Baby Moses

December 1, 1989
K-Gr 1- The story of how baby Moses was hidden in a basket of bulrushes and sent floating down the river to protect him from the cruel Pharaoh is retold for beginning readers. The book is physically attractive; there is an appealing and appropriate balance between the illustrations and the text. The full-color watercolor drawings convey a sense of the exotic Egyptian setting. The story is well told within the confines of an extremely limited vocabulary. "Was the baby safe?" asks the narrator. " Not yet, ' " answer the snakes, the hippos, and the crocodiles; thus providing a touch of whimsy and humor. The presentation of a Bible story in beginning-to-read format is relatively unique, and this one is sufficiently well done to provide an interesting reading experience. It does, however, require that readers have background knowledge of the story or access to additional information. -Susan Kaminow, Westover Branch Library, Arlington, VA