What do you think?
Rate this book
When God Was A Little Girl
"Tell me a story, Daddy… about when God was a little girl." Susanna's playful request begins a whimsically profound tale woven between father and daughter. Together they retell the familiar story of creation, but with unexpected twists and insightful turns along the way. The exuberant joy of God's creative energy sparkles in this tale that honors both interconnection and diversity. Between the gentle wisdom in the text and the beautiful paintings that accompany it, you may never think about God, creation, or yourself in quite the same way.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2013
About the author
David Weiss
172 books14 followersTrained as a theologian. David thinks about God… all the time. Whether as a father or grandfather, college instructor or Sunday School teacher, poet or writer, he seeks to imagine God in ways that are helpful and hopeful. In this book he brings insights from seminary and graduate school into a story that is deceptively simple and simply profound.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 8, 2024
Lovely kids story and beautiful illustrations! Yes, it is for the very young but brought a smile to me this morning just the same 😊
September 30, 2018
I was hoping to add this book to a bibliography I maintain of "Books about Spirituality for Young Readers." I kind of like the idea of God painting and creating with colors, laughing and singing as He goes along. But I am a stickler for accuracy, and in this book, God creates all kinds of people, then the animals, which is way off from the biblical account. Also, the part about resting does not mention the Sabbath, and does not include the rest as an integral part of creation. The illustrations are very nice and show a diverse group of children, but there is a little too much "creative storytelling" for my taste.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2014
A wonderful picture book, taking a broad view of the Biblical creation story. The language and bright illustrations give it a joyful, friendly feel.
On a long car trip, a young girl asks her father what God was like as a little girl. The story follows their dialogue, one voice in bold, the other non-bold text. As the story progresses, it becomes less about the father answering, more about the girl developing the story on her own. It can be a little confusing to remember who's talking when, but ultimately this doesn't really matter.
I read this because we carry it in our store, but it's the kind of book my kids would have loved when they were little -- one you could keep talking about long after you've finished reading. This book would be great for families who want to approach religion in a creative way, as a dialogue.
On a long car trip, a young girl asks her father what God was like as a little girl. The story follows their dialogue, one voice in bold, the other non-bold text. As the story progresses, it becomes less about the father answering, more about the girl developing the story on her own. It can be a little confusing to remember who's talking when, but ultimately this doesn't really matter.
I read this because we carry it in our store, but it's the kind of book my kids would have loved when they were little -- one you could keep talking about long after you've finished reading. This book would be great for families who want to approach religion in a creative way, as a dialogue.
July 3, 2018
A friend of ours got this picture book for our baby girl. While I am fine with stating that God is genderless, I was afraid this book would be a bit heavy-handed with that idea. However, that was not the case.
On a long car ride, a daughter asks her father (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) “What was God like as a little girl?” This allows the father to be a bit playful with the story of creation. He says that when God was a little girl, God liked to create artwork, just like his daughter does. The rest of the book is the father and daughter retelling the creation story together in terms that the daughter understands.
There are some profound concepts here such as the state of God before the creation, the reclaiming of darkness as a good thing creation as an art form, humans’ close ties with the earth, and the naming of animals as a communal event.
This book would work well as an antiphonal reading. I look forward to reading this WITH my daughter some day
On a long car ride, a daughter asks her father (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) “What was God like as a little girl?” This allows the father to be a bit playful with the story of creation. He says that when God was a little girl, God liked to create artwork, just like his daughter does. The rest of the book is the father and daughter retelling the creation story together in terms that the daughter understands.
There are some profound concepts here such as the state of God before the creation, the reclaiming of darkness as a good thing creation as an art form, humans’ close ties with the earth, and the naming of animals as a communal event.
This book would work well as an antiphonal reading. I look forward to reading this WITH my daughter some day
May 16, 2022
"Tell me a story, Daddy..." Thus begins the long car ride from one city to another. Telling stories helps pass the time. David Weiss is a theologian and wants to bring God to little ones, especially with a new perspective. It is so refreshing to see God as a female, working on a grand art project, giggling with imagination and creativity with all the things she is going to make. She creates love and it is darkness, supporting the blackness. And then there is a ball of light thrown in the sky- the sun. And then the creation from humus, the darkest dirt...boys and girls of all different types- diversity- and it was good. I will be giving this as a gift to Reyna and to Ryan's girls.
August 12, 2017
I feel in love with this book. This is the story of creation...and I know you think I'm going to say "through the eyes of a woman," but that isn't what I'm saying. Yes the author uses the feminine gender, but there is soooo much more here. The reclaiming of darkness as where God's love was and is, reclaiming the earth as our origin and source of our variety, naming of animals as community. This book is high on my list to use with a group of adults for reading and discussion. A very rich text!
