Booklist, 8/1/2003, Vol. 99 Issue 22, p1983 ( )

How to classify this one? It's poetry, but not it's not in your face about it. No rhymes here. And the Almighty? Think God in Kevin Smith's Dogma but less pointed. It's quirky, captivating, and imaginative. A quick read, but still thought-provoking. It's not for the easily offended or religiously sensitive, although they could probably use it the most. I quite like it, all in all. ( )

This collection of poetry imagines what happens when God decides to experience for Himself the word He has created. He does the mundane: working a desk job, buying a couch and getting cable, as well as experiencing the most meaningful aspects of human life: climbing a mountain, finding religion, and even dying. This is an intriguing, reflective and often humorous look at both what it means to be human and what we think it means to be a higher power. Though it seems a bit strange or forced at times, it is a unique and enjoyable collection of poetry that might appeal to those who don't really care for rhymes and flowery language. The book seems to draw on a Christian understanding of God, but at the same time tries to distance itself from any one religion. I think the poems blend the everyday and the spiritual in a way that could be meaningful for a wide variety of people. Some with certain very strong or traditional religious beliefs may take offense at such an imaginative, unorthodox treatment of the subject, and this should be taken into consideration when deciding whether to include it in a library collection. I would include this in a public library for middle to high school students, but would likely not purchase it for a school library because of the deeply spiritual themes. ( )

This was certainly a quick read! It seemed very light-hearted, but really provided much food for thought. ( )

(From CLCD)
John Green (Booklist, Aug. 1, 2003 (Vol. 99, No. 22))
A recent hit song asked what if God was one of us? Here, the question is, what if He is just a Guy (or possibly a Girl) who plays poker and watches movies and sometimes catches a cold and needs Mother Teresa to come over and take care of him? Such is the premise of Rylant's slim volume of poems, which is classified as fiction. In the title poem, God goes to beauty school because He likes hands and wants to do nails for a living. (He calls His shop "Nails by Jim" because He worries that if He called it "Nails by God," people would think Him sacrilegious and not tip). From there, God is caught up in all sorts of worldly craziness, from getting arrested to writing a fan letter to a country music singer. The poems aren't particularly meaty, and a few of them may be deemed offensive by some readers. They are frequently funny, however, and they play on Christian tradition without disrespect, ultimately celebrating God's kindness and love. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Fiction. 2003, HarperCollins, $15.99, $16.89. Gr. 4-8.

Awards won:
Boston Globe--Horn Book Awards Honor Book 2004 Fiction and Poetry United States 1