Noah's Ark [Paperback]

Heinz Janisch (Adapter), Lisbeth Zwerger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2001

The "New York Times" Best-Illustrated Book returns in this beautiful new edition. Zwerger's award-winning art uses clever vignettes and striking full pages to present the menagerie of animals sailing on this most amazing voyage. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 6. Janisch's version of the Bible story does not gloss over the violence that preceded the flood or the destruction that accompanied it. The reteller uses words with economy and power to convey the familiar tale of God's order to build an ark and the efforts of Noah and his family to carry out the commands to save themselves and the animals. Zwerger's signature style of illustration brings fresh insight to the tale. From the haunting opening with burning towers and discarded weapons through a fascinating menagerie of animals assembling to board to sea creatures undulating through submerged buildings, one image after another commands viewers' attention. Small pictures at the bottom of pages of text are carefully juxtaposed with the full-page illustrations opposite. For example, images of cats and koalas in cramped but cozy shelter on board face the scene of the ark buffeted by huge waves while clouds shed more rain. Text, illustrations, and page design work harmoniously to create a distinctive version of the often-told story.?Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

This unusual telling of a familiar story begins lyrically: ``It came to pass in the days when giants strode the earth and were heroes among men, God saw that His people had grown wicked. They thought only of war and destruction. And God was angry.'' Beyond that, the text is negligible, a frame to showcase Zwerger's art. She finds whimsy in the suits, pillbox hats, and black umbrellas that adorn Noah and his family; in scenes of the animals that were left behind (among them, the satyr and the unicorn); and in the paintings of enormous fish swimming in and out of submerged houses. The watercolors effectively portray reflections of people and the ark mirrored in blue and silvery grey water. Elsewhere, Zwerger presents labeled plates of the pairs of animals, reminiscent of an Audubon notebook. Eccentric, if not cohesive, and appealing. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 36 pages
• Publisher: North-South Books (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735814198
• ISBN-13: 978-0735814196
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,307,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Wish I Could Paint Like That!, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Noah's Ark (Hardcover)

A more traditional Noah's Ark Book, this one concentrates more on the animals, and the caring heart of Noah. The illustrations are what make the book unusual and beautiful. The images are typical of the very old images found in old children books from Australia and Britain. The words are perfect and sparse, but with meaning and interest. Children will love the illustrations and thought behind Noah's Ark. Gorgeous book, a must read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicate, Beautful, and Slightly Surreal, November 2, 2005

By 

S. Mcwalters (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Noah's Ark (Hardcover)

Lisbeth Zwerger tops my list of favorite illustrators because of books like this one. After years of enduring boring illustrations of folks in proper "biblical" clothes calmly standing by as animals filed silently onto a rectangular ark, the story was made completely new to me by this lovely book. Nothing here is typical.

There's a sense of urgency to the paintings, and the dark clouds lower as the family, bundled in Eastern European-looking clothes, hurries onto the boat. In one painting, the wind whips around unicorn galloping by. A faun hurries through the rain, looking for shelter. It's unexpected little details like these that make Zwerger's art so dear, and make the story of Noah's ark not just one of those old tales, but something alive and intriguing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Amazing illustrations let down by the words, July 8, 2007

By 

Reader X "RX" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Noah's Ark (Paperback)

Perhaps it's just me, but I found the words in this version to be unusually stuffy. I really appreciated the ideas behind the way the story was told, but the words sounded too much like they had come from another world for me to enjoy them as much as the illustrations. The illustrations were mesmerising, beautiful and thoughtful. I loved the fact that more unusual animals were chosen, and the different perspectives on life inside the ark, and during the making of the ark.