Naming

by Margaret Greaves

In a retelling of the biblical creation, as the animals come before Adam, he names them and teaches them about their strengths, such as showing the deer how fast it can run.

32 pages, Library Binding

First published September 24, 1992

About the author

Born 1914. Margaret Greaves was educated at St. Hugh's College, Oxford, and taught English in schools and at St. Mary's College of Education, Cheltenham. She died in June 1995

Reviews

[deborah o'carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pauline Baynes' illustrations!!! <3

[midnightfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book about Adam naming the animals. Probably doesn't get a lot of play because it also talks about the unicorn. However, I, and my 5 yr old son, loved it.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though it appears at first glance to be "biblical," this book has a major Shyamalan twist. In it, a grass-skirted Adam names the animals (and by so doing, it seems, defines their personalities). I started to get suspicious when the animals call him "Lord Adam," wondering how Greaves would distinguish God if he showed up. But he doesn't. Here is the 100% actual ending: a unicorn appears, in tears because it doesn't have a mate. Adam tells it that it's way better than all the other creatures and will live forever. The end. Granted, I'm only a Catholic and wouldn't claim perfect scriptural literacy, but I don't recall hearing this story at mass. I don't really get why Greaves used Adam here; it's like a pump fake in the direction of Christianity when she really intends a layup in the land of fairies. It's pretty confusing.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, though. The mix of animals is so exotic I couldn't even name them all. And I received this as a gift, so it was obviously well-loved by a friend's children. Maybe it comes in handy as a reference point when your children get to be teenagers and start to cry about their own lack of mates.

[Vinton Bayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated by the wonderful Pauline Baynes!