Creation Stories

How did the world begin?

Each culture has its story!

Raven's Greatest Creation

Bouchard, David. Raven’s Greatest Creation. Winnipeg: MTW Publishers, 2011.

Listen to the story online HERE. 

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Bryan, Ashley. All Things Bright and Beautiful. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010.

Brightly coloured full-page illustrations accompany the words of the classic hymn by Cecil F. Alexander.

The Seventh Day

Cohen, Deborah Bodin. The Seventh Day. Minneapolis: Kar-Ben, 2005. 

Fleischman, Paul. First Light, First Life. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2016.

A master storyteller and accomplished artist tell a story of creation that celebrates traditions from around the world. The design of the book – the layout, font, colours – enhances this outstanding companion to a previous collaboration between Paul Fleischman and Julie Pashkis: Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella. Highly recommended for readers 8 years old and up.

Older Than the Stars

Fox, Karen C. Older Than the Stars. Watertown, Mass.: Charlesbridge, 2010.

 “A picture book that describes how the elements that formed the universe also form people” – CIP.  A beautifully illustrated book with simple information for younger listeners and more detailed information for older readers. [Atoms; Big Bang theory; Cosmology] 

Paradise

French, Fiona. Paradise. London: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2004.

Tales from India

Gavin, Jamila. Tales from India : Stories of Creation and the Cosmos. Somerville, Mass.: Templar Books, 2011.

Galapagos George

George, Jean Craighead. Galapagos George. New York: Harper, 2014. 

Remaking the Earth

Goble, Paul. Remaking the Earth : a Creation Story from the Great Plains of North America. New York: Orchard Books, 1996.

Cry of the Benu Bird

Gregor, C. Shana. Cry of the Benu Bird: an Egyptian Creation Story. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

At Break of Day

Grimes, Nikki. At Break of Day. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 1999.

In the Beginning

Hamilton, Virginia. In the Beginning : Creation Stories from Around the World. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.

Star-Bearer

Hofmyer, Dianne. The Star-bearer : a Creation Myth from Ancient Egypt. London: Francis Lincoln Children’s Books, 2008, c2001.

When God Made the Dakotas

Kesler, Tim. When God Made the Dakotas. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2006.

The Blessing Seed

Matthews, Caitlin. The Blessing Seed: a Creation Myth for the New Millennium. Kingswood, Bristol, U.K.: Barefoot Books, 1998. [A slightly stilted retelling of the Biblical account of creation which will not be appreciated by all readers; it is recommended only for mature readers who enjoy exploring metaphorical and nontraditional stories of faith.]

Creation

McDermott, Gerald. Creation. New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 2003. 

Rylant, Cynthia. Creation. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2016.
“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” And so starts this picture book adapted from the book of Genesis and illustrated in a simple style with acrylic paints. Highly recommended for all ages.

Bones in the Basket

Taylor, C.J. Bones in the Basket : Native Stories of the Origin of People. Plattsburgh, N.Y.: Tundra Books, 1994.

How We Saw the World

Taylor, C.J. How We Saw the World : Nine Native Stories of the Way Things Began. Toronto: Tundra Books, 1993.

Let There Be Light

Tutu, Desmond. Let There Be Light: the Story of Creation. London: William Collins, 2014, c2013.

Genesis

Young, Ed. artist. Genesis. New York: Laura Geringer Book, 1997.

Zeitlin, Steve. The Four Corners of the Sky: Creation Stories and Cosmologies from Around the World. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 2000.

Heavenly Emperors

Zhang, Song Nan. Five Heavenly Emperors : Chinese Myths of Creation. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2002.

Common Features of Creation Stories:

  1. 1. describe how the cosmos was created and is organized

2. usually include…

– a supreme being

– god-like creatures who can transform

3. usually show that life…

– started either above or below the earth

– was good until something happened

4. use metaphors to portray the central beliefs of a culture

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