August 22, 2020
This book was just not for me. I loved the message and wanted to like it but it was miserable to read aloud. I even tried to read it to myself, silently, and just felt that it had a terrible rhythm. I was so disappointed because I absolutely love the concept and was so excited to share it with the kids.
-Mom
(kids age 4 and 6)
-Mom
(kids age 4 and 6)
December 20, 2019
A darling and important reimagining of a creation story. There’s something so sweet about the dad telling the little girl this story. And that all stories can coexist and be true. Just what a sweet a loving reimagining. ❤️
October 5, 2019
Beautiful words and pictures!
March 10, 2020
Such a beautiful account of Creation. Creative. Though-provoking. Challenging.
January 22, 2021
Beautiful images and a beautiful story about how the earth was created.
December 20, 2013
"When God Was a Little Girl" is a sweet, earnest, and theologically provoking retelling of the creation story. Lindeman's beautiful artwork complements Weiss' words as he recounts a shared storytelling moment between father and daughter, God and people. The great gift of a book that presents God in the feminine and across races and cultures while delving deeply into a biblical story cannot be overstated.
I am excited to take this book back to seminary to share with my peers as we discuss ways to present and represent the divine through art and story. Thank you, David and Joan!
I am excited to take this book back to seminary to share with my peers as we discuss ways to present and represent the divine through art and story. Thank you, David and Joan!
August 4, 2014
What a beautiful declaration of love and faith. Our daughters - and our world - so desperately need the Divine Feminine now.
My daughter and I enjoyed this book immensely. My favorite lines were: "Love was what God felt when she was giggling. And Love was the first color God painted when she sang."
My daughter and I enjoyed this book immensely. My favorite lines were: "Love was what God felt when she was giggling. And Love was the first color God painted when she sang."
December 31, 2013
Loved this. What a wonderful story of creation!
December 25, 2014
I received this book for Christmas today and I am so delighted! A wonderful reimagining of the creation story and what it means to be created in God's image. Thank you for writing this book.
April 1, 2017
A great read with a child you love or by yourself to let your imagination soar.
Read my full review here-
http://teaandtheology.com/book-review...
Read my full review here-
http://teaandtheology.com/book-review...
November 2, 2017
A friend of ours got this picture book for our baby girl. While I am fine with stating that God is genderless, I was afraid this book would be a bit heavy-handed with that idea. However, that was not the case.
On a long car ride, a daughter asks her father (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) “What was God like as a little girl?” This allows the father to be a bit playful with the story of creation. He says that when God was a little girl, God liked to create artwork, just like his daughter does. The rest of the book is the father and daughter retelling the creation story together in terms that the daughter understands.
There are some profound concepts here such as the state of God before the creation, the reclaiming of darkness as a good thing creation as an art form, humans’ close ties with the earth, and the naming of animals as a communal event.
This book would work well as an antiphonal reading. I look forward to reading this WITH my daughter some day.
On a long car ride, a daughter asks her father (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) “What was God like as a little girl?” This allows the father to be a bit playful with the story of creation. He says that when God was a little girl, God liked to create artwork, just like his daughter does. The rest of the book is the father and daughter retelling the creation story together in terms that the daughter understands.
There are some profound concepts here such as the state of God before the creation, the reclaiming of darkness as a good thing creation as an art form, humans’ close ties with the earth, and the naming of animals as a communal event.
This book would work well as an antiphonal reading. I look forward to reading this WITH my daughter some day.
November 2, 2017
A friend of ours got this picture book for our baby girl. While I am fine with stating that God is genderless, I was afraid this book would be a bit heavy-handed with that idea. However, that was not the case.
On a long car ride, a daughter asks her father (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) “What was God like as a little girl?” This allows the father to be a bit playful with the story of creation. He says that when God was a little girl, God liked to create artwork, just like his daughter does. The rest of the book is the father and daughter retelling the creation story together in terms that the daughter understands.
There are some profound concepts here such as the state of God before the creation, the reclaiming of darkness as a good thing creation as an art form, humans’ close ties with the earth, and the naming of animals as a communal event.
This book would work well as an antiphonal reading. I look forward to reading this WITH my daughter some day.
On a long car ride, a daughter asks her father (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) “What was God like as a little girl?” This allows the father to be a bit playful with the story of creation. He says that when God was a little girl, God liked to create artwork, just like his daughter does. The rest of the book is the father and daughter retelling the creation story together in terms that the daughter understands.
There are some profound concepts here such as the state of God before the creation, the reclaiming of darkness as a good thing creation as an art form, humans’ close ties with the earth, and the naming of animals as a communal event.
This book would work well as an antiphonal reading. I look forward to reading this WITH my daughter some day.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews