Come Inside the Ark

The familiar story of Noah’s Ark is revisited again in Judith A. Harrah’s book Come Inside the Ark. Harrah introduces the story by stating that all involved in producing the book believe “the events of the flood, the ark, and all who boarded the ark are truth as God wrote it.” She goes on to say that the book “contains animal facts and human activities mixed with whimsy and fantasy to challenge children’s curiosity…”

The story is written in rhyme—sometimes rhyming couplets, sometimes with a different rhyme scheme altogether. The amount of text varies per page. Some pages hold only two stanzas while others hold many. The illustrations, done by Jack Foster, are cartoonish and have a bright, modern look, almost like computer graphic images.

After the introduction, the book starts with God telling Noah to build a boat and load it with animals and supplies because rain is coming. Once all are on board, God closes the door.

From then on, the author describes a variety of animals on the ark. Interjected into these animal introductions are a few other events. At one point, the continuous rain is again mentioned. We also learn about the chores Noah’s sons and daughters performed, and of all the hard work Noah’s wife had to do.

The story ends with Noah and family still on the ark. The last line states, “But this is a short list of all that came. You wouldn’t believe, if they ALL were named!”

Following the ending, the author includes true facts about the animals featured in the story.

What I Like: I appreciate that the author included real animal facts. Animal lovers will enjoy this extra bit of information.

What I Dislike: First, $17.99 is a little pricey for a paperback. Also, there is no set rhyme scheme to this story, which, for me, made it awkward to read. In addition, we know God told Noah to build a boat because of rain, but we aren’t told why God chose Noah to do this, why Noah needed to stay in a boat, what happened to everyone and thing outside the ark, or why God was going to flood the earth in the first place. Also, at one point, Noah’s sons sit on the Ostriches backs and race through the ark. Though I suppose this could have happened, there is nothing in the Bible that mentions this… and, in the book, it is given equal credence as other events. Perhaps the most disappointing part for me was that this book doesn’t tell the complete story. We never see the rainbow in the sky nor learn about the rainbow’s significance. So while this is a “feel good” story, it leaves a lot of gaps. Reading the story of Noah’s Ark directly from the Bible or explaining the story in greater detail to your child will help fill in the missing facts.

Overall Rating: Good. It’s not the greatest book to introduce your children to the story of Noah. However, it might serve as a fun “additional” book that can help your child imagine what it might have been like to be on the ark.

Age Appeal: None indicated. I'd go with preschool age.

Publisher Info: ShadeTree Publishing, LLC, 2012; ISBN: 978-1937331122; Paperback, 66 pgs., $17.99
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Special Info: You can read CCBR reviews of other Noah's Ark books.  

On Noah's Ark

Jan Brett's On Noah's Ark is a lavishly illustrated volume sure to appeal to your child's interest in animals. In an interesting twist, the book tells the familiar biblical story from the point of view of Noah's young grandchild (a girl, the jacket cover tells us, but the text and illustrations are gender neutral), who begins by saying:

"Grandpa Noah says that the rains are coming. Soon the land will be covered with water. Grandpa Noah is building an ark for our family and the animals to live on until it stops raining."

The young girl goes on to describe how two of every animal enters the ark. Then it rains and rains for forty days and forty nights. She says the ark is crowded and "the animals push and shove each other...The animals fall asleep all jumbled together." But Noah's granddaughter doesn't sleep. She "tiptoes around and untangle[s] them." Then one day, she sees the sun is shining. The rain has stopped. Grandpa Noah sends out the girl's dove and it comes back with "a fresh green leaf." Grandpa Noah finds land and releases the animals - who scatter about. Some of the animals stay nearby and Noah's granddaughter concludes: "Soon we will all be settled into this new place."

What I Like: I love that Brett tells the tale from a child's perspective. I love the hint at what living on the ark might have been like and the sense of humor as the child "untangles" the animals at night. And I love the illustrations, which are alive with lots of realistic detail that somehow also evokes a little fantasy. Nearly every page shows a wide range of animals, which can lead to some interesting conversations with your children.

What I Dislike: God is never mentioned in this book. We never learn why Noah built the ark, nor why the earth flooded. Therefore, this should not be the only Noah's ark book in your child's collection.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 - 8, but my 2 year old likes it, too.

Publishing Info: Putnam, 2003; ISBN: 0399240284; hard back, $16.99.

Buy Now at Christianbook.com for $12.99.

Special Info: Author Jan Brett's website offers free coloring book pages, activities, and projects for children.

Noah's Ark

The first thing you will notice when you look at Jerry Pinkney's Noah's Ark is the beauty of the watercolor drawing on the front cover. Open the book, and you will find more of the same. The story of Noah and how he trusted the Lord will come alive to your child with the reading of this book.

Here is just a sample of the beautiful language that Pinkney uses to tell this Bible story:

"God called to the animals,
and from aardvark to zebra they came.
The deer bounded throught the tall grass.
The elephants ran and it sounded like thunder.
The wings of the birds cast a shadow on the earth.

Two by two they came,
all the animals of the earth.
They came to the ark where Noah waited.
And Noah welcomed them.
They followed him into the ark,
and God closed the door behind them."

What I Like: I have to admit that this is the most beautifully illustrated depiction of the story of Noah's Ark that I have ever seen! I really appreciate that although this book is written by an illustrator, the written part of the story is not compromised.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 4-8, but my almost - two year old daughter loves it as well.

Publisher Info: Chronicle Books, 2002; ISBN: 1587172011; Hardcover, $16.99.

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Special Info: See our reviews of other Noah's Ark books here.

Elise's Adventure on Noah's Ark

Elise’s Adventure on Noah’s Ark is a book that takes the main character back to Bible times for a first-hand look at Noah’s Ark. In this case, the main character is Elise and she gets to share the adventure of building the ark and being on the ark with Noah, his family, and all the animals.

This is a different type of book than what you are probably used to. The publisher, YourPictureBook.com, offers three different book titles, all of which are personalized with your child’s name and photo, making your child part of the story.

The illustrations are colorful drawings, like many other picture books, but they also include a photo of your child on each page. The photo is pasted into the drawing in an appropriate spot on the page.

What I Like: I like the idea of a personalized book, especially one that is related to Biblical subject matter, as this can make a child feel really special.

What I Dislike: The same photo is incorporated into each page. While this is nice for the child, as he/she can see himself on each page, it is rather monotonous to have the same photo superimposed onto each page. I think it would have been better if the personalized illustration had been a drawing of the child, made from a photo, that matches the other illustrations in the book. That way, the drawing could be changed to reflect different poses, but the photo could be used to achieve a life-like resemblance to the actual child.

Also, the story is written in verse, and the rhyme and rhythm are off in several places throughout the text.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn’t list an age group, but I would say the age group would be 3-8-year-olds.

Publisher Info: YourPictureBook; Hardcover: $34.95.

Buy now at YourPictureBook.com $34.95!

Special Info: The publisher offers three different titles; the one about Noah’s Ark is the only one with a Christian theme. All books are available in a paperback edition for $26.95. You can also order a coloring book for $9.95, but you can’t get a coloring book unless you purchase either a hardcover or paperback edition of the book.

Noah's Ark

I've yet to find the "perfect" picture book version of Noah and the Great Flood, but Peter Spier's Noah's Ark certainly has some unique qualities - and a Caldecott Medal - to recommend it.

As the author and illustrator of more than thirty picture books, Spier has a unique style of illustration, and he uses it - and nearly it alone - to retell the popular Bible story of Noah. The first two-page spread shows an ancient city burning, with soldiers marching through the countryside. But nearby, Noah is planting a vineyard. "...But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord," Spier writes. Next, a simple poem about the Flood (written by a 17th century poet) is quoted beside an illustration of Noah and his family working to load the ark.

From this point on, the book features no text - just illustrations. Some take up an entire two page spread, but many pages have multiple scenes on them. We see Noah loading up the animals, shooing away extra pairs who wish to board. We see him close the ark as the rain begins to fall, while many animals stand outside, still hoping to enter the big boat. We the see water cover everything and Noah feed and care for the animals inside his ark. We see him fish off the side of the ark, and sit gloomily in the dark, apparently wishing the flood waters would recede. We see him send out birds repeatedly, until a dove finally returns with an olive branch. We see Noah and his wife embrace because of what this branch means, and we see animals eagerly trying to chew the leaves up. At last the waters recede, and Noah releases the animals. And we see what a mess they've left behind in the ark. On the last two page spread, we see Noah and his family working the land, and Spier writes: "...and he planted a vineyard."

What I Like: Children of nearly any age love examining Spier's detailed illustrations, and there are many fun things to think about in this book. (For example, readers might notice that some animals - like the rabbits - multiplied quickly on the ark.)

What I Dislike: The biblical substance of the story is missing in this book. We don't learn why Noah built the ark, nor do we see God's hand in the story - anywhere. Although the last page shows a rainbow in the sky, we don't learn why the rainbow is there or what it means.

