Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden - Hardcover

Jane Ray is internationally renowned for beautiful and thought-provoking artwork. Among many accolades for her work, she has earned several prestigious awards, including the Nestlé Smarties Prize. Jane lives in north London with her husband and their three children.

"Some time ago I was given a wonderful book by the children of the Shapla Primary School in London, where I have been ‘artist in residence’ over the years. It was The Muslim Creation Story, beautifully written and illustrated by the children themselves. I was struck by the similarities between it and the Christian creation story. "As I began work on Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden I had this book at the back of my mind, together with the knowledge that the garden is a symbol of peace and tranquility, of growth and education, of all that is best in human endeavor, in just about every culture in the world. "When I visited the Eden Project I was bowled over by the sense of connectedness that imbues the whole scheme. It seeks to show us how what we eat, what we wear, our medicines, our religions, art, politics, mythology, and history are all inextricably linked, and that above all we are linked to each other in a huge, exciting, and unfolding story."

PreSchool-Grade 3–In this lovely account of the creation, Ray celebrates the beauty of nature and humanity's connection to the Earth and all of its creatures. Adam and Eve live harmoniously with the animals that have been named by the first man, until Eve is tempted by the serpent. In rich prose, the author describes the garden in lyrical detail. The descriptive passages are complemented by exquisite illustrations that lend a mystical aura to the narrative. Although the peaceful existence in Eden is inevitably brought to an end, the well-known story culminates on a hopeful note, as the banished couple ventures out into the wider world on their own, much like all children throughout the ages have done, to begin a new life. Ray portrays God, depicted as an all-seeing eye in the sky, as a benevolent and concerned figure who still cares for his children although they have eaten the forbidden fruit. The expressive features of the two humans and their animal companions resonate with graceful dignity. Each beautiful painting is framed in a quiltlike, decorative border. This version of the familiar Old Testament story will have universal appeal.–Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.