- an interpretation of the Eden story with many liberties taken
(see below) - illustrations brings to life how the garden might have looked and felt
Type: picture book
Ages: 6-9
Author: N.D. Wilson
Illustrator: Peter Bentley
I’ll say right off the bat, I still had my children read this per our curriculum, because they’re old enough to have great discussions with. However, proceed with caution if that is not your family’s habit. Wilson strayed very far from the biblical text. I don’t have a problem with Satan being portrayed as a dragon, as some other interpretations do, but a few other items that did concern me are:
- According to Wilson, Adam was not with Eve when she ate (Genesis 3:6 begs to differ).
- According to Wilson, Adam only ate the fruit so that Eve wouldn’t have to die alone.
- According to Wilson, God used his “magic” to create the world and creatures.
These were the main things I recommend being prepared to discuss. Lastly, if you have read Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” you will see parallels–this picture book mentions that it is purposely similar.