Overall Rating: This is not the best book to introduce your children to the story of Noah and the Great Flood, but it's a nice supplemental book that can keep your child busy for long periods, helping them think about what it might have been like to be on the ark. Therefore, I give it a "Very Good" rating.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 to 8, but toddlers and slightly older kids will enjoy it, too.

Publisher Info: Dragonfly Books, 1992; ISBN: 0440406935; paperback; $7.99

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Get Me To The Ark On Time

A rare find in the Christian children's book market, Get Me To The Ark On Time, written and illustrated by Cuyler Black, is absolutely hilarious! Adults and children alike will find themselves grinning ear to ear as they read this goofy take on a Biblical favorite.

The story of Noah's Ark is told like never before. The narrating anteater and a pink flamingo constantly fight about how the story should be told.

Just as it begins to sprinkle, the giraffes, who are forced to hold their necks out the window due to an ridiculously undersized cabin, realize that the turtles aren't in the ark yet!

The anteater, dressed in a cheerleading outfit, "hoorays" the giraffes as they set out to get the turtles and themselves to the ark on time. The giraffes and turtles go through quite an ordeal, slipping off of tree branches, falling into deep holes in the ground, flying through the air and being rescued by Noah himself. Eventually they all make it safely to the ark - on time!

What I Like: This book is funny!! I actually laughed out loud while reading it!

What I Dislike: Due to its comedic nature, portions of this story are not actually in the Bible. To clarify, nothing directly contrary to the Bible's teachings is found. The story includes nothing sinful or inappropriate, just a few fictionalized details. Simply reading the story of Noah's Ark directly from the Bible at the appropriate time would provide clarification of facts.

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: The book suggests ages 4-7, but my 1 1/2 year old daughter loved it, so I would suggest ages 1-7.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-310-71633-4 ; Paperback $3.99

Additional Info: Read free comics, download free e-cards and learn more about the author/ illustrator, on his website.

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $3.99

Giraffes on a Cruise

Giraffes on a Cruise by Marilyn Schuler is one of four books in the Animals of the Bible series. This series looks at Bible accounts from the perspective of the animal that may have been a part of the event.  What a great concept!

Giraffes on a Cruise looks at the account of Noah's Ark from the perspective of the two giraffes, Jared and Pace, who "were on the ark." We are able to watch their story from the moment these two giraffes see the Ark until they come off the Ark.

I found it to be an entertaining way to approach Noah's Ark with my children. They have both heard the account of the Ark, so this was a fun way to look at the account again. My son loved the pictures, especially since giraffe was one of the first animal names for him to say. My daughter, an animal lover, was captivated because she wanted to know what the trip on the Ark was like for the animals.

The illustrations are beautifully done. On each two page layout, one page has a full page illustration, while the other page has a matching background color with minimal complimentary illustrations to keep the words as the focus.

One bonus of this book is the free audio download that it includes. By following the simple directions on the back of the page, you can download the audio file to your computer and then transfer it to the device of your choice. Perfect when you are on the go!

What I Like: As a mom, my favorite aspect of this book was the underlying lesson the author was conveying throughout the story- we need to listen to God. This is a lesson that as parents we are trying to teach our children daily, and this book is a great little supplement to those lessons.

The author signed the copy we were given and added Proverbs 1:33 to her message. "Whoever listens to God will live in safety." It is a perfect verse to share with children during the reading of this book.

What I Dislike: This is not something that I dislike, per say, but I thought you should be aware of. The book is rather small. However, the price also includes the audio download, so if you think about it, you are getting 2 books for the price of one.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 3-8 years old

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2014; ISBN: 978-1-62902-885-9 ; paperback, 24 pgs., $8.99


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The Real Story of the Flood

The Real Story of the Flood by Paul L. Maier is a mix of rich illustrations, realism, theology - along with some theory presented as fact.

As in all Maier's "The Real Story" volumes, this picture book gives a modern narrative account of a well known Bible story: This time, Noah and the ark. But unlike most other children's books on this topic, Maier's story is mature and detailed.

Noah and his family are the only righteous people on earth. God tells Noah to build an ark, and he does, despite the mocking of his neighbors. Soon, pairs of animals enter and the ark and God shuts the big boat's door. Then the storm begins. Noah's neighbors suddenly don't feel like mocking him. Instead, they pound on the ark begging to be let in.

