Let There Be Light combines the extraordinary talents of Nancy Tillman, the New York Times bestselling author of On the Night You Were Born, and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu in this retelling of the biblical story of creation. The pairing of Archbishop Tutu's lyrical text from The Children of God Storybook Bible and Tillman's wondrous illustrations bring the pages of this board book to life for readers young and old. From School Library Journal PreS-Gr 4--Archbishop Tutu's version of the creation story first appeared in his Children of God Storybook Bible (Zonderkids, 2010). The retelling of the first chapter of Genesis is both accessible and poetic, with the emphasis being on God's love. Tillman, best known for her "You Are Loved" trilogy (Feiwel and Friends), brings her signature style to the digitally rendered illustrations. The colors are bright yet misty, with no sharp edges or lines to be found, resulting in a dream-like atmosphere. Her renderings of wild animals are particularly well executed, and a keen observer will find images hiding in clouds. When people appear, they all wear crowns, a conceit that Tillman employed in The Crown on Your Head (Feiwel & Friends, 2011) that may prove puzzling to those unfamiliar with the earlier work. It's a lovely book, suitable for larger collections where religious material is in high demand.--Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. From Booklist It is not surprising that in retelling the creation story, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu focuses on the power of light, an essential element in many religions. The text is taken from Tutu's Children of God Storybook Bible (2010), but the illustrations give it a fresh look, with the theme of illumination permeating all of Tillman's photographlike illustrations, from the stunning sun to the fullness of the clouds to even the heart of a flower. When people finally appear--children here--they are depicted with crowns of light, the kings and queens of creation as well as the keepers of it. There is a softness to Tillman's palette that adds warmth to this inspirational work as it highlights the natural world with realistic portrayals of landscapes, animals, and children. Readers are reminded that God clapped his hands and laughed on the final day before he rested--and that they are loved. Tutu and Tillman precede the text with notes to their readers. This has universal appeal. Preschool-Grade 1. --Edie Ching --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
