The Story of Noah (Alice in Bibleland)

 The Story of Noah
An Alice in Bibleland Storybook
Written by Alice Joyce Davidson
Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
Copyright: 1984
Format: Hardback
Status: Not currently in print, but many preowned versions are available on ebay

Conclusion: Keep (fix it if you want)

I was looking through my son's collection of Bible storybooks recently, and decided it was time to thin it down by removing some of the ones he is starting to outgrow.  A few of those I've already reviewed, but there are still quite a few I need to cover before we send them on their way.  It seemed like it might be the right time to delve into our numerous Noah's Ark books so we can get rid of some of them. There are so many out there! I've tried very hard to keep our collection limited. We only have six amazingly. Today I will begin with the one I like best.  Alice in Bibleland is (almost) always a good choice.

The Good Points:

• The book follows the Bible pretty well.
• It is written in rhyme and is fun to read aloud.
• The pictures are very pretty.
• My sons loves the section of the book where the people sing "Ha, ha, ha, he, he, he, we're as wicked as can be!"  I've caught him singing the song on his own...though considering the words, perhaps that's not a good point.  It at least means it's memorable, though.
• The book includes the fun (and accurate) detail that God made a wind blow which began to dry the flood waters.
• The book ends with Alice singing a song of praise to God. That song could work well as an example for how to praise God in prayer.

The Discrepancies:

• Like all Alice in Bibleland stories, it features the plot point of Alice, a little girl from our time, going into a magic book to watch the events from the Bible.  If this bothers you, then you should avoid all the Alice in Bibleland books.  (Though actually,  you might still approve of the Psalm 23 book since she doesn't go back in time, but simply rewrites the psalm in her own words.)
• The Alice book says that Noah took "just two of every kind." In the Bible, it specifies that he took seven pairs of the animals used for eating and sacrificing, and but only one pair of all of the others.
• This storybook describes how the other people laughed at Noah when he built the ark, but the Bible never mention's the other people's reactions.
• The Alice book mentions that Noah sent out a dove three times, but never mentions that he initially sent out a raven.
• After the dove flies out and never returns, the Bible says that Noah waited 2 more months before God told him to leave the boat. This storybook says that he waited one week, then gathered the animals and left. It does not mention that God told Noah when to leave.
• In the Bible, after Noah and his family leave the ark, they built and altar and made sacrifices. In the Bibleland book, they said"Thank you" to God, but the book never mentions an altar or sacrifices. 

This book did have a few inaccuracies, but I feel that most of them are acceptable. They seem to be mostly leaving things out to keep the length of the story short, or to keep it easier for younger children to understand. The mistake about the amount of time before they left the ark is very strange. Alice in Bibleland books usually don't make those types of mistakes.  However it is an easy one to fix if you choose. I took a label maker and changed the phrase "Noah and his family stayed in for one week more" to "Noah and his family stayed in for two months more." It doesn't even change the rhyme scheme.  I'd say this book is worth keeping around. I would recommend it for ages 3-8.

Most Alice in Bibleland books end with Alice summarizing the lessons she learned from the story. This one ends with her singing a song...

"Oh, thank you, Lord, Oh thank you,

For keeping me from harm,

For guarding me, for holding me,

Within your loving arms.

Thank you for the lessons

Of Noah and his ark,

For the rainbows after showers,

And the light that follows dark!"