Noah's Ark

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pinkey, Jerry. 2002. NOAH'S ARK. Ill. By Jerry Pinkney. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 101587172011

PLOT SUMMARY
NOAH'S ARK is a retelling of the biblical story of Noah and his family and how they prepare for the great flood. The story opens with God unhappy with the people of the earth because they did not care for one another, but God sees Noah who loves his family and loves the Lord so God spares Noah and his family. God tells Noah to build an ark because he going to bring a flood that will wipe away every living thing and to collect two of every creature on the great ship. Noah and his family begin to build the ark while neighbors and people come to mock Noah for building a boat on dry land. Soon the animals began boarding the ship and the rains begin until the whole world is flooded. After 40 days and 40 nights the rains dissipate and Noah sends a out a dove to see if the water has receded. The dove comes back with an olive branch and the Noah, his family, and the animals walk out on a cleansed earth. The story ends when God sets a rainbow in the sky to represent a promise to Noah and all living things that He will never flood the world again.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
NOAH'S ARK is beautiful tale full of lessons of love, courage, faith, and obedience. Although a children's book Pinkney writes so movingly that even adults can't helped but be touched by his words. “The did not care for one another. They did not care for the land that God had made. And they did not care for God. God's heart was filled with pain to see the wickedness of humankind.” Also little touches of genius are everywhere in this story when Pinkney writes, “It rose over their heads. It rose of over the treetops. The strong wooden beams embraced the clouds.” In this sentence, Pinkney demonstrates his almost lyrical style while fully illustrating the grand scale of the ark.
Pinkney's illustrations, done in colored pencils and watercolors, are fantastical and full of range and depth. For example, when the animals are boarding the ark the illustrations are packed into two pages showing the organized chaos that is occurring. When the rains recede Pinkney shows only the ark, in the middle of two pages, resting peacefully on a calm sea under clouds of cerulean blue. Pinkney's words and illustrations work together to appeal to audiences of all ages who will enjoy seeing this recognizable tale come to life.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
2003 CALEDCOTT HONOR BOOK
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, review: “...The watercolor-and-pencil animal tableaux delicately hued, vigorously executed are stunning in their artistry. Realistically drawn creatures flap, leap, lumber and slither about under the watchful, hopeful eyes of a kind-faced, gray-bearded Noah and his family. These crowded but never chaotic scenes, as well as those depicting whales in implicit comparison with the ark, will help children grasp the magnitude of the story's message of faith, stewardship and obedience”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, review: “...Before Noah's story starts, Pinkney offers a seascape celebrating the goodness of creation. Many of the ocean dwellers reappear in a panorama in which they swim over drowned cities while the ark floats above. Such details add to the book's visual discoveries. The final view of Earth adorned with clouds and rainbows as it floats through space reinforces the unspoken message of the wonder and fragility of the natural world. Yes, another "Noah's Ark" book needs to be squeezed onto shelves, but this one won't sit there long.”

CONNECTIONS
Because of the very recognizable story many children will relate and enjoy being able to predict what occurs next. Also many children will enjoy having this famous story represented in a colorful and child-friendly format.
Other stories like NOAH'S ARK and other books by Jerry Pinkney.
Spier, Peter. NOAH'S ARK. ISBN 0440406935
Koralek, Jenny, THE MOSES BASKET. ISBN 0802852513
Pinkney, Jerry, THE LION AND THE MOUSE. ISBN 1587172011