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When God Gave Us Words
Words.
There are long words and short words, nice words and mean words.
There are silly words, scary words, and hard-to-spell words.
There are so many words in our world! But where did they all come from? Award-winning children's book author Sandy Eisenberg Sasso tells a creative tale about the origin of words, and the power of language, in When God Gave Us Words. Inside this innovative children's book, God gives the power of words to humankind. At first God and the angels are pleased with how people use words, but over time they start to use words to make curses, lies, and threats. The angels beg God to take back the gift of language, and just as God is about to take it back, new beautiful words begin to fill the air.
When God Gave Us Words features imaginative illustrations by Darcy Day Zoells and it is ideal for children ages 3-8.
There are long words and short words, nice words and mean words.
There are silly words, scary words, and hard-to-spell words.
There are so many words in our world! But where did they all come from? Award-winning children's book author Sandy Eisenberg Sasso tells a creative tale about the origin of words, and the power of language, in When God Gave Us Words. Inside this innovative children's book, God gives the power of words to humankind. At first God and the angels are pleased with how people use words, but over time they start to use words to make curses, lies, and threats. The angels beg God to take back the gift of language, and just as God is about to take it back, new beautiful words begin to fill the air.
When God Gave Us Words features imaginative illustrations by Darcy Day Zoells and it is ideal for children ages 3-8.
- GenresPicture BooksTheology
40 pages, Hardcover
Published September 18, 2018
About the author
Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
70 books50 followersRabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck where she served for 36 years. Upon her retirement she founded the Religion, Spirituality, and the Arts Initiative, now at Herron School of Art and Design at IUI.
After receiving her B.A. and M.A. from Temple University, in 1974 she was the first woman ordained from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. In addition to being the first woman to serve a Conservative congregation, she and her husband, Dennis C Sasso, are the first practicing rabbinical couple in world Jewish history.
Sandy has written and lectured on women and spirituality, the discovery of the religious imagination in children, women’s leadership, and reimagining the Bible. She is the author of several nationally acclaimed books. Most notably, in 2004, Sandy received the Helen Keating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature and, in 2012 took home the National Jewish Book Award for Best Illustrated Children’s Book for The Shemah in the Mezuzah. In 2019 she won the Glick Regional Author’s Award.
Sandy has been honored as one of the “Influential Women in Indiana” by the Indianapolis Business Journal and was featured among “Indy’s Most Influential Clergy” by NUVO News Weekly. She is the recipient of the “Sagamore of the Wabash”, the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of the State of Indiana and has been the recipient of The Heritage Keeper’s award for: the Indiana State Museum, the Torchbearer’s Award from the Indiana Commission for Women, and was designated as a Living Legend along with her husband by the Indiana State Museum.
She has authored more than 30 children's books, 2 books for adults, and numerous articles and essays.
After receiving her B.A. and M.A. from Temple University, in 1974 she was the first woman ordained from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. In addition to being the first woman to serve a Conservative congregation, she and her husband, Dennis C Sasso, are the first practicing rabbinical couple in world Jewish history.
Sandy has written and lectured on women and spirituality, the discovery of the religious imagination in children, women’s leadership, and reimagining the Bible. She is the author of several nationally acclaimed books. Most notably, in 2004, Sandy received the Helen Keating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature and, in 2012 took home the National Jewish Book Award for Best Illustrated Children’s Book for The Shemah in the Mezuzah. In 2019 she won the Glick Regional Author’s Award.
Sandy has been honored as one of the “Influential Women in Indiana” by the Indianapolis Business Journal and was featured among “Indy’s Most Influential Clergy” by NUVO News Weekly. She is the recipient of the “Sagamore of the Wabash”, the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of the State of Indiana and has been the recipient of The Heritage Keeper’s award for: the Indiana State Museum, the Torchbearer’s Award from the Indiana Commission for Women, and was designated as a Living Legend along with her husband by the Indiana State Museum.
She has authored more than 30 children's books, 2 books for adults, and numerous articles and essays.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 18, 2019
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
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January 4, 2019What...did I just read?
First of all, the angels look like flowers, or maybe hot water bottles? Or maybe both? Whatever they are, I DIG THESE ANGELS.
Then, this book is weird, with a dry wit? Like, God gives people words like "omniscient" and "antidisestablishmentarianism", and angels were like, God, people aren't gonna understand, so that's why dictionaries were invented! Clearly!
The book covers all kinds of uses for words--gossip, lull-a-byes, jokes (even bad jokes!), storytelling.
This book reminds me of the Christianity of Madeline L'Engle, which always felt like a really universal kind of spirituality, and it also reminds me of the myths of the rabbits in Watership Down.
This book won't be for everyone, but it's a quirky little gem of a text, and the illustrations are a perfect match. If you like WEIRD, you'll like this one.
First of all, the angels look like flowers, or maybe hot water bottles? Or maybe both? Whatever they are, I DIG THESE ANGELS.
Then, this book is weird, with a dry wit? Like, God gives people words like "omniscient" and "antidisestablishmentarianism", and angels were like, God, people aren't gonna understand, so that's why dictionaries were invented! Clearly!
The book covers all kinds of uses for words--gossip, lull-a-byes, jokes (even bad jokes!), storytelling.
This book reminds me of the Christianity of Madeline L'Engle, which always felt like a really universal kind of spirituality, and it also reminds me of the myths of the rabbits in Watership Down.
This book won't be for everyone, but it's a quirky little gem of a text, and the illustrations are a perfect match. If you like WEIRD, you'll like this one.
November 10, 2018
Disclaimer: I am not a religious person and generally don't go in for the God stuff. However, this book is fabulous! It's an exploration of the power of words, beautifully written and illustrated for both kids and adults. I love seeing active inclusion in children's literature, so thanks for a fabulous book!
Read
January 21, 2019To Listen
As parents, we all want our children to learn to listen. Right? We want them to listen to us, to their elders, their teachers – and for many of us, we want them to listen to God. We all listen because others have important things to say – everyone, no matter who they are, has something to say that’s worthwhile, and we teach our children to understand that.
The Story
When God Gave Us Words, by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, is a fictional origin story of just how listening – and words – came to be.
When God Gave Us Words is an imaginative story of a time when God wanted to listen – to people. To us. I can imagine that, as a rabbi, the author knows well the power of words between people and the divine. The fact that she is a faith leader makes this book even more special.
The story goes that, for some time in the beginning, people did not have words. Everything was plain and gray. But God decided he wanted to share the gift of words with humanity. The angels didn’t like the idea, however God was eager to see what would happen. And so he poured out words on men, women, and children, and then He and the angels sat back… and watched.
At first things were confusing. Slowly, people worked it out. But it didn’t take long for humans to twist words into negativity – gossip, curses, lies. God wanted to listen, but this is not what he had wanted to hear. The angels tried to convince him to take the words back, but just as he was about to, something new arose from the earth:
It was words in beautiful forms: song, poetry, prayer… and stories.
And so God allows the people to keep words. This is what he wanted to hear.
The Gift of Words
This story does not prescribe any particular lesson, however there are many that we can glean from it. We can see in the intricate illustrations by Darcy Day Zoells the emotions on the faces of the people as they react to the different kind of words spoken. We get a sense for how the people on the page feel when they are gossiped about – and in contrast, how the little children feel when their parents sing them lullabies.
When God Gave Us Words may not be a teaching book, but it teaches us quite a bit. It teaches us the power of words among people. It teaches us a little about the nature of God. And it teaches us a lot about the nature of humanity – that we have the choice between good and evil – and that we can use our words either way.
The book encourages us toward the good… and helps to show us the way.
As parents, we all want our children to learn to listen. Right? We want them to listen to us, to their elders, their teachers – and for many of us, we want them to listen to God. We all listen because others have important things to say – everyone, no matter who they are, has something to say that’s worthwhile, and we teach our children to understand that.
The Story
When God Gave Us Words, by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, is a fictional origin story of just how listening – and words – came to be.
When God Gave Us Words is an imaginative story of a time when God wanted to listen – to people. To us. I can imagine that, as a rabbi, the author knows well the power of words between people and the divine. The fact that she is a faith leader makes this book even more special.
The story goes that, for some time in the beginning, people did not have words. Everything was plain and gray. But God decided he wanted to share the gift of words with humanity. The angels didn’t like the idea, however God was eager to see what would happen. And so he poured out words on men, women, and children, and then He and the angels sat back… and watched.
At first things were confusing. Slowly, people worked it out. But it didn’t take long for humans to twist words into negativity – gossip, curses, lies. God wanted to listen, but this is not what he had wanted to hear. The angels tried to convince him to take the words back, but just as he was about to, something new arose from the earth:
It was words in beautiful forms: song, poetry, prayer… and stories.
And so God allows the people to keep words. This is what he wanted to hear.
The Gift of Words
This story does not prescribe any particular lesson, however there are many that we can glean from it. We can see in the intricate illustrations by Darcy Day Zoells the emotions on the faces of the people as they react to the different kind of words spoken. We get a sense for how the people on the page feel when they are gossiped about – and in contrast, how the little children feel when their parents sing them lullabies.
When God Gave Us Words may not be a teaching book, but it teaches us quite a bit. It teaches us the power of words among people. It teaches us a little about the nature of God. And it teaches us a lot about the nature of humanity – that we have the choice between good and evil – and that we can use our words either way.
The book encourages us toward the good… and helps to show us the way.
March 7, 2022
I love the imagination and the concept of this book. It is a great conversation starter for children (and maybe some adults would do well for a conversation on this as well) into what we as humans have done over the years with the gift of words and voice - good and not-so-good. While religious, it will require reminding those I use it with in my religious setting to note that this is not a Bible story. But I cannot wait to open this with children and see how they relate to the bits of humor and make connections to words, the creative ways we can use them, and how important they are to God's plan.
