Noah's Trees [Paperback]

Bijou Le Tord (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2012

Noah loved God
and God trusted him.

From the time they are tiny seedlings, Noah nurtures his trees, all the while imagining their future with his sons. "Japheth will make a flute out of the fruit trees. With his baby he'll watch the trees fill with birds." In the end, though, God has another purpose in mind.

In simple elegant verse and glowing watercolor illustrations, Bijou Le Tord breathes new life into an old tale. Noah's Trees is the moving story of a man's love for God, his children, his trees, and his world. To read it is to meet Noah for the first time.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Picture books about Noah's Ark abound, but few have the quiet beauty of Le Tord's (God's Little Seeds) portrait of a gentle, caring man who obeys God's commands without question or doubt. And few books convey so much with such simplicity: "Noah loved God and God trusted him," this text begins. Noah is happy planting and tending his "little trees" and imagining a future for his wife and three sons. But Noah does not hesitate when God announces his plan for a great flood and directs Noah to build an ark "out of your favorite trees." Just before the rain begins, Noah carries aboard little green saplings, a gesture of hope for beginning a new life in a new world. Le Tord omits mention of the Flood as a punishment for the wicked; her story is about Noah's relationship with God, and her Noah doesn't need to understand God's reasons. Her tender, gauzy-edged watercolors in fruity hues feature a sweetly smiling Noah, youthful in spite of his cottony white beard. In a crisp design, the simple, poetic text flows in centered paragraphs on each page. In a laudable departure from most books on the subject, Le Tord places the two-by-two parade of animals in the background, metaphorically and in her art, and underscores the deeper aspects of Noah's unshakable faith. Ages 4-6. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Le Tord offers an unusual perspective on Noah's story. She makes him a gardener, carefully planting and tending dozens of trees. As they mature into a sheltering forest, he considers how his sons will use this heritage with their own families. Then God instructs Noah to build an ark using his favorite trees. Without question or complaint, Noah obeys. He makes sure that pairs of animals, plus a box of saplings, arrive onboard before the rains come. Although the details of this narrative do not appear in Genesis, Le Tord's version captures perfectly Noah's outstanding characteristic: his obedience to God's commands. The watercolor paintings exude a tone of gentleness, with earth tones evoking Noah's relationship with growing plants. A quiet gem that provides a fresh look at a familiar tale.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books; Reprint edition (April 26, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064435407
• ISBN-13: 978-0064435406
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,423,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Bark for the Ark, May 30, 2000

By A Customer

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

Noah's Trees is Bijou Le Tord's imaginative answer to thequestion curious children will ask when hearing the Biblical story ofFlood. "Where did the wood come from that Noah used to build the ark?" Her story unfolds in words and pictures. But it is the pictures that make the 272 words of text stick in the memory. These images are full-page vibrant warm watercolors (reminiscent of Emil Nolde's expressionist paintings) that glow from the pages.

Ms. Le Tord introduces children--ages 4-6, says the dust jacket--to the life and faith of a humble and loving man. Here is a chance to discover not only the wonder of faith in God, but also Noah's tenderness for his family and love for the world he lives in. So where DID he find the timber? Thought you'd never ask. Let Bijou Le Tord satisfy your curiosity.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I had hoped for at all..., May 15, 2001

By 

Jacki Whipple - See all my reviews

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

I was quite disappointed with this book... don't get me wrong, I expected the story to follow along with the Old Testament story, but this was just a vague story, it didn't have much substance at all, and it just abruptly ended... I felt there should have been more of an ending... and if you are like me, and want Biblical retellings to be as biblically accurate as possible, you would have wanted it to be known that the ark was not built from oak, pine, and fruit trees... IT WAS GOPHER WOOD... I may be extreme, but it is the Bible being commented on you know... the only thing I will say for this book is that the artwork is cute... simple, but cute...

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blessings in more than Noah's obediance, August 19, 2000

By A Customer

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

Whenever writers retell the story of Noah's Ark, I can't help thinking, "Not another one." So often people focus on the immensity of the ark versus the grandeur of God and the obediance and faith behind the construction.

This is why I loved Le Tord's Noah's Trees. The title itself reveals that it is more a story about Noah, obediance, and God's creation than a story about the famous Ark. In the captivating watercolors, children can see the man whose faith lead him to follow God and the God given tools he used to do so. The story is a beautiful insight into the world of Noah and for anybody looking for a new way to share obediance to God, this book is the answer.