Rating: 
Summary: The ultimate children's book
Review: How often do you find a children's book with a intelectually fresh and profound message?? We dont have a family religion in our house, but I feel that it is important to introduce the concept of god for the child to ponder.
This book is perfect and non-denominational... christians think it is about Christianity, Taoists think it is about Taoism and so on.. it is applicable to many because it only goes into concept of god and not any particular dogmas.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for very young children, or non-religious folks
Review: I had first heard of this book when I was in high school and trying to decide what to do with my life. Such a big deal was being made of it that I decided to pick it up in the bookstore and read it. I cried at the end! It was given to me as a gift shortly thereafter and I have kept it with me ever since. It has touched me, and explains god in a way that children and even disenchanted young adults can understand. It also helped me find my way to ecology and the study of god's beautiful creation. I highly recommend this for anyone struggling with how to explain god to their child, or who want to help their children understand the sacredness of life and the beauty within all of us. I still sniffle every time I reach the end.
Rating:
Summary: BEST Children's Book!
Review: I have 4 children, from age 11 to 31, so I have had LOTS of experience with children's books. This is by far, the BEST children's book I have ever read! The message is one for all of mankind. My little girl and I just got lost in the illustrations, they are SO beautiful! An absolute classic! Should be on the everyone's bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: Start teaching diversity and tolerance early on.
Review: I received this book years ago as a holiday gift from an adult friend to an adult me! However, my grand-daughter has heard this story over and over since she was 3 or 4, and it has led to many wonderful discussions about tolerance, diversity, the Creator, taking care of Mother Earth and all her children, what "God" might be like, etc. I'm not really wild about organized religion, but through repetition and gentle discourse according to her age, I've managed to convey to her a grounded understanding of spirituality to be found in nature and in everyday life. In addition, this has become my standard newborn baby gift.
Rating:
Summary: This Is One Outstanding Book! Extraordinary!
Review: I still have this amazingly and beautifully illustrated story book in hard cover with the "1993 ABBY Book of the Year Children's Book Award" gold sticker on the front. This book is a priceless gem that I have read to my children countless times.
Douglas Wood's phenomenal writing teaches us about honoring the diversities among nature, plants, trees, mountains, the ocean, and all of the different kinds of people on Earth.
Cheng-Khee Chee created the most beautiful watercolor illustrations that look brand new over a decade later in the hard cover edition, which is truly the only edition you would want to buy.
The story is too beautiful to describe. It is an amazing experience. If you want to know which book out of a million to read to your children, this is the one.
HIGHLY Recommended. It is Priceless, and as an adult, I love reading this book as much as my children love hearing it. A MUST BUY, and A MUST READ!
Rating:
Summary: A thought-provoking, smile-inducing, really groovy story
Review: The Old Turtle is truly an incredible book that works on so many levels. The author incorporated his love of, and respect for, the environment, as well as his concept of God, into a very well-written, enjoyable story. The illustrations were beautifully done and work so well with the subtle, underlying theme of the story. While the book will surly be enjoyed by children of all ages, I purchased it for a Christmas gift for my 28 year old sister. Likewise, I intend to buy another copy for myself so that I can continue to enjoy it, and share it with my children when I have them. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to humans of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: A classic to own or give as a gift....
Review: This is a book worth having, if only for the stunning artwork by Illustrator Cheng-Khee Chee. But in addition to the artwork, the story is one that is ideal for young and old. In this story, the world begins as a beautiful place, filled with luscious trees and colorful plants and flowers, stuffed with a wide variety of strange and exotic creatures. They begin talking, then discussing, then arguing over who God is. Before they come to blows, Old Turtle offers her wisdom and view of the future. There is peace until God adds people to the earthly creatures, and they (we) go through the same argument - whose definition of God is the accurate or better one? The people argue, hurt each other, wars break out (stop me if you've heard this one!). Old Turtle comes to the rescue again. Diversity, God as in all of us - a wonderful book, and absolutely worth having or giving in hardcover.
Rating:
Summary: The best spiritual book ever!
Review: This is a very well told and well illustrated story. Way back in the beggining of time, when all the animals, mountains, trees, winds, and waters could somehow talk to each other, they started arguing about who and what God is. Eventually, the argument got so loud that Old Turtle, who had never spoken much before, told them that God is everything, God just IS. Then he told the animals about a new creature that was coming, as a message of love from god to earth. Then People came. They forgot they were a message from God. They misused their power, and hurt each other and the earth. Then they were told to stop by a new voice. The mountain, ocean, stone, breeze, and star told them what God was. The people listened, and started to see beauty in one another and the earth. This book has beautiful water-color illustrations. The people are not well illustrated, but with water colors that is understandable. This book was written by Douglas Wood, and illustrated by Cheng-Khee Chee.
Rating:
Summary: Old Turtle
Review: This is a very well told and well illustrated story. Way back in the beggining of time, when all the animals, mountains, trees, winds, and waters could somehow talk to each other, they started arguing about who and what God is. Eventually, the argument got so loud that Old Turtle, who had never spoken much before, told them that God is everything, God just IS. Then he told the animals about a new creature that was coming, as a message of love from god to earth. Then People came. They forgot they were a message from God. They misused their power, and hurt each other and the earth. Then they were told to stop by a new voice. The mountain, ocean, stone, breeze, and star told them what God was. The people listened, and started to see beauty in one another and the earth. This book has beautiful water-color illustrations. The people are not well illustrated, but with water colors that is understandable. This book was written by Douglas Wood, and illustrated by Cheng-Khee Chee.
Rating:
Summary: All Creation Worships Him
Review: This was a wonderful story and one the children I read it to at the library I worked at thoroughly enjoyed. Douglas Wood replays Genesis- but the themes behind the allegory. God is more than what I see of Him- God can only be found in what others see of Him as well. This is true Christian community. Wood displays wonderfully the foolishness of insisting upon only my view of God- in a way that children can understand but so many adults (including myself) need to hear. And then you truly feel the tragedy of the humans, forgetting all of the care for the land that God engrained upon us. Forgetting that God is found in His creation, and that all creation is a worshipful expression to Him. When we forget about the Land, we forget about God. So in the end, "even the stones need to cry out." For creation has learned in it's turmoil to see the Inner Light in the other. Creation has been redeemed. As C.S. Lewis said, this is what makes Christianity unique among great world religions- it calls for us to become like what we are unlike, as we see God in our sister and brother who is most unlike us.
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