A great story about compromise and finding peace between people and the Earth. When the mountains, valleys, rivers, and animals begin to argue about God, Old turtle helps them to understand that God is everywhere and is everything. When People come to Earth and begin to fight as well, Old Turtle helps them understand how to live in peace with each other and the rest of the world. This is a great book to use when teaching conflict management, discussing peace and war, and for a good folktales unit.

The story in this book is great, but it wouldn't be appropriate to be read in school. The story is about different animals arguing who or what God is. Then the Old Turtle, who is very wise, explains to the other animals that God is everywhere and everything.

A beautiful folktale about all of nature looking for God and claiming Him to be like them. The breeze: "He is a wind who in never still."; the mountain: "god is a snowy peak, high above the clouds." This leads to a great argument that only the Old Turtle, and his wisdom can quiet. He tells of the coming of a new race ... the people. The story then goes on to speak of how the people forgot where God was, arguing amongst themselves, and they end up destroying the earth. Then a large voice speaks; this time the elements of nature no longer claim God to be only like them, but remind the people that he is everywhere: "The voice seemed to come from the mountain who rumbled 'Sometimes I see God swimming, in the dark blue depths of the sea.' " ... and the people finally listen and remember.

Along with a beautiful story, the watercolor illustrations enhance to tale.

I will use this book in my folklore unit as an example of a folktale ... when a culture uses nature/animals/people to teach a lesson and about the values of that culture. ( )

A wonderful children's book to help teach values and compassion. ( )

I am sure many of you are familiar with this book, but it certainly deserves a mention. I shy away from most books that deal with God, but this one deals with the concept of a loving creator with grace and gentle dignity. It is not cloying or judgemental or idealised. My children respond to it, and I like the fact that it is non-denominational and inspires a lot of discussion and thoughtful questions about not only God, but the nature of people and the whole of creation. The illustrations are incomparable as well.