Mama God, Papa God: A Caribbean Tale

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-In this striking picture book, a Canadian storyteller who was born in Grenada tells how the world and all its people came to be. Mama God and Papa God decide to make humans look different from one another so that things will not get boring and so that people can "live their lives learning all about each other." The story and art are sweet and upbeat. The handsome pictures, inspired by Haitian folk art and religion, combine a naive exuberance-the Gods are portrayed as childlike, large-headed, brown-skinned figures-with sophistication and wit in design and patterning. The full- and double-page illustrations done in vivid colors include images of the tree of life, serpents, a horned figure, and other fanciful creations, and seem to be a combination of collage and paint or ink. The first man and woman are portrayed naked, like anatomically correct dolls. A joyous celebration of diversity to read aloud to children.-Marilyn Iarusso, New York Public Library Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Mama God, Papa God ( Apr. 26; 32 pp.; 1-56656-307-0): The creation story takes a whimsical Caribbean turn in a seamless blend of religion and folk-art set in Haiti. Tired of living in darkness, Papa God creates light, then goes on to make the world as a beautiful gift for Mama God. Together, they design a detailed world filled with brilliance, love, and humor. Highly stylized illustrations rich in primary colors show the progress of creation as animals, birds, water, fish, wind, and rain take their place in the world. This unusual rendition of the creation tale sings to a calypso beat and gives a strikingly different and exuberant interpretation of how the world began. (Picture book. 3-8)