When the storm subsides, Noah lets a dove out until it first comes back with an olive branch, then doesn't return at all. Noah and his family start a new life, and God sends his promise rainbow. Then Maier explains how each of Noah's sons supplied the earth with different peoples. Shem, he writes, was the father of the Semitic people "who would ionhabit lands to the east of the Mediterranean Sea." Ham's offspring were the "Hamitic" people of Egypt and North Africa, and Japheth's descendants became the ancestors of "people who trace their roots to Europe."

The last page of the book is for skeptics. Maier addresses the idea that the story of the biblical flood is too incredible to be true, concluding "It is history."

What I Like: The illustrations by Robert T. Barrett are in the style of classic painters, full of rich details and realistic renderings. I also appreciate that Maier gives a thorough retelling of this biblical story, covering far more than any other children's book on the topic that I've read.

What I Dislike: My major gripe with this book is that Maier presents some theory as fact. For example, he writes: "The aging Noah now turned to agriculture, planted vineyards, and invented wine making." The Bible says nothing about Noah inventing wine-making, and it's just as reasonable to assume people before the flood knew how to make wine.

On the last page, Maier also tries to answer skeptics questions, including "Wouldn't dinosaurs crush Noah's ark iof they tried to board it?" He answers: "Mr. and Mrs. Tyrannosaurus Red missed the boat. They were not around at the time. Nor were their brontosaurus, triceratops, or stegosaurus relatives. All the gigantic citizens of Jurassic Park lived and died long before the floor. Indeed, they roamed the earth during that early era described in the first half of Genesis, chapter one." This is all assumption on Maier's part, but he presents it as fact.

In addition, although I do like Barrett's illustrations, they sometimes appear a bit washed out.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 to 8. However, when I read this to my 4 year old, I could tell by her comments and questions it was the first time she really realized everyone on earth died except Noah, his family, and the land animals aboard the ark. The illustrations also show people outside the ark weeping and pounding on the ark, trying to get in. This is mature stuff, so I'd say the book is more appropriate for kids 8 - 12.

Publishing Info: Concordia, 2008; ISBN: 978-0758612670; hardback, $16.99

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Special Info: Read all of our reviews of Paul L. Maier's books.

Whitney Stows Away on Noah's Ark and learns how to deal with peer pressure

Whitney Stows Away on Noah's Ark and learns how to deal with peer pressure is written by Therese Johnson Borchard and illustrated by Wendy VanNest. This book is a part of the Emerald Bible collection.

I've never read any of the other books in this collection, but the Prologue nicely explains what has happened in Whitney's life before the book begins. Whitney is in fifth grade, and she has recently moved from Michigan to Illinois. She has also just dealt with the death of her beloved Nana, whom she was very close to. Before Nana died, she left Whitney her very special Emerald Bible. This Bible allows Whitney to experience Bible stories firsthand.

Whitney succumbs to the peer pressure of her classmates in making fun of Pat Chan, a student who is very conscientious about his note taking in class. Although she feels a twinge of guilt when she joins in, she doesn't want to publicly take a stand in defense of Pat. Worse yet, her own notes are barely legible, and she could really use Pat's help. She realizes a little too late that she should have stuck up for Pat when she knew it was the right thing to do.

Turning to Nana's Bible, Whitney travels back in time and gets to meet Noah. She hears Noah being ridiculed and misunderstood by those around him. She even gets to board the ark with Noah, his family and the animals. She realizes that it is hurtful to be the subject of ridicule.

When Whitney travels back to present day through Nana's Bible, she does the right thing and calls Pat to apologize for not standing up for him and for what was right. He surprises her by offering to share his notes with her and help her study.

What I Like: This is a really imaginative way to tell a Bible story. I like Whitney's point of view, and the lessons she learns throughout the story are brought out clearly. The drawings rendered by Wendy VanNest add a lot of interest to the story. There are just so many books about Noah's Ark that it was so nice to read one that approached the story from a different angle.

What I Dislike: There isn't too much to dislike about this sweet book, but I must confess that I am bothered by the concept of a "magical" Bible.

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: 9-12

Publisher Info: Paulist Press, 2000; ISBN:0809166747 ; Paperback, 77 pages; $5.95.

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Special Info: We've reviewed other books in the Emerald Bible series. You can read those reviews here.

Noah's Ark: The Brick Bible for Kids

If your child loves building with Lego toys, he might enjoy Brendan Powell Smith’s Noah’s Ark: The Brick Bible for Kids. Each page has one or two lines of simple Scripture text and is illustrated (by Smith) with a photograph of a corresponding scene built entirely out of Lego bricks.

Before the story begins, however, Smith has an open letter to parents where he discusses not only the beauty of the story of Noah’s ark, but its harshness as well. He says, “It seems severe, but it also speaks of redemption.” He also argues that such a vivid portrayal of the story (his scenes show fighting and death) will potentially make it easier for children to understand complicated issues. He goes further by providing suggestions on how to address tough questions (such as “Why would God kill people?”), pointing out the significance of the rainbow, and encouraging parents to read the Bible together with their children.

The story itself is straightforward, as are the pictures. Readers see Lego people fighting, much to God’s displeasure. They witness Noah building the ark and collecting animals and food. The flood comes, and terrified Lego men drown in the waters. (Yes, there are a few floating heads detached from their little Lego bodies.) Finally, Noah is shown offering up a sacrifice and a beautiful brick rainbow is displayed in the sky.

As an added bonus at the end of the story, readers are given snapshots of certain bricks. Just like in the book Where’s Waldo, readers are encouraged to revisit the story and find the special items.

What I Like: Any young Lego lover will be drawn to the book. Smith’s scenes are very detailed. Smith is a skilled and creative artist. Also, this hardcover book is selling on Amazon at a remarkably low price right now...$2.87 (originally $12.95) plus they offer a kindle version for $2.73. The low price alone makes the book worth a second look.

What I Dislike (and also appreciate): I know it happened, but I felt uncomfortable seeing the drowning Lego people (especially the floating heads!) and a knife-wielding Noah ready to sacrifice the goat. When I first read the book, I had not read the author’s note to the parents and was rather disturbed by the images. However, after going back and reading the author’s thoughts, which preceded the story, I better understood and appreciated his approach. He made a valid point AND offered suggestions to the more squeamish people (like me) on how to address the harsher aspects of the story in a healthy manner.
Special Note: Smith used a Lego character to represent God in the pictures. The scowling divine being looks like an angry (or very grumpy) Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.

Overall Rating: From my perspective, I'd rank it as Good. However, in all fairness, Lego lovers will no doubt disagree with me and give it a Very Good rating, while Lego lovers with no objection to the issues I raised above would likely rate it Excellent. So keep that in mind. :)

Age Appeal: None is given, but I suggest toddler through Kindergarten, possibly first grade.

Publisher Info: Sky Pony Press, 2012; ISBN:978-1616087371; Hardcover, 32 pgs., $12.95

This book is not available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $2.87.
OR Buy the kindle version for $2.73

Special Info: You can visit the author's website or check out other brick books at Amazon:The Brick Bible: A New Spin on the Old Testament, The Brick Bible: The New Testament: A New Spin on the Story of Jesus, The Brick Testament: The Ten Commandments, and The Christmas Story: The Brick Bible for Kids.

No, No Noah! (I'm Not Afraid of New Places)

No, No Noah (I'm Not Afraid of New Places) by Dandi Daley Mackall is a retelling of the Noah's ark Bible story - with an important twist. In this book, the author focuses on how we can trust God even (especially!) when we are scared or leery of changes and new places.

The book begins with Noah talking to a monkey in a tree. He explains that God is creating a big flood, but that the monkey will be fine if he enters the ark. The monkey resists. Will the ark really float? he asks. Are there any trees aboard for him to swing on? "Can't you see it's way too scary? Is this whole trip necessary?"

Noah replies, "Monkey, you must trust the Lord," and monkey says, "So I prayed and jumped aboard."

Next, illustrator Elena Kucharik shows us all sorts of cute creatures aboard the ark. There's a smiling alligator soaking in a wooden tub, seals playing with a ball, opossums hanging from the ceiling, birds and cows singing, and panda bears sleeping (and snoring) in a hammock. After forty days, it stops raining and a rainbow appears. The monkey swings on it and concludes:

"When your day brings something new,
Think of Noah's floating zoo.
Pray like Monkey swinging low.
God stays with you as you go!"

What I Like: This is a terrific way to help children understand the importance of trusting God. Kucharik's illustrations are ideal for very young children. The animals are cute, expressive, and whimsical. I wouldn't want this to be my child's only book about Noah's ark (because we don't learn that God chose Noah, or why the earth was flooded, or what the rainbow means), but it's a good teaching tool, nonetheless.

What I Dislike: I wish the author had shown us the monkey's prayer. The way the story reads, the monkey goes from "Nope, I'm definitely not going" to "Okay, I'll trust God" in a sudden and glib fashion. It would be more helpful for kids to have an example of how to pray when they are scared.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 4 and under.

Publishing Info: Thomas Nelson, 2007; ISBN: 1400310075; hard back, $6.99.

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Special Info: Click here to read reviews of other books by Dandi Daley Mackall and Elena Kucharik.

