Noah's Ark Picture books

The Curious Creatures Noah took in the Ark

When I was thinking about the 2020 CBCA Slogan - Curious Creatures, Wild Minds - I thought about the story of Noah's ark and all the curious creatures who were mentioned in that story.  I have been collecting different versions of the Noah's ark story in a Pinterest - literal bible stories and alternate versions. Here are four that interpret the bible story.  In a later post I will look at some alternate versions along with Australian picture books and retellings from other cultures.

Why Noah chose the Dove by Isaac Bashevis Singer illustrated by Eric Carle (1973)

First lines: "When the people sinned and God decided to punish them by sending the flood, all the animals gathered around Noah's ark."

In this version each of the animals boast about their own virtues because they hear a rumor Noah will only take the very best of all the living creatures.
Animals: Lion, elephant, fox, donkey, skunk, monkey, cat, bear, squirrel, tiger, sheep, wolf, snake, bee, giraffe, camel, hippo, crocodile, bat and cricket.
It is the dove who offers the best advice:

"I don't think of myself as better or wiser or more attractive than the other animals ... Each one of us has something the other doesn't have... "

Why read this version?  It has wonderful collage illustrations by Eric Carle. The boasting animals are actually quite funny. You might discuss the pairings such as snake and bee; horse and fly; chicken and cow. This book uses a rich vocabulary: rumor, vied, belittling, a fawning flatterer, protested, midgets, and imitate.  And if you need other words for 'said' this text is a great model:  blared, yapped, yipped, brayed, snarled, bellowed, and chortled.

Of interest Isaac Bashevis Singer won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1978. This book is still in print.

Final lines: "The truth is that there are in the world more doves than there are tigers, leopards, wolves, vultures, and other ferocious beasts. The dove lives happily without fighting. It is the bird of peace."

Noah's Ark by Heinz Janisch illustrated by Lisbeth Zweger (1997)
Translated by Rosemary Lanning

First lines: "It came to pass in the days when giants strode the earth and were heroes among men, God saw that His people had grown wicked. They thought only of war and destruction. And God was angry."

In this version the animals are presented in a form that might remind you of a biology book or a museum exhibit. If you look carefully you will find a unicorn, two koalas, lots of birds, fish and a pair of red kangaroos. Here is the Kirkus review.

Why read this version?  I would use this book with a group of older students as an art or visual literacy stimulus. The inclusion of animals from mythology is also interesting.

Of interest - A new edition (hardcover format) of this book was published in 2018. It has a different cover. This book was first published in Switzerland under the title Die Arche Noah.

Final lines: "They all looked up, and saw a rainbow linking heaven and earth. And Noah went away from the ark. in hope and trust, and his offspring peopled the earth."

The Story of Noah retold by Stephanie Rosenheim illustrated by Elena Odriozola (2006)

First lines: "Many, many years ago the people on earth grew tired of each other and became cruel and unkind. When the sun rose into a cloudless blue sky, it shone down on a people who snarled as they threw back the bed covers, cross and unhappy with life."

The text here is easy to read but again I would use this book with an older group of students as a way to talk about styles of illustration and visual literacy. The page where the ark is tossed around in the water is especially powerful.

Of interest: Elena Odriozola is a Spanish illustrator. The paperback edition of this book was published in 2013 and it is available.

Final lines: "And to show that he meant this God placed a beautiful rainbow in the sky. So now, when a rainbow appears and spread its colours across the sky, everyone should remember God's promise to His people on Earth."

Noah and the ark retold by Michael McCarthy illustrated by Giuliano Ferri (2001)

First lines: "God made the world all fresh and new, 
Each tree, and field and hill. 
But folks were not like me and you. 
They learned to fight and kill. 
The world was soon so stained with blood 
That God was very sad.
God thought, 'I'll send a mighty flood
To wash out all things bad."

You can hear/read/see this text is in rhyme which is interesting but not quite perfect. Here is the Kirkus review. The animals listed include: badgers, mice, hummingbirds, razorbills, gulls, centipedes and bumble bees. I like the way they are grouped - mammals, domestic, birds, reptiles, and insects. The page filled with pouring rain and wild waves is fabulous.

Of interest:  This book contains an excellent author's note where Michael McCarthy explains his research process. Make sure you take time to explore the end papers. Giuliano Ferri is an Italian illustrator and animator.

Final lines: "For when the sun shines through the rain
The rainbow's arc appears again.
Reminding me, reminding you,
God's words to Noah are still true."

Image Source: Why Noah chose the Dove - US Macmillan