Two by Two [Paperback]

Barbara Reid (Author)

Book Description

A version of the familiar biblical tale of Noah and the ark is set to the words of the song, ""The Animals Went in Two by Two"" and features colorful plasticine art and a musical score.

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Three-dimensional artwork of extraordinary richness highlights this verse retelling of the Noah story by the illustrator of The New Baby Calf. Reid's vibrantly colored, sculpted Plasticine illustrations give her pictures the illusion of depth seldom achieved with conventional techniques. The intricate spreads teem with activity rendered in real-as-life tactile detail: characters wear robes trimmed with textured embroidery; Noah's long beard descends in whorls like white icing on a cake; every painstakingly molded fin, feather and strand of fur on the arkful of animals begs to be touched. The palette is equally impressive, as the cloud-filled sky darkens and lightens again with the passing of the storm, and the deep blues of the sea offset the pinks and oranges of the sun-drenched landscape. There are cleverly crafted shifts in perspective, too, notably a bird's-eye-view of the animals boarding the ark. Only the text, consisting of original lyrics to a traditional tune, fails to match the art's sparkle: Reid tells the familiar tale in (occasionally limp) iambic tetrameter that sometimes sacrifices scansion for rhyme. Readers will nonetheless enjoy counting along as the animals--from the tiniest mice to the biggest elephants--clamber aboard this beguiling ark. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Adopting the verse scheme of the traditional song, Reid recounts the building of Noah's Ark and writes a new couplet for each number up to ten (``And in came the animals six by six,/Pandas and penguins, all in a mix''). The animals aren't all named, but they're all countable in Reid's illustrations, formed in Plasticene on board for a vibrant, three-dimensional effect remarkable for its textures, lively expressions (Noah is saintly and benevolent, his wife a smiling babushka), and the subtlety, imagination, and wit of the art--the six pairs of animals are a study in black and white (Holsteins, skunks, zebras); tiny creatures (mice, spiders) challenge sharp eyes; the Ark a- building is an airy frame against the sky. The neatly scanning verse has nice touches of humor (``Even the boas felt constricted'') and takes the story on to the rainbow. A delightful presentation of this old favorite. Music included. (Picture book. 3-8) -- Copyright ©1993, 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: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Book Club (Trade) (1994)
• ISBN-10: 0590744070
• ISBN-13: 978-0590744072
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,715,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most wonderfully written & illustrated children's book!!!!, November 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Two by Two (Paperback)

This book was WONDERFUL!! My 8 year old and I read it together. We LOVED the rhymes!! I am a Noah's Ark collector and my daughter checked it out of the library for that reason. She thoroughly enjoyed it-- especially the illustrations!! (Please let me know if there's any way I could purchase any of the pictures from the book to add to my collection!! They are great!!) Thanks!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creativity At It's Best, March 15, 2000

By 

Windy City Reader (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two by Two (Paperback)

This book is great for people of all ages. The attention to detail and the great craftsmanship in the artwork is awesome. Being a clay artist myself, I can really see that Barbara has some real talent. If you like her style, she has done many other children's books. Especially fun is the "Zoe" series. They are hard to find but a treasure to have and share with your children.