is, and what God does in the world through us. Cuddle up to your grandchildren with this one.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A children's theology book to cherish December 29, 2007

By Doting Aunt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Introduced to this book a few years ago by a friend's rabbi during a children's sabbath celebration, my husband and I were quite impressed. The art is so inviting to look at. But more importantly, the content is worth sharing with children you want to share a positive image of faith with very early on -- whether they are children who share your own religion or are in another religion that you respect.

We are Christian and have now shared this lovely book with children in our congregation, children in other Christian denominations (both Catholic and Protestant) and children being raised with Jewish traditions. We hope it will be a blessing to many -- adults and children -- as it has been to us.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book! April 14, 2010

By M.G.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book about a year ago for my daughter (now 5 and 1/2) as she had started asking a lot of questions about God. One of her friend's Mom's saw the book at our house and thought it looked nice and wanted to borrow it. I decided to order one for her. This book doesn't try to answer some very difficult questions about God, but it does try to give the child the sense that God is everywhere and is a part of our lives all of the time and in every situation. It is simply written and beautifully illustrated. A great book for children of any religion.