January 15, 2021
A wonderful book about words and the power they have to do beautiful and amazing things as well as how words can hurt. The angels are jealous of God giving words to human's at first and it is true that human's misuse words but ultimately God and the angels want humans to have words for great things like poetry, prayer, jokes, and stories. The writing is very exact and the pictures are beautiful slightly muted colors. A really wonderful book that younger kids can enjoy and older kids and adults can benefit from.
March 20, 2019
While I agreed and liked this tale, I had to keep telling my children that this book was a story from someone’s imagination. Because of the use of “God” and “angels”, I wanted them to know that It was not Biblical. I am reading to children who are like sponges, and I long for them to know God’s Word, therefore they know that God and angels really do exist.
May 7, 2018
A religious/christianism book about how the God have given the word/speech to the human. The illustration are not that good, an unique style for sure but not much to it, and a story that just doesn't bring anything, even if you're a religious person I can't see how this book can interest you.
March 18, 2019
the book is about words, but it's also about stories. (you need words for make stories, you know.) The power of words, both for good or for ill, and the importance of stories -- and hearing the end. It is a contemporary midrash of a sort.
Wonderful.
Wonderful.
January 26, 2019
Gorgeous illustrations.
March 15, 2019
Sandy Sasso tells a beautiful myth that illustrates the good and the bad that can come from words - and how stories enrich our lives.
September 23, 2025
8.5/10⭐️
June 1, 2018
This is an imaginative origin story; the premise is that God wants to give humans words, but angels resist, wanting that ability to be theirs alone. God persists, so the angels distribute words throughout the world and watch what happens.
There is humor to be found in this book (why dictionaries and spelling lists are necessary, for instance, or how the angels tire of all of our relentless talking while God is still content to listen). We also see the negative ways we use language -- through ugly words, gossip, and curses. Just as there could be regret, we see songs, lullabies, poetry, jokes, prayers, and stories redeem the hurtful parts.
The illustrations are whimsical and engaging, and the message of the power of our words and how stories can compel might extend beyond the pages of this book.
There is humor to be found in this book (why dictionaries and spelling lists are necessary, for instance, or how the angels tire of all of our relentless talking while God is still content to listen). We also see the negative ways we use language -- through ugly words, gossip, and curses. Just as there could be regret, we see songs, lullabies, poetry, jokes, prayers, and stories redeem the hurtful parts.
The illustrations are whimsical and engaging, and the message of the power of our words and how stories can compel might extend beyond the pages of this book.
July 15, 2018
When God Gave Us Words by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is an imaginative origin story. The story is that God wants to give humans words, the angels resist, wanting that ability to be theirs alone. God persists, so the angels distribute words throughout the world and watch what happens.
There is humor to be found in this book; such as, why dictionaries and spelling lists are necessary, how the angels tire of all of our relentless talking while God is still content to listen. The story covers how humans use language in a negative way through ugly words, gossip, and curses. Just as there could be regret, we see songs, lullabies, poetry, jokes, prayers, and stories redeem the hurtful parts.
The illustrations are different yet interesting. This book shows the readers the impact of our words and how stories can compel might extend beyond the pages of this book. While the idea of the book is there it is a tonal issue of how the ideas are presented.
I give this book 3/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley via Flyaway Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is humor to be found in this book; such as, why dictionaries and spelling lists are necessary, how the angels tire of all of our relentless talking while God is still content to listen. The story covers how humans use language in a negative way through ugly words, gossip, and curses. Just as there could be regret, we see songs, lullabies, poetry, jokes, prayers, and stories redeem the hurtful parts.
The illustrations are different yet interesting. This book shows the readers the impact of our words and how stories can compel might extend beyond the pages of this book. While the idea of the book is there it is a tonal issue of how the ideas are presented.
I give this book 3/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley via Flyaway Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2018
When God Gave Us Words by Sandy Eisenburg Sasso was a beautiful book! The illustrations by Darcy Day Zoells were stunning. I read this with my 7 and 10 year old kiddos and they both stayed engaged and asked to look at the pictures a little longer.
God always has our best interest in heart and even something as seemingly simple as the words we use can break His heart. God gave us all of our words; silly, long, strong, and hurtful but it’s up to us to know when to use the words God gave us in a glorifying way. When man kind starts to use words to lie and hurt and curse, the angels ask for God to take them away. Can God change the hearts of humans and can humans make better choices?
Great conversation on why what we say and how we say it holds power in both a positive and negotiable way.
*Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to view and review. All opinions and reviews are my own.*
God always has our best interest in heart and even something as seemingly simple as the words we use can break His heart. God gave us all of our words; silly, long, strong, and hurtful but it’s up to us to know when to use the words God gave us in a glorifying way. When man kind starts to use words to lie and hurt and curse, the angels ask for God to take them away. Can God change the hearts of humans and can humans make better choices?
Great conversation on why what we say and how we say it holds power in both a positive and negotiable way.
*Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to view and review. All opinions and reviews are my own.*
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews