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Summary
Summary
In this delightful picture book, award-winning author and illustrator Marianne Dubuc retells the biblical story of the ark voyage from the animals' perspective. It begins with a light rain in the animal kingdom that turns heavier and steadier until all the land is flooded. The animals are huddled together atop a hill, the only dry spot left, when they spy a boat coming toward them. Rescue! The smiling captain, Mr. Noah, invites them to board, two by two. At first, the animals enjoy settling in and finding ways to amuse themselves --- the sheep play leapfrog, the ladybugs play dominoes, a chameleon plays hide-and-seek. But as it continues to rain, and rain, and rain, things grow testy below deck. The animals are getting on one another's nerves. And all of them are wondering, will the rain ever stop? With sweet, warm illustrations, this is a creative and child-friendly version of the well-known journey story. The playful animal drawings are filled with details and sly jokes, making them great fun for children to spend time with. This book makes a wonderful read-aloud, either for its connection to the biblical tale or merely as a lighthearted animal story. With the focus on how the different species fare individually and together, it would also work as an exploration of animals and their unique behaviors. It could easily spark discussions about how children might use cooperation, respect and kindness in trying circumstances as well.
Author Notes
Marianne Dubuc wrote and illustrated In Front of My House, which was nominated for the 2011 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, and The Bus Ride, which received the 2015 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.
Marianne Dubuc wrote and illustrated In Front of My House, which was nominated for the 2011 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, and The Bus Ride, which received the 2015 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A little rain never hurt anyone, until a little rain turns into a lot of rain, and a lot of rain turns into a flood. Stranded animals despair before they spy an odd sea creature in the distance. A whale? An octopus? No-it's a kind man with a boat. And not just any boat, an ark! This familiar biblical story takes a secular twist as the animals board in pairs and find creative and playful ways to pass the time together. Ladybugs become dominos, elephant trunks become swings, and everyone avoids sitting too closely to the thorny hedgehogs. Dubuc's simple but expressive colored pencils create an imaginative and water-filled world. The brief sentences and text will appeal to early readers, who will also enjoy decoding words and phrases from the amusing and lively illustrations. VERDICT This take on Noah's ark will be an excellent addition to any collection for emerging readers.-Maria Alegre, The Dalton School, New York City © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Though Dubuc's (The Lion and the Bird) softly colored pencil drawings don't seem momentous, this is a noteworthy project. It's the Noah and the Ark envisioned as a strictly meteorological event, leaving out all divine intervention. The weather turns rainy, the animals realize it's quite wet, and a nice man in a boat comes along just in time. Most of the story is taken up with tense moments in close quarters ("The goldfish didn't quite know what to do with himself... and the cat was feeling peckish," Dubuc writes, as a striped cat looks hungrily at the fish in the bowl on the facing page) and the way the animals' characteristics color the journey. "The hedgehogs were a thorn in others' hides," she writes as a lion with quills in its backside stares irately at a pair of hedgehogs. Adult readers may react with dismay as the Old Testament deity is erased from the tale-or with relief that they aren't forced to explain a vengeful God. Either way, the rainbow and a sense of gratitude ("Goodbye and thank you, Mr. Noah!") still crown the journey's end. Ages 3-7. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Dubuc (Animal Masquerade, rev. 5/12; The Lion and the Bird, rev. 9/14) gives us the Noahs Ark story from the animals perspective -- and for very young children. "Pip! Pop!" First it starts to rain. Then it begins to pour. A representative sampling of creatures sits perched on a tiny island: "There was so much water everywhere, the animals didnt know where to seek shelter." Enter Noah, who floats up on his ark and lowers the gangplank (and now we see our two-by-twos). Things are crowded onboard, and a few of the creatures are "terribly bored," but most everyone settles in. They pass the time by playing games and helping one another. Still the rain is falling, as Dubucs well-paced text reminds listeners, and then a storm hits, adding some drama. The storm passes, but spirits are low; a dove, fed up with the squabbling, has flown off to find land -- and the rest is biblical history. The book manages to reflect the frustration of being cooped up during a rainy spell without feeling oppressive or claustrophobic because the pencil-crayon illustrations, on clean, white pages in a small trim size, are so uncluttered and the animals are so cuddly-looking; everyones cheeks remain rosy throughout. Theres humor ("the hedgehogs were a thorn in others hides," pictured next to a perturbed lion pulling quills from its backside) along with moments of loveliness: "Still the rain fell day and night," says the text, but in the moonlit illustration we see the sky beginning to clear. elissa gershowitz (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
What did the animals do for all those days on Noah's ark? In delightful words and pictures, Dubuc provides a full report. Some (the chameleons) play hide-and-seek, while others (the ladybugs) are intrigued by dominoes. The childlike pencil-crayon illustrations add a simplicity and lightness to the story, which encourages a feeling of well-being despite the biblical storm (and some seasickness). Most animals tend to do what comes naturally birds build nests in a sheep's wool, snails leave a maze trail, zebras count stripes, and a cat sharpens her claws on other animals. The language is equally appealing, from the onomatopoeic pip-pops of falling rain to the hurly-burly early days and the description of a peckish cat. Although some viewers may wonder why a few animals are seen only singularly instead of in the expected pair, this book will charm all. Pair with Peter Spier's Noah's Ark (1977) for a busier but equally engaging experience.--Ching, Edie Copyright 2016 Booklist