Mrs. Noah's Vegetable Ark

I have read many children’s stories about Noah’s ark, some from Noah’s point-of-view, but Mrs. Noah’s Vegetable Ark is the first book I’ve read from Mrs. Noah’s point-of-view.

This delightful tale, written by Elena Pasquali, depicts Mrs. Noah as an avid gardener. When she learns her husband is building a giant ark to house the animals during the upcoming flood, she is concerned about what will happen to her garden. She devices clever ways to make her garden mobile, thus saving her plants from the flood and providing food for all on board the ark.
The illustrations by Steve Lavis are bright, colorful and expressive and go perfectly with the text.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: The only thing I can find that’s missing is a Bible reference for the story.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Lion Hudson, 2011; ISBN: 9780745962535; Hardcover, $14.99.

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Timna

The nameless women aboard Noah’s ark become flesh-and-blood in Timna, a retelling of the flood story written by Lucille Travis. The adventure starts with a quick snapshot of the wicked pre-flood world and then follows Noah’s family from the first drop of rain to the final glorious rainbow in the sky. However, unlike many other narrations, the reader experiences the catastrophic event from the unique perspective of Timna, wife of Shem, one of Noah’s sons.

What I Like: I love the author's fresh approach to the story for a number of reasons. First, through authentic dialogue, the author explores the raw emotions of grief and mourning Noah’s family likely felt when all the earth’s population was wiped out. For example, soon after the storm waters lift the ark, Timna seeks out a quiet spot to hide. Then, “Timna sat weeping and wailing. She tore the scarf from her head and let it fall on the hay next to her. When she could sob no more, she began to whisper the words of mourners, the ones she had heard at funerals all her young life.”

Second, the author realistically portrays not only the hard work and unusual challenges involved with life on the ark, but also the family dynamics. The men care for the animals and the women prepare food. The ark rolls and pitches on the waves, forcing the family to rely on handrails to traverse it. After shared meals, they sing, pray, and worship together. The author even shows how, as day after seemingly endless day passes without a stop to the water, the family struggles with exhaustion, boredom, and despair.

Finally, I like that through the nitty-gritty details of the flood event, the reader sees Noah’s faith in action. This particular aspect of the story gave me a greater appreciation of Noah as a pillar of strength and obedience, no matter the difficulty of the task set before him. The author made Noah and his family feel “real” to me in a way I had never experienced before.

What I Dislike: The author often switched perspective, describing many of the events through the eyes of two dogs aboard the ark. To me, this detracted from the story and gave the otherwise powerful narrative more of a “fantasy” feel. I would have preferred that the author stick solely to Timna’s viewpoint.

Overall Rating: Very Good. However, without the inclusion of the dogs’ viewpoint, I’d be tempted to give it an excellent rating.

Age Appeal: Ages 9-12

Publisher Info: Herald Press, April 2009; ISBN: 978-0-8361-9484-5; Paperback $9.99

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Noah's Ark: With Exciting Felt Characters to Act Out the Wonderful Story (A Felt Play Story)

Ducks and pigs and giraffes…oh my! Who will get on the boat first? You decide! Noah's Ark: With Exciting Felt Characters to Act Out the Wonderful Story (A Felt Play Story), written and illustrated by Cathie Shuttleworth, is an interactive board book that gives children the opportunity to reenact this favorite Old Testament story by sticking felt animal characters right on the pages. The book cover has a plastic storage pouch to hold the animals felt pieces. Each sturdy page spread features four lines of text, bright and colorful illustrations, and a large felt area for kids to decorate.

What I Like: The book is well-built with attractive, kid-friendly illustrations. The felt pieces make it irresistible to touch. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to pick it up and play with it! It provides an excellent platform to talk about Noah’s Ark.

What I Dislike: I wish the felt areas for animal placement were bigger. And while I realize the text was simplified for the baby-preschool audience, I wonder if parents will need to provide extra background. (For example, the book says, “A flood was coming and God wanted Noah and his family to be safe.” Why a flood? Why did God only save Noah?) For that reason, I was disappointed that no Scriptural reference was provided for the story.

Not a dislike but a note: Some of the felt pieces were small. They may pose a choking hazard.

Overall Rating: Good. Even so, I suspect kids who buy this book will love it as an exciting interactive novelty... and yell, "EXCELLENT!"

