A Very Big Problem Lib/E

by Amy-Jill Levine

In the beginning, God’s garden is beautiful and peaceful, but it doesn’t stay that way. Everyone has something to say! Rain brags that it’s the most refreshing. Birds boast that they’re the most splendid. Earthworms bluster about their busyness. Then Children come along, claiming to be the best of all. And it’s only fair that the best is loved most, isn’t it?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christian

Audio CD

Published August 4, 2020

About the author

Amy-Jill Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies and Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and Department of Jewish Studies. Her books include The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus; Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi; four children's books (with Sandy Sasso); The Gospel of Luke (with Ben Witherington III); and The Jewish Annotated New Testament (co-edited with Marc Z. Brettler). Her most recent books are The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently (co-authored with Marc Z. Brettler), Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven; and The Kingdom of Heaven: 40 Devotionals. In 2019 she became the first Jew to teach New Testament at Rome's Pontifical Biblical Institute. Professor Levine, who has done over 300 programs for churches, clergy groups, and seminaries, has been awarded grants from the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the American Council of Learned Societies. Institutions granting her honorary degrees include Christian Theological Seminary and the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated children's book caught my attention on NetGalley, so I read it with my three-year-old grandson. We both loved the illustrations and I can see that this would be a valuable book to explore the subjects of cooperation and fairness. The notes at the end are helpful as they show the intentions of the author in using the Mishrahim model for storytelling. This is not, however, a biblically correct picture of the Garden of Eden. God created all things and pronounced them very good. There was no sense of unfairness in the garden until Satan entered and tempted Eve.

Thank you to Flyaway Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

God’s garden has a problem...a very BIG problem... when the elements, all its denizens, from the elephants down to the worms, boast their importance and God’s favor. But they can’t all be the apple of his eye, can they?

Taking turns to state their case for hierarchy, denoting their vital contribution, land begins, feeling that being first, it should be lived most. Rain, sun, flora and fauna, even children.

God was not happy with the bickering and informs them all that while each has their own important reason for being there, it’s the symbiotic connection that gives his garden its glory.

Woke, they see how they matter, to God, the garden, themselves. A peaceful calm settles in. As with any garden, serenity can be found by merely inhabiting it. (MY favorite part.)

Brightly illustrated with fun characters, it can teach children that all God’s creations, big and small, elemental and physical, are vital to the existence of the next.

Noted at the end is Midrash, a rabbinic form of storytelling, for which this book is intended to convey. The story untold, but obvious.

Thank you LibraryThing for the chance to win this book and Flyaway Books for offering it.
#AVeryBigProblem

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to start your kid down the path to imaginative thinking, good questions, and intellectual debate? Start here.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

God should love me the most. It's only fair.

The story of creation using the storytelling form from rabbinic literature known as midrash. This teaches what really matters. How we need each other. Our place in the world. The story lines goes thru creation starting with the land that God created. It was good until the land said that I was here before you and thus God loves me the most. I am needed more than you. As you can see, when we have that attitude, there is chaos, discord, and a place of discontent.

God's love is bigger than our insecurities and without each other, we find ourselves with a very big problem.

A Special Thank you to Flyaway Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Cara BookShelfMomma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an adorable children's book based on the creation of the Earth and the premise that God's love is big enough to love everyone. I love the message in this story and the illustrations are adorable. I do appreciate the story that is being portrayed, that no matter what you are that makes you special (created first, strongest, fastest) that we are all important and we all are interconnected and God loves us all.

I will say that if you are a Bible scholar this is not Biblically accurate. There is a message in the back of the story that tell you that interprets to what the elements might be feeling.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Flyaway Books through NetGalley.
Beautiful illustrations provide the framework for this story about Creation. As each part of the garden is created, they think they are the best. This continues from the land through the children God made. At the end, God shares how special each of his creations are and they return to living in harmony and peace.
Levine and Sasso write about conflicts that may have occurred and lets readers think through their own viewpoints. They can relate this story to their own experiences and think through what they believe. Terrific family or church school read-aloud as adults can listen and ask open ended questions to support faith growth.

[Erica Sonzogni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every creature on the planet wants to feel significant. In A Very Big Problem, each part of the planet argues with one another on their importance in the world. Land thinks that since he was made first, he is the one loved by God the most. Rain says that nothing would grow on the land without them, so they are loved the most. Each of the creatures, from the plants, to the bird, to the 4-legged animals, and even the children, all state their reasons for being the most important. In the end, God interrupts and explains that even though some came before others, they are all needed and loved the exact same. Every creature came together and there was peace.

