Sparkling, fun-filled, full-color illustrations. Why did Noah put two of each animal in the ark?Ĥ.About the Book The author uses his own translation of a 17-century Dutch poem about the most famous menagerie. Theological conversation partners: Genesis 6:1 – 9:17Ģ. The lack of words and detailed illustrations allows for vast interpretation and discussion. Perspective on gender/race/culture/economic ability: The story of Noah is universal and would therefore make this book appropriate for use with any audience. This book would be appropriate to use with both children and adults. Many wonderful discussions can be generated through the illustrations and based upon the age range of your audience. By using only illustrations, the author allows for quite a bit of latitude as to how the story can be interpreted.

The illustrations provide the nonverbal stories about Noah and the enormous task it was to build an ark, the difficulties of rounding up all the animals, the even greater challenges of taking care of them during the flood on the ark, and the process of returning to the land as the waters receded. Literary elements at work in the story: The theme of the story is sequential thereby making it easy for the reader to tell what’s going on. For example, the sequence where the dove is released several times before the last one brings back a sprig of leaves from dry land is quite interesting as is the promise for the future which is wonderfully captured by a gorgeous rainbow at the end. There are lots of stories within the story. Yet there are some illustrations during the flood where the ark is clearly very small in the context of the huge ocean. The illustrations do an excellent job of portraying perspective. With that, a host of animals in all shapes and sizes parade across the colorful pages of this wonderfully illustrated picture book.

As you turn each colorful page you will see no words, except Peter Spier’s translation of a Dutch poem at the beginning which guides you through the story “ High and long, Thick and strong, Wide and stark, Was the ark. As the story begins, the only words on the page are But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Summary: Have you ever heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? Well, that’s just what this children’s picture book, Noah’s Ark is like.

Noahs ark peter spier