Maybe it happened this way Torah stories reimagined

Stories from the Torah, the Old Testament's first five books, are enlivened. A Reform rabbi and a Jewish educator use the original text, midrashim (stories that "search or explore" the original Bible), and their own creativity to reinterpret the well-known tales about Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Aaron, Miriam, and others. Sometimes they invent characters, and in the last story, they leap into the future, juxtaposing Moses writing the Torah with God telling him about the questions future people will have, even mentioning the smartphone, to show the continuing importance of Jewish learning. Though the events are familiar--the Great Flood, the departure from Egypt and the long desert sojourn--the storytelling is engaging. The biblical figures have strong personalities, and the authors make playful asides, such as a remark from God to Moses when the great leader is worried about his brother's feelings:"When was the last time you saw Aaron happy?" Although traditionalists may not be comfortable with these adaptations, the stories make real the joy and suffering of the Jewish people during their early days. With particularly rich backmatter (including excellent discussion questions), the book will be useful for some Jewish education programs, but individual readers will also enjoy this less formal approach to the stories that have been taught in religious schools and homes and mentioned in secular literature for centuries. Simple black-and-white vignettes accompany chapter headings and are interspersed throughout. This spirited collection will make the Jewish people's beginnings tangible to today's readers. (descriptions of Jewish values and the stories that relate to each value, index of values and sources) (Religious anthology. 10-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Adam and Eve Grow Up She opened her eyes and saw a big smile and an outstretched hand. A sound issued from the smile. "Hi. I'm Adam. Let me show you around the Garden of Eden." So she took Adam's hand and followed him. there was an abundance of everything in this garden . . . "What are those sounds?" Adam tilted his head and listened. "Those tweet tweets are birds. I named them." He sounded proud of himself, which made her smile. . . She continued her questions. "Why is that great big light in the sky moving?" "It's the sun. It goes across the garden in the day, then at night is disappears, and a bunch of smaller lights appear. Well, one sort of medium-sized light and a bunch of smaller ones." "Why?" "They just do."  "How do the fruits we eat appear on the trees?" "God provides." "Who is God?" "God is our creator. God made this garden, and God made me. God made all the animals, which I named. The God made you to keep me company." He squeezed her hand and smiled again. She did not smile. She frowned. She didn't know yet what there could be to do, but surely she couldn't be there just to give Adam someone to show around the garden. Surely if that were all, one of these other animals--the wolf or the horse or the mouse, whatever they were--would be fine. . ." Excerpted from Maybe It Happened This Way: Bible Stories Reimagined by Leah Berkowitz, Erica Wovsaniker All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.