Eve and Adam Discover the World

"Eve and Adam are thoroughly enjoying their miraculous life in the Garden of Eden.

Eve has questions about the wonders around her, especially the large and mysterious Tree of Knowledge. God warns them that if they eat the tree’s fruit, they’ll be forced to leave Eden forever. Adam is content, but Eve’s curiosity leads her closer to disobeying—surely they should make up their own minds, using the brains that God gave them? And the snake further provokes her discontent. The well-known outcome is inevitable, and their leaving is both poignant and hopeful, for their lives must now be of their own making. In this companion to Eve and Adam and Their Very First Day (2023), Kimmelman again employs the ancient Jewish tradition of midrash to interpret Bible stories, this time emphasizing Eve’s thirst for knowledge and the tender trust between her and Adam. Avgustinovich’s brightly expressive artwork captures both Eden’s beauty and the developing personalities of Eve and Adam—in particular, wide-eyed Eve’s inquisitiveness, joy, and frustrations. Laced with humor and empathy, Kimmelman’s probing narrative leave readers with plenty to ponder about human nature. Brown-skinned Eve and Adam are initially nude, though covered up by strategically placed hair, leaves, and bushes; upon eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, both become clothed.

Tender and thought-provoking." —Kirkus Reviews

"This framing of the story form Genesis casts Eve as a heroine and celebrates knowledge not as humanity's downfall, but as a glorious opportunity. Eve's earnest curiosity may be familiar to young readers whose minds are also exploding with questions like, "Why is the sky blue?" and "How do turtles grow shells?" The central question in this narrative is "How can knowledge be dangerous?" and in Kimmelman's careful framing, it turns out not to be dangerous after all. God expresses disappointment in Adam and Eve's disobedience but never implies that their exile from Eden is a punishment. While Adam uselessly panics, Eve recognizes that although the future is scary, God is giving them the opportunity for an "amazing adventure." The jewel-toned palette of the digital illustrations beings the lush garden to life, while Eve's flowing hair gives each spread a sense of movement and also serves to hide the characters' naked bodies. An author's note asks readers to consider a time when they, like Adam and Eve, experienced a "big, funny mix of feelings," and celebrates these moments of contradiction and ambivalence as a fundamental aspect of the human condition.

VERDICT: After thousands of years of one interpretation, the old story is reinvigorated by this perspective, making it a welcome addition to collections." —School Library Journal