God Went to Beauty School

Parents should reach for this book when their teen or tween begins to question the nature of the divine or feels disconnected from rigid religious structures. Through a series of playful yet profound poems, Newbery medalist Cynthia Rylant imagines God engaging in the small, tactile joys of human life: from getting a haircut to making spaghetti and adopting a dog. By humanizing the spiritual, the collection transforms the concept of a distant deity into a relatable, curious, and often humorous presence. It is a gentle tool for sparking conversations about spirituality, creativity, and finding the sacred in the mundane without being overly dogmatic. Ideal for ages 11 to 16, it provides comfort and wonder for those seeking a more personal, imaginative connection to the universe.