Where's God?

Where's God?

Sammy has a big favor to ask God, but he isn't sure how to find Him. Is God up in the sky with the stars? Can we spot Him with binoculars? Do we need to pinpoint God's exact location before we can talk to Him? Where is God? Everybody Sammy asks seems to have a different answer, until Grandpa explains simply but eloquently how we can all talk to God anytime, anywhere. As she has done in her previous children's books featuring the irrepressible Sammy, Why Do You Love Me? But I Waaannt It!, and Growing Up Is Hard, acclaimed author and radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger zeros in on an issue of real concern to parents and children alike. Grade 1-4-When Grandpa finds Sammy in the barn, the youngster explains that he has been using binoculars to locate God to request a cure for his hospitalized mother's knee problem. He explains that he asked several people where to find God, and each of them had a different answer. "The grocery man showed me his fruits and vegetables and said God was in all growing things. That made me feel funny about eating my salad." Grandpa resolves the child's confusion with precision, wrapping it all up in a nice, neat package for his consumption: "God is helping your mother. He's doing it through the good doctors who are helping her. God is also expecting your mother to help Him help her by doing the exercises she needs to do to make her leg strong." The boy deduces that since God works through all people, He's in Sammy and can be contacted at any time. The lengthy story is convoluted at times and the tone is didactic. The full-page illustrations are done in watercolors and ink. While the adult characters have realistic features, Sammy has large Ping-Pong-ball eyes that give his face a cartoon quality that doesn't fit with the rest of the artwork. Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. PreS-Gr. 1. Sammy wants to ask God to help his mother's knee get better, so she doesn't have to have surgery. But where is God? The grocery man says God is in all growing things; a TV preacher says God is in Heaven. Sammy is confused. And, by the way, why didn't God get Sammy out of trouble when he prayed? So Grandpa explains that God is without and within, and people must choose the goodness within themselves. Oh, and "He let you get punished because you earned that punishment and need to learn from it." Radio host Schlessinger's text is flat and charmless, though it does cover the basics and usually presents God at a level preschoolers can understand. The awkwardly drawn illustrations are particularly homely and unappealing; for some reason, Sammy is much more cartoonlike than any other character. Patrons may want this for the name recognition, but Where Does God Live ? (2001), by August Gold, is a better choice. Ilene Cooper Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Sammy has a big favor to ask God, but he isn't sure how to find Him. Is God up in the sky with the stars? Can we spot Him with binoculars? Do we need to pinpoint God's exact location before we can talk to Him? Where is God? Everybody Sammy asks seems to have a different answer, until Grandpa explains simply but eloquently how we can all talk to God anytime, anywhere. As she has done in her previous children's books featuring the irrepressible Sammy, Why Do You Love Me? But I Waaannt It!, and Growing Up Is Hard, acclaimed author and radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger zeros in on an issue of real concern to parents and children alike. One of the most popular hosts in radio history—with millions of listeners weekly—Dr. Laura Schlessinger has been offering no-nonsense advice infused with a strong sense of personal responsibility for more than 40 years. Her internationally syndicated radio program is now on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111, and is streamed on the Internet and podcast. She's a best-selling author of eighteen books, which range from the provocative ( New York Times chart topper The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands ) to the poignant (children's book Why Do You Love Me? ).  She's on Instagram and Facebook (with over 1.7 million followers), and her Call of the Day podcast has exceeded one hundred million downloads. She has raised millions for veterans and their families with her boutique, DrLauraDesigns.com, which benefits the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation. Dr. Laura holds a Ph.D. in physiology from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and received her post-doctoral certification in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from the University of Southern California. She was in private practice for 12 years. She has been inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, received an award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for her Exceptional Public Service, and was the first woman ever to win the National Association of Broadcasters' prestigious Marconi Award for Network/Syndicated Personality.