Noah's Bark - Hardcover

Krensky, Stephen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0822576457 ISBN 13: 9780822576457

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books ®, 2010

Synopsis

Noah's trying to build an ark, but with the snakes quacking, the beavers crowing, and the pigs howling, he can't even hear himself think, much less make a giant boat. Pretty soon Noah's barking in annoyanceand then it starts to rain! Discover how each animal came to make the noise it does today in this whimsical retelling of the beloved Noah's ark story.

About this title

About the Author:

Rogé is a fine observer of the everyday life. He is largely inspired by urban scenes, passers-by and the many people who surround him in the cafés where he enjoys working on his sketches. He has a gift for making the past bounce into the present, for having comedy burst out of tragedy and for making the light flash in the darkness. He has a sensitive and intelligent look on life and shares his vision with delight.

Born and raised in Quebec, Rogé studied graphic design at Laval University. He began his career working as an art director for well-established advertising agencies. After a few years, he decided to take on a new challenge and volunteered for international cooperation projects. In the course of a three-month stay in the Dominican Republic, he painted large murals in a village and the experience gave him a new sense of direction. Upon his return, he settled in Montreal and decided to take on illustration full-time.

Review:

"Krensky uses the basic elements of the Noah's Ark story for his own original pourquoi tale of how the animals came to have their own distinctive sounds. While Noah builds his ark in preparation for the imminent flood, he is surrounded by a wide assortment of animals that randomly use all the typical animal sounds from moos to meows. Though Noah successfully herds all the animal pairs into the ark, chaos ensues, and there is no communication between species until Noah devises a way for the animals to choose their own characteristic noises. The amusing, understated text has the flavor of a traditional folktale, well complemented by Rogé’s naïve paintings with flattened perspective and muted colors. The illustrations have a dark, moody atmosphere with gray skies and driving rain, offset by the folksy charm of the animals. There is no obvious religious content in the text, with no mention of God and no dove or rainbow. While this choice makes the book plenty ecumenical, it also will render readers unfamiliar with the story mystified at Noah's foreknowledge of the flood and determination to build the ark."
--Kirkus Reviews (Journal)

"There are a lot of Bible-themed picture books out there, but few will be as popular as this humorous offering. It is long ago, and the world is full of confusing sounds made by silly animals: beavers crow, snakes quack, pigs howl, and elephants hiss. Annoyed at the noise, Noah barks at them to keep quiet while he builds an ark, but they ignore him - until the rains begin. In the ship's lower deck, the animals crowd together, trying to keep their pointy parts to themselves. To stifle their chaotic cacophony, Noah borrows a turkey feather, writes a list of all the animal sounds, cuts the list into pieces, and puts the scraps into a kangaroo's pouch. Thanks to Noah's bark (bigger, in fact, than his bite), the animals get to randomly choose their new, and permanent, sounds, restoring sanity and safety. The stylized, brushstroked paintings are embellished with highlighted sound effects and subtle comic expressions. Inventive and sure to elicit a boatload of giggles."
--Booklist (Journal)

"Krensky retells the story of Noah's ark as a pourquoi tale to explain why each animal makes its own special sound. The narration includes plenty of animal noises and a hearty dose of humor. The vibrant figures in the illustrations suit the lively text, especially when the critters make the 'wrong' sounds (e.g., snakes saying 'quack')." --The Horn Book Guide
(Journal)

About this edition

• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books ®
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0822576457
• ISBN 13: 9780822576457
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Girard Roger