Who Is Ben?

Rating:
Summary: Where is the Spirituality?
Review: I can't seem to find the spirituality in this book. A four to five year old boy finds "comfort" in the eternal blackness where there is no light, no sound, and no other entity but himself. My definition of spirituality includes coexistence with God. God is Light. This book appears to be from an atheistic point of view that attempts to comfort children in the belief that there is nothing but darkness, silence, and solitude in the hereafter. This book portrays a preexistence and a hereafter devoid of God. Don't be fooled by the hype.

Rating:
Summary: Who Is Ben?
Review: Super book! Nice to see a book that addresses abstract concepts in a simple way. Leaves the door open for thoughtful questions and does not back the child into one way of looking at things. We can all live our life through our own faith but, isn't it nice to see things from other perspectives. This book brought up some wonderful thoughtful questions from my child - comfort, fear of the dark, birth, death, faith and security. Aethist undertones are lost on a first grader, only an adult will interpret this...it's the parents responsibility to communicate family values not shield children from diversity in thought and religion. Part of learning who you are is learning how and what others value...see another point of view. Knowledge is power and ignorance breds fear and intolerance.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful way to introduce complex ideas
Review: Who is Ben? is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Charlotte Zolotow is an amazing writer and she doesn't disappoint here. The book is a loving, gentle way to introduce complex and sometimes scary ideas about life and death. Accompanied by soaring visuals that perfectly capture the serious, mysterious subject matter, the book would make a terrific gift from a loving grandparent.