Customer Reviews

Nova's Ark

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a gorgeous book! It demands that you reach out and touch it, turn the pages, and look, over and over again. Each page has so much visual material that it will take a long time before this book becomes too familiar. You're not necessarily going to catch the diaper on the baby robot the first or second time through, but these touches make it wonderful for children whether they can read or not. In fact, the main problem in reading it aloud is getting them to let you turn the page. I would recommend this book for any child. Two minor caveats: The story is not up to the illustrations, but very few stories could be, and it's enough to give the illustrations meaning; and one page has white text superimposed on a full-page illustration, which makes for hard reading, especially in less than perfect light.

I rarely splurge on a hardcover book, these days, as my youngest reader is 8 years old. I purchased this book, however, because my daughter and I have enjoyed Miss Spider's Tea Party so much over the years. I read Nova's Ark to her third grade all-girl's class today, and it received an "A" ! The girls loved the pictures, and had questions about how the illustrations were done. They loved the plot, and at several points were able to make predictions at every surprising twist and turn. They asked me to leave the book in their classroom so they could re-read it and look over the colorful and whimsical illustrations. While we all missed the clever rhymes of Miss Spider fame, we enjoyed the language and style of Nova. We tried several robot voices as we read out loud. Also, the girls enjoyed seeing all of the clever animals Nova makes while on the planet Zyke. My daughter enjoyed the book out loud more than she has enjoyed perusing it on her own. A great picture book, and worth the investment because it's got eye candy!

Beautifully illustrated, but the story line is slightly complex for younger readers/listeners. The title character is a bit of a dreamer. His natural curiosity sets him on a solitary adventure which is richly rewarding, inasmuch as he gets his traveling dad to stay home and supplies his planet with fuel for all time. The pictures are every bit as lush and organic as the Miss Spider series, even though all the characters are metallic. My sons love to LOOK at this book and often make their own story line. That's fine by me - its hard to explain resource scarcity and personal sacrifice to a 4-year-old.

From the very first page of text the reader is sent on an incredible journey with the main character, Nova. Nova is that child that we all can identify with when he says "Is this how my father feels when he's away?". The idea that his Dad will surely find him and finally their reunion and struggle to get back home keep the reader totally engaged. Back at home Nova is greeted as a hero - something all children can identify with.

My 6 year old liked the idea that Nova followed his dream of exploring space. He thought that the illustrations looked exactly as he had imagined outer space to be. He thinks it is great the way Nova brings his spaceships and models to share with the class and the idea that they take field trips. We read this book over and over never tiring of the story and vibrant illustrations.

Lushly rendered with CGI, the same 3-D technique used in films like Toy Story and A Bug's Life, Nova's Ark is a pleasure to peruse. This book is terrific escapist literature for the kiddies, and a pleasure to read aloud. It's a rollicking good story about a little boy robot named Nova who goes through a series of accidental adventures.

The book reads something like Annakin Skywalker meets Robinson Crusoe meets Wesley Crusher meets A Wrinkle in Time. Nova is a typical boy robot who goes on a field trip and wanders off to look at a space ship. His father, after all, pilots space craft much like this one, and Nova is tempted to crawl inside.

I think you can guess what happens next.

Nova becomes lost in space and crash lands on a desolate moon. With no one to talk to, he soon becomes lonely. Since his space craft has been destroyed, he creates some friends for himself out of the circuitry and raw materials...

I read this aloud to a group of 5th grade all boys and they loved it. It kept their interest as the story moved along at a rather quick pace. They seemed like they couldn't wait until I turned the page. The illustrations are second to none.

My four year old and I love reading this book aloud. The illustrations are wonderful, and the resourceful Nova is a unique hero. If your child loves tales of robots and space travel, he or she should enjoy this book very much.

David Kirk is an amazing artistic talent, but this book is anexample of the publishing world's insensitivity to its audience viapoor editing. This book is an IMPOSSIBLE read aloud, which is very frustrating since the pictures are so divine. Too wordy and confusing. Less is more in picture books!

Got this for my 5 year old grandson who loves robots. The images are outstanding, but the vocabulary and text are geared for older children, not 5 or 6 year olds. I've read it a couple of times, but he prefers to just look at the pictures. It's too bad, because with some good editing, this would be a 5+ star book.

David Kirk made a gem of a book here that when I see used copies in good condidtion I buy them to give away later.
Your kids will love this book. Buy the hard back as they will want to touch the pages.