What Do You Believe?

April 11, 2011
Opening with a chronological time line that dates back to 15,000 B.C.E., this extensive guidebook covers the beliefs and history of the world's major religions. Focusing in particular on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism, the book also explores atheism and agnosticism, indigenous belief systems, East Asian religions, philosophy, and morality. This book doesn't (and can't) have all the answers (spreads address such questions as "What Is God?" and "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?"), but it has a lot of them, and the graphically bold formatâwhich mixes photographs, cartoons, and sidebarsâwill keep kids' attention, whether they are seeking truth, knowledge, or more to ponder. Ages 7âup.

June 1, 2011

Gr 4-7-The "new DK" style used here is still heavily illustrated, with many small bursts of text and great visual appeal, but with far less white space than the "Eyewitness" series, and it incorporates lots of silhouettes and speech bubbles. All major religions are covered in two-page chapters. Entries on Native and East Asian religions provide too little information due to the constrictions of the layout. Most interesting are the spreads that synthesize information on topics like "What's the point of prayer?" "Why do you wear that?" and "What is God?" Although the material is typically brief, this slim book goes beyond the standard comparative religion format to address questions of philosophy and belief that readers, both those with and without religious identification, will find thought-provoking, such as "How do people make moral decisions?" A good complement to Laura Buller's A Faith Like Mine (DK, 2005)-Rebecca Donnelly, Loma Colorado Public Library, Rio Rancho, NM

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2011
Grades 5-8 As long as the earth has had people, there's been religion to help them make sense of it. Beginning with a six-page time line that covers the earliest known religious beliefs to Charles Darwin's publication of On the Origin of Species, this comprehensive title introduces the world's six main religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. It also touches upon native and East Asian religions, new religious movements, modern spirituality, and atheism. A third section looks at such religious practices as prayer, food, clothing, festivals, and rites of passage and shows how each is integrated into the various faiths. The final section takes a philosophical approach, exploring how the major religions address such issues as the nature and existence of God, science and Creationism, and morality. This excellently designed overview features graphics, photos, all manners of sidebars, two Who's Who? sections, and a glossary. As readers consider how religion influences people around the globe, they may even start reaffirming or reevaluating their own belief systems.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)