Age Appeal: Baby- preschool

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2007; ISBN:978-0784711170; Novelty Board Book, 10 PGS., $15.99

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Noah's Notebook: How God Saved Me, My Family, and the Animals From the Flood

Noah’s Notebook: How God Saved Me, My Family, and the Animals from the Flood, written by Allia Zobel Nolan, is Noah’s diary and his story of building the ark. The book begins with “Entry #1” when God speaks to Noah and tells him to build an ark. “Haven’t told a soul – not even my wife – about this yet. But God talked to me today. Honest. I was standing in my garden, minding my own business, when I hear this voice. It’s not like you could mistake it. It was God, all right. And boy, was he upset.” Noah goes on to describe his conversation with God.

Right from the start, the text grabs you and holds your attention; it’s fast-paced and witty like this throughout the entire book. Noah tells about the animals coming onto the ark, about the rains and the long days on the ark, and the rainbow after the event.

There is a letter to the reader at the beginning of the book where the author explains how she came to write about Noah. She says she has always loved the story of this great adventurer. She wrote the book to “celebrate Noah and his great adventure of faith.” She put herself “in his sandals” and tried to imagine what it must have been like for him to be given such a monumental task.

Near the end of the book is a Glossary that identifies and defines a few terms used in the text such as “ark” and “gopher wood.” There is also a page of trivia titled “Stuff You May Not Know-A About Noah.”

On the last page of the book is a Bible reference from Genesis 9:1 (NIV): “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.’”

The illustrations by Linda Clearwater are delightful. They are not only bold and colorful, they are cartoon-like, making a perfect accompaniment to the text.

What I Like: Almost everything. Although the writing is great and the illustrations are wonderful, there are only a couple of entries about the actual building of the ark. Entry #3 is about planning the ark and how it will be made. Then for Entry #4, the author skips to the ark being finished and ready for the animals. This entry begins: “This is the first time I’ve had a chance to write in ages. But what great news I have. We’re finished, finally. It only took us a hundred years.” I thought there would be a few more entries about the actual building of the ark and how much time and effort it took Noah to do it.

What I Dislike: Other than what’s mentioned in the previous paragraph, there is nothing to dislike about this book. I still very much recommend it as it gives a refreshing look at a very important character in the Bible.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: The publisher suggests 4-8 as the target audience, but I think “kids of all ages” will enjoy this delightful book.

Publisher Info: Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2009; ISBN: 0736925082; Hardback, $14.99.

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Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Learn about the illustrator at the Harvest House Publisher’s website. Read our reviews of other books by Allia Zobel Nolan . Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Linda Clearwater.

Inside Noah's Ark

Inside Noah's Ark, by Charles Reasoner (author and illustrator), is a jumbo board book filled with animal fun. It features vivid colors and die-cut doors and windows for peeking ahead and behind. Children can explore every level of the ark and dozens of different pairs of animals. The text is simple and short, only two rhyming verses on each two-page spread, leaving the focus on the crazy chaos that must have been. This book gives hardly any details, but it is a wonderful introduction to the biblical story of Noah inviting curiousity and sparking great interest in learning more.

What I Like: The illustrations are friendly and full of activity. This book features many animals frequently neglected in the story of Noah. It shows more than just elephants, monkeys and lions; readers also find turkeys, yaks, pelicans, polar bears, flamingos, walruses and more! Every time I read this book to my children, it turns into a game of "can you find this animal" and "what sound does he make". It's wonderful for kids' curiousity and discovery. They also love poking their little fingers through the windows and doors and seeing what is in front and behind. The pages are super thick and sturdy. My copy has survived three years, two toddlers and thirty-six teeth to date. It's still holding strong. :)

What I Dislike: There really is nothing that I dislike, however, this book does not give the complete story. There is no mention of why Noah and the animals are on a boat or Who put them there. It does mention the rainbow and say "God brought them back to land", but it fails to tell of the wonderful promise God made. While I very much like this book, it definitely requires supplements to fill in the blanks -- be that a parent explaining further or another book on the subject.

Overall Rating: Good!

Age Appeal: 0 - 3

Publishing Info: Price Stern Sloan, 2002; ISBN: 0-8431-4885-3; board book; $7.99

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Special Info: Two pages of this book (only 12 pages total) are devoted to Noah's wife. They read: "Mrs. Noah keeps things clean, On top, below, and in between." Some may find these comments sexist because there is no mention of anyone helping her and no mention of Noah doing any work on the ark.

Noah and the Ark

In Noah and the Ark, God sees that most of the world has become wicked. He tells Noah He will destroy the earth, but Noah and his family and animals are to be saved with an ark. God instructs Noah to build the ark, and Noah gathers the animals on board before the rain pours.