A Very Big Problem was written by two professors of Jewish studies. Their religious influence is prevalent on every page by mentioning God’s presence. A note on the last page of the book explains to parents and educators that the story is centered around the book of Genesis in the Bible. The illustrations are very vibrant and colorful which attracts young readers. The story itself, however, is very repetitive and tiresome; it seems similar to many stories that have already been written. The message that every creature on the planet is meaningful and that without one, the entire Earth would not be complete is easy for readers to grasp. Overall, while the story has an essential moral for children to learn and beautiful illustrations, the story itself is not thrilling or innovative.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this children's picture book we see all of the things that God has created, from the land, sea and rain, to the animals. These things all think that they are what God loves the most and this causes discontent between them. The message by the end is of course that everything has it's part to play, have special qualities and their place in the world, everything is equal, and God loves everything and everyone - a positive and empowering message that can be applied even without religion.

The illustrations are colourful and delightful, they will definitely keep the attention of younger children and my young son enjoyed the story and the pictures.

I'm not religious and my son is not being raised religious at all. That being said, I think that religious education is important and that there are some inspiring messages that can be taken from positive fables and texts, so we read a wide range of books and talk about many religions. You can take the important message of equality from this book regardless of denomination. Reading children's books like this allows bigger discussions and open minds, as well as conveying an important moral message of inclusion and love.

"A Very Big Problem" is a well-told creation story that will engage children and encourage reflection and discussion.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The residents of God's first garden are having a rather big fight about who God loves most. The land says it was first. The quadrapeds have their own argument, as does the sun, birds, etc. But who does God really love best?

The back of the book says this is told in the form of a midrash, a legend formed by filling in what may have happened in the spaces between lines in the Torah. Jewish and Christian families and schools can explore how God's love is big enough for all with this text that imagines a very family-like argument in Eden.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little book that the young child will enjoy. It has beautiful illustrations. It makes the great points that God's love is big enough for us all and that each contributes in their own way to to ensure the best in our world. I also liked the author short note that gave some additional ideas about other discussions that can be generated by reading this story.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Brittany Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, and they did not disappoint with A Very Big Problem! They use midrash to tell the story of creation. Each creation wants to be the best, but God reveals the big secret—each creation is interdependent! It's a great way of exploring creation and creation care with kids. The art is lovely; the story is delightful.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very Big Problem presents an age old problem of who or what is most important. Throughout the book, each creature or object gives its reason for being the most important in God’s garden. Only when God shows them how they are all needed does peace come to the garden.

[Nelson Banuchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isa very cute book with a cute story such a simple and quick, you can read it right before putting the children to bed. Teaches that God loves us all equally, regardless of our weaknesses or strengths. Easy for children to understand.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comes from the Creation Story, but I think goes really well with the Paul passage on the Body of Christ.

The different parts of Creation argue who God should love the most because they're the most important.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I entered this contest knowing that if I won I would be sharing it with my 10 grandchildren. Everyone needs to feel special at times. This sweet story explains how that while we all are special and important, we need to work together and build each other up. A great lesson for all of us.

[Bertha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful written and illustrated children's book about creation and God's love.
A simple and quick book that is great to read to your child at bedtime.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking about jealousy and interdependence in the context of creation. As each part of creation names why it thinks God should love it most, the way it is needed in the creation community comes through, but so do the ways in which it depends on other parts of creation.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The land, the rain, the plants and animals are all boasting and bragging that they are the best and most loved by God. This poses a very big problem and argument. Who will win?

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Amy-Jill Levine, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, and Flyaway Books through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book about fairness and love. This book will teach kids that it doesn’t matter who came first, what your strengths and weaknesses are, or how beautiful you are, God loves everyone the same. I found the note to parents and educators quite informative as well as it talks about midrash, I had never heard of that before, so I learned something new today!

[May Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute take on the creation story

This makes a very good book to read to children. I love how the production team explains that this take on the creation story can be a good analogy to birth order and what a fun way of explaining so to the children. I hope I can get the chance to read this to my 2-year-old niece, who is currently going through the stage of feeling envious and left out because of her new baby brother.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful picture book with gorgeous illustrations. The story was easy to read, but has clever vocabulary. This book will allow you to talk to kids about fairness, the environment, God’s love being equal for all and the peace that comes with knowing your place in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flyaway Books for a free digital copy.