Noah and the Ark

Noah and the Ark
Written By Kim Mitzo Thompson, Karen Mitzo Hilderbrand, Ken Carder
Illustrated by Ron Kauffman
Copyright: 2015
Format: Paperback
Status: A different version is available for purchase at Amazon and Ebay
Conclusion: Keep



I purchased this book at the dollar store quite a few years ago. It even came with a CD.  My daughter has listened to it, though I admit that I have not. Of the book itself I don't seem to have a strong opinion in any way. It's the type of book that doesn't seem to stand out much.  Today I guess we'll find out if it is at least accurate if not particularly memorable.

The Good Points:

  • This book stays close to the Bible. In fact, some of the sections appear to be word for word from the NIV translation.
  • This book doesn't shy away with how wicked the people of the Earth had become. God tells Noah that he will "put an end to all people and destroy the earth."
  • It gives a lot of detail on the ark itself: it's specific measurements, how many decks it had, etc. I've never seen a children's story of Noah cover that before.
  • This story includes the detail that after Noah left the ark, he built an altar to God.

The Discrepancies:

  • This children's book doesn't mention that Noah took seven types of the "clean" animals instead of just two.
  • It also skips the fact that Noah sent out a Raven before he sent the dove. Nor does it mention that the first time he sent the dove it did not return with anything. In addition, it skips the last time Noah sent the dove out when it didn't return at all. The only time it mentions the dove is when it returns with the olive leaf.  (If the illustrations matter to you, the picture shows the dove returning with a full branch instead of just a leaf).
I have to wonder about this interpretation of the story. It includes some really interesting and unusual details, the type you don't usually see in children's versions of Noah's Ark, yet it skips the details about the dove that many others include. It was an interesting choice.  Because this has enough different details from our other Noah stories, it will probably stick around for a while.  I recommend this book for ages 3-7.

However, I do feel the need to point out the illustrations.  If you have a child who likes to name (or wants you to identify) all the animals in a story, don't get this book. The animals are all cute, but some of them are a bit unrecognizable.  There's one particular pair that really baffles me (and of course my sons asks me about them every time because he knows I don't know, haha).  Are they skunks (where are the stripes?), ferrets (they're not long and skinny enough), foxes (but they're black and white), or cats (no, there are different cats earlier in the book...three of them for some reason)? I may never know but I'll post the picture below. What do you think they are?



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