When the water recedes, Noah sends out a dove in search of a sign it's safe to come out. The bird returns with an olive branch, and everyone on board leaves the ark. God promises with the sign of a rainbow He will never flood the earth again.  

Noah and the Ark is written by Kim Mitzo Thompson, Karen Mitzo Hilderbrand, and Ken Carder. The illustrations are by Ron Kauffman.  

What I Like: The illustrations in this book are bright and colorful, and entertaining to young children. The book comes with an audio CD which has two versions of the story on it (one with a chime to tell when to turn the page). There's also several entertaining songs that help teach young kids different passages of Scripture. I'm pretty sure my own church has used a couple of them for Vacation Bible School.  

What I Dislike: The story of Noah's ark is, in my opinion, overdone, so you really have to have an outstanding take to rise above the rest of the crowd. I don't think this book is above average, it's just a basic retelling of the story.

I ended up going to my own Bible to review the actual account of the story. In Noah and the Ark, there was no mention of the fact Noah sent out a raven, and the dove was sent out a total of three times; the book only indicates it was sent out once.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 4 - 8  

Publisher Info: Twin Sisters Productions, 2010; ISBN: 978-159922-438-1; Paperback with CD $4.99

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Noah's Floating Animal Park

Although the list of Noah's Ark books for children is extensive, Noah's Floating Animal Park is a unique, fun retelling of the familiar story and ends with a very clear, well-done message of salvation.

Janine Suter tells the story in rhyme, and her word choice is quite clever. I was amused and interested to find out what she would say next. She begins the story explaining the world Noah was living in, and she doesn't sugar-coat anything. She says, "Sin was spoiling everything--it was really chilling:/Stealing, fighting everywhere! And lots and lots of killing." Suter even references the Nephilim, who she calls, ". . .very nasty guys./They were super-wicked bullies who believed the devil's lies." Noah begins to build the ark and ignores the ridicule of those around him. He collects animals to live in the ark (including dinosaur babies) and Suter explains all dog breeds and races of people known today are descendants of those who survived the flood in the ark.

At the end, Suter tells us although God promised not to destroy the world in a flood, it will pass away because of sin. She writes, "Only Jesus has the power to rescue us from sin./He'll take you up to Heaven if you give your life to Him./But like Noah, you need to be brave until the day/Jesus comes to take you to His home so far away." The illustration shows Jesus greeting children in front of a stairway leading to Heaven.

Richard Gunther's illustrations are edgy and cartoon-like and don't sugar-coat anything either. He shows people drowning as the water rises around the ark. He also shows the world in space, with a lit fuse attached (my children thought it was a Christmas tree ornament, and I didn't correct them).

What I Like: I actually enjoyed the rhyme and vocabulary. Suter uses good, challenging words, but puts them in context well.

I was impressed by the detail Suter included in her book. The story is very thorough and includes most of the information in the biblical account.

My favorite part of the story was the skillful way Suter turned the story to Jesus. She explains clearly why it is important to believe in Jesus, but she reassures us belief in Jesus will be our salvation.

What I Dislike: The rhythm doesn't always flow perfectly, but I didn't really mind.

The illustrations are definitely for the older set--they aren't cute or endearing, and could be a bit disturbing for some readers, although I think they would appeal to older kids (boys especially) who are starting to feel picture books are a bit "babyish."

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Publisher lists 4-8, but I would say 6 and up, due to the illustrations

Publisher Info: Master Books, 2009; ISBN: 978-0-89051-576-1; Hardcover, $9.99

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It's Hard to Hurry When You're a Snail

Although you would never guess it from the title, It’s Hard to Hurry When You’re a Snail, written by Dorothy M. Stewart, is a story about Noah’s ark.

Snail is on his way to the ark and he’s in a hurry (as are all the creatures in the story). He meets many different creatures along the way, including a tiger cub, an elephant, and a snake. When they hurry past him, he keeps on going “at a snail’s pace,” and says, “It’s hard to hurry when you’re a snail.”

He finally makes it to the ark where Noah and the other animals are waiting for him. Snail was worried that Noah might leave without him. But when Snail arrives, Noah says, “We need two of every animal and bird and insect, and we’re short of a snail. Every little creature is special to God, and he knew you were on your way.”

Snail says to himself, “I’m glad about that. It’s hard to hurry when you’re a snail.”

The delightful, colorful illustrations, by Thomas Taylor, make this an appealing book for children of all ages.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Lion Children’s, 2009; ISBN: 0825478383; Hardcover, $14.95.

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Special Info: This book comes with a Noah’s Ark poster.