In God's Name [Hardcover]

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (Author), Phoebe Stone (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Everyone and everything in the world has a name. What is God s name? Like an ancient myth in its poetic text and vibrant illustrations, this modern fable about the search for God's name celebrates the diversity and, at the same time, the unity of all the people of the world. Each seeker claims he or she alone knows the answer. Finally, they come together and learn what God's name really is, sharing the ultimate harmony of belief in one God by people of all faiths, all backgrounds.

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

Stone's illustrations are fine and uplifting.

Review

After the creation of the world no one knew the name for God. So each person searched, and some answers are charmingly set against primitive-style illustrations. -- The New York Times Book Review, November 20, 1994

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; 1st edition (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045265
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045262
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #518,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful multi-faith book to teach religious tolerance, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: In God's Name (Hardcover)

In God's Name is like a metaphor for the many faiths embraced around the world. It describes names for God (creator, giver of life, father, mother, my rock, to name a few). Each person has a name for God and thinks their name is the best (sounds like many religions). In the end, the people gather and realize ALL names for God are good. A great book to help children respect all religions and faith experiences. I would not recommend this book for a family strongly entrenched in one religion (or perhaps, maybe that is who SHOULD read it).

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who is God for you, March 29, 2005

By 

Bec Wilson "Bec" (Victoria, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In God's Name (Hardcover)

Words spoken and written in God's name often do not seem to do God justice. It is then delightful when you do come across words and images that gather together something of the essence of God.
Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and Phoebe Stone are amazingly talented women who manage to do just this!
Sasso is the author of the book `In God's Name', whose insightful words are complimented by Stone's drawings.
What is God's name? Is it Healer? Source of light? Ancient of Days? Shepherd? Mother? Peacemaker? What is the `best' name for God?
`In God's Name' wanders along a path searching out the right name for God; it encounters those who think they have found the perfect and only name for the one who is.
The drawings are both breathtaking and charming, creating a story of movement and grace and drawing attention to the life and wonder of that which God has made.
This book invites children, adults and communities to question who God is for them. It encourages discussion about the way God is perceived and named, and the importance of this to us.
It does not shy away from the fact that it is hard work to listen to others, especially about something so close to the centre of ourselves. It is difficult to listen to other's ideas about God, without interjecting with our own rights or wrongs.
Yet this book provides a path forwards. Valuing other's ideas and perceptions about God is a central theme to this work. Not only are the thoughts of the white haired grandfather given weight, but also the thoughts of a lonely child, of the farmer with skin like the rich brown earth, of the slave freed from bondage and of the young mother nursing her newborn. The insights these different characters provide from their own lives create opportunities for us to reflect on our experiences of God.
The beauty of the final scene in the book shows something of God's grace to us. All those who felt they knew the `right' name for God find themselves gathered around a clear still lake, something like a mirror - `God's mirror'.
In looking into the lake they recognise the many faces that belong to God and are unable to stop themselves from calling out in joy the countless and wonderful names that God has, and realising that they are all good names and none is better than another.
You cannot help but smile as you see the coming together of a community in which the members are able to celebrate the diversity of themselves and the God in whose image they have been made.
`In Gods name' provides countless opportunities for your faith community to gather closer to God as you search for the many names that God holds.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No better book on the name of God., June 7, 2006

By 

D. Horan "Franciscan Friar" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In God's Name (Hardcover)

Anyone with a child should buy this book. Anyone without a child should also buy this book!

I've used this book in a number of situations and first came across it at a retreat for those young Franciscans Friars in Religious Formation. It launched a wonderful discussion on our images of God. It is masterfully written and beautifully illustrated.

The way in which Sasso presents the variety of our images of God and how they all are equally useful and beautiful illustrates how we can move beyond our differences and become a sign of unity.

A great book to have in the house.