Etan Boritzer grew up and went to school in New York City. At age eleven, Etan won the first prize for an essay he wrote on the assasination of John F. Kennedy President.

Reviews

In a world increasingly torn by religious strife, the laudable motive behind this book is to try and answer the question ``What is God?'' and to give children a sense of universal brotherhood by celebrating similarities in differing religions. Boritzer starts off well, explaining some of the historical concepts of God, what the word religion means and how different religious groups worship. The book is at its best when talking about these concrete subjects. It's when the author starts drawing conclusions and forming definitions that he may get into trouble. In an attempt to tie the concepts together, Boritzer writes: ``God is everything great and small! . . . If everything is God, God is the last leaf on a tree . . . God is an elephant crashing through the jungle . . . God is the hot wind in the desert,'' etc. This may be construed as pantheistic, and Boritzer risks foisting his own beliefs on readers. Overall, this is an intriguing idea. Marantz's daring, highly stylized illustrations are full of character, and they pick up on many of the text's nuances. All ages. (Nov.)

This is a thoughtful introduction to the many meanings of God, to the world's religions.--Christine Watson"Santa Cruz Sentinel" (11/23/1990)

Gr 4-6-- A provocative look at the concept of God that differs greatly from the Judeo-Christian idea of God as a person rather than as a vacuous feeling or entity. Major world religions are introduced in combination with the well-known teachers representing them (Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed), and whose words evolved into a library of Holy Books: the Bible, the Torah, the Koran, the Sutras, and the Vedas. Similarities are drawn among these faiths, showing common strands of truth and prayer as a universal tool of communication with God. Brief discussion is given to those believing in multiple gods as well as to those who experience religious persecution. Boritzer's attempt to synthesize and make accessible the many concepts of God results in the New Age concept/belief of pantheism. Marantz' Henrik Drescher-like illustrations are bold and bright watercolors, occupying full pages that face the poetic free-verse text. At times they serve a somewhat decorative purpose, but usually expand and elucidate elements in the narrative. The reasoning process used throughout may occasionally prove too abstract for many children, making this a picture book for older readers. It will be best utilized by religious-education teachers and parents. --Celia A. Huffman, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland