Noah's Ark

January 1, 2018
Dramatic artwork compensates for a fairly leaden text in this recounting of the Genesis story of Noah’s Ark. The plainspoken narrative is accessible, but, despite the stakes, there’s little tension (“Thunder crashed and lightning flashed. The rain became heavier and heavier”) and what goes unsaid may rightly lead to follow-up questions (“Everyone was mean and selfish. God decided to flood the Earth and start again”). Italian illustrator Di Lernia’s portraits and panoramas shine, though; in one especially effective four-panel sequence, readers watch dark aquamarine floodwaters rise over “the hills... and even the mountains.” Simultaneously available: Jonah and the Whale. Ages 3–5. Illustrator’s agency: Plum Pudding Illustration.