A storm is coming – a big one. How does a young urban boy prepare? A lovely allegorical story about ecology and caring inspired by the ancient tale of stewardship. While his family readies his townhouse for an approaching storm, boarding up windows and laying in groceries, Noah heads to the back garden, where beetles are burrowing deeper into the bark and mice are stuffing their hole with moss. Quickly and efficiently, Noah sets to work building an ark for them and other backyard creatures – salamanders and toads, snakes and spiders, even brightly colored hummingbirds. Setting out fistfuls of nuts and leaves, berries and seeds, the boy props a flashlight inside and arranges some miniature furniture for the animals to sit or sleep on. “Come,” Noah whispers to his friends just as his mother calls him inside and the dark storm roars in. From an award-winning author and a Caldecott Honoree comes a quietly inspiring story about how taking action on behalf of our fellow earth travelers can help us face fearsome events.

What Kind of Book is Noah Builds an Ark

Topics

animals courage weather imagination and play storms compassion

Genres

religious fiction

Reviews

Marmee

4.50

Book Lists That Include This Book

Books about animals

Books about religious

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

Books about courage

The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Kate Banks

When I am asked what I do for a job, I am often tempted to say that I don’t work. That’s because I am lucky enough to do something I love for a living. For me my writing has been a place where head meets heart and that is the place I wish to take my readers—whether it be an outer journey or an inner journey. Because that’s the place of realization where anything is possible. When I’m not writing or practicing therapy, I love playing the piano, doing pottery, puttering around outdoors, and cooking. I especially like making birthday cakes, but I hate cleaning up. And I love being with children. I love watching them and listening to them as much as I love writing for them. I am a huge fan of the Boston Red sox, the brain and what it can do, and imagination—all of which have limitless potential and can accomplish the seemingly impossible.

Illustrator

John Rocco

John Rocco (www.roccoart.com) studied illustration at Rhode Island School of Design and The School of Visual Arts. In addition to writing and illustrating four of his own picture books, including the Caldecott Honor-winning and New York Times bestselling Blackout, he has created all of the cover art for Rick Riordan’s best-selling Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus series. He has also illustrated books by Whoopi Goldberg and Katherine Patterson. Before becoming a full-time children’s book creator, he worked as an art director on “Shrek” for Dreamworks, and for Disney Imagineering. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.