What is God by Etan Bortizer.

This is a really cool book.  A non-religious, non-denominational book, it talks about all religions and how they differ and are similar in an age-appropriate manner.  While it says grades 4-6, I would think younger kids would get a lot out of it as well.  It's very UU in approach.  Below is a review from Amazon.com.   I don't really agree with the concusion of pantheism being presented - at least that's not whay I got from it.   It's tagged as a "pagan children's book" here, which is far from the truth; some religious extremist probably did that.  It has nothing to do with Paganism or Wicca. (People are so ignorant!)

Here's the link on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/What-God-Etan-Boritzer/dp/0920668887/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219629413&sr=1-1

If you are interested be sure to read the reader's reviews - they are pretty much spot-on.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-- A provocative look at the concept of God that differs greatly from the Judeo-Christian idea of God as a person rather than as a vacuous feeling or entity. Major world religions are introduced in combination with the well-known teachers representing them (Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed), and whose words evolved into a library of Holy Books: the Bible, the Torah, the Koran, the Sutras, and the Vedas. Similarities are drawn among these faiths, showing common strands of truth and prayer as a universal tool of communication with God. Brief discussion is given to those believing in multiple gods as well as to those who experience religious persecution. Boritzer's attempt to synthesize and make accessible the many concepts of God results in the New Age concept/belief of pantheism. Marantz' Henrik Drescher-like illustrations are bold and bright watercolors, occupying full pages that face the poetic free-verse text. At times they serve a somewhat decorative purpose, but usually expand and elucidate elements in the narrative. The reasoning process used throughout may occasionally prove too abstract for many children, making this a picture book for older readers. It will be best utilized by religious-education teachers and parents. --Celia A. Huffman, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland

Well you know - anything that doesn't go along with the Christian religion - that must be a dreaded pagan book!!!

It looks like a great book for kids.  I'll recommend it for my "adopted" niece and nephew.

I'm not sure a Christian labeled it as such - just someone obviously ignorant of Pagan belief.  I happened to pick up a PB copy at the FOL sale - and they have it in HC here - I am tempted to score another copy in HC...

ETA:  Well, when I posted about it, there were copies in PB and HC  - and now they are all gone! :p  Guess someone liked my recommendation, LOL...

L I LOVE that book... sometimes our minitsre uses it as part of her "Children's Message" at church.. it's really made Aaron think about his concept of God and the universality of it all (of course he doesn't use that term)  Thanks for that awesome review :)

Sounds a lot like one my mom gave me in elementary school called "My Friends' Beliefs" http://www.amazon.com/My-Friends-Beliefs-Readers-Religions/dp/0802773761/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219666082&sr=1-2 That's a really good one too.

ETA: the tag Pagan children's book seems to be rather haphazardly applied; its also on The Lorax

ETA: the tag Pagan children's book seems to be rather haphazardly applied; its also on The Lorax

Oh for Pete's sake!

ETA: the tag Pagan children's book seems to be rather haphazardly applied; its also on The Lorax

To play Devil's Advocate here, it's possible these books were tagged as Pagan by actual Pagans. Perhaps as a way to keep track of books that celebrate the earth, environment, or just non Judeo-Christian ideals. Perhaps books that are suitable for children being raised Pagan, even if they do not have overt Pagan themes. Pagan-friendly books, might be a better tag.

Though, it's just as likely that it was done as a negative branding, as others have mentioned, unfortunately.

Positive or negative, "pagan children's book" is misleading on a book like the Lorax which has (as far as I can see) no religious references whatsoever.  And it makes it that much more difficult for pagans looking for religious themed books for their kids.

Vanessa, I agree. I was just pointing out that it might not have been done out of malice.

ETA: I did wonder if perhaps the tagging came as a result of this thread http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=126744  which asks people to tag books with certain themes as Pagan.

Gotcha Janelle.

While that's a posibility, I would think Pagans would use a different tag such as "Earth-friendly" or "Pagan-friendly".  And BTW I wasn't implying  it was done out of malice - just ignorance.