In this adaptation of the creation story, God creates desert canyons and riverbeds as a potter would, the leopard's spots and the zebra's stripes as a painter would, and the voices of laughter as a musician would.

Deborah Bodin Cohen was ordained at Hebrew Union College - Jewish institute of Religion. She is the author of many children's books including the Engineer Ari series, The Seventh Day, Papa Jethro, and Nachshon Who Was Afraid to Swim. Her books have received numerous honors, including a National Jewish Book award, Sydney Taylor honor designations and the Sugarman prize. She lives in Rockville, MD, with her husband David and three children.