Light

by Jane Breskin Zalben

Overview

2008 Sydney Taylor Honor Award, Picture Books

"...a creation story inspired by a 16th-century [legend]..." - Publishers Weekly

In the beginning, there was emptiness,

like a blank canvas.

Then, in a swirl of motion, the world was created.

It was going to be finished with a special kind of light, stored in a huge jar.

But the light was so powerful it shattered the jar into millions of pieces. People were created to find the sparks of light and bring them back together so that the world would be perfect.

Artist Jane Bresken Zalben opens Jewish mystical teachings -- Kabbalah -- to young children in this story of creation based on a 16th century midrash by Rabbi Isaac Luria.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681155333
Publisher:	Behrman House, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/01/2017
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jane Breskin Zalben is the author-illustrator of Paths to Peace and many other books. She lives in Sands Point, New York.

Table of Contents

What Is Energy?     4
Light Is a Form of Energy     6
Light Is Radiant Energy     8
The Science of Light     10
What Does Light Look Like?     12
A Rainbow     14
The Visible Spectrum and Color     16
The Sun     18
Experiments with Light     20
Glossary     23
Index     24
Web Sites     24

Editorial Reviews

​"Zalben matches her well-crafted words with detailed and delicate collages of naturalistic plant and animal scenes and a multicultural group of dancing, joyful children. . . . Inspiring."

​ -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

​"Zalben offers a creation story inspired by a 16th-century [legend]. . . . Zalben's take on this tale can be read as a metaphor for healing our troubled earth."

-- Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Zalben (Paths to Peace) offers a creation story inspired by a 16th-century midrash ("a legend based on biblical text," she explains in her author's note) told by the kabbalist rabbi Isaac Luria. In this pulsing-with-energy version, the Creator made the world and all its flora and fauna but, "as a finishing touch," the Creator aims to paint everything with a special, extremely powerful light that is stored in a jar. But the plan goes awry when the jar shatters into shards and sparks of light scatter far and wide. The Creator makes people to help search for the shards-finding the light in every living thing and in themselves-and eventually make the world whole again. Zalben's take on this tale can be read as a metaphor for healing our troubled earth. In a note about her sweeping mixed-media illustrations she discusses imagery and technique (she uses crayon, acrylics, oils and even a bit of Windex on rough canvas). But even without any explanation, young readers will find plenty to pore over in the arresting spreads. Ages 5-up. (Sept.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

Gr 1-4
Zalben's tale was inspired by a 16th-century midrash (a legend based on biblical text). Beginning with "emptiness, like a blank canvas," the Creator made the world and then planned to paint everything with a special light so that it would shine with goodness. The vessel in which the light was stored broke accidentally, sparks were scattered, and humans were created for the task of gathering the shards to make the world "complete and perfect," a project that has yet to be finished. The illustrations were created through mixed-media experimentation and the result is pretty but somewhat jumbled, combining static, detailed figures with dynamic, abstract forms, giving the story a somewhat stumbling pace. The text is rather vague and unfocused; this may be seen as part of its mystical charm, but it detracts from the empowering message inherent in the legend, that we are all part of the solution to the world's problems. There are few children's books that directly address the Jewish concept of tikkun olam ("repairing the world"), and this one has the advantage of being told in a universal way that will appeal to all faiths. While not completely successful in conveying its message of peace, this title does highlight important concepts and would make an excellent discussion starter.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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