2023 - ‘70’s Immersion Reading Challenge

Noah’s Ark by Peter Spier (1977 1st ed.) 40 pages.

Okay, so now I know the author, Peter Spier, is more of an illustrated children’s artist more than writer. This book contains one page of writing, which is a translated Dutch poem called The Flood written by Jacobus Revius (1586-1658). Although the poem is nice, and the artwork is intense and interesting, giving a child a lot to look over, these kinds of books just aren’t my cup of tea. I can't really rate this kind of book. I'm not a child.

Winner of the Caldecott
"The colors are lovely. The scenes are unbelievably detailed...the book is a triumph, the definitive 'Noah's Ark.'" --Publishers Weekly. A Caldecott Medal Book, The American Book Award, An ALA Notable Children's Book, A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year (1977), The Christopher Award, the International Board on Books for Young People Honor List., "The colors are lovely. The scenes are unbelievably detailed...the book is a triumph, the definitive 'Noah's Ark.'" -- Publishers Weekly . A Caldecott Medal Book, The American Book Award, An ALA Notable Children's Book, A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year (1977), The Christopher Award, International Board on Books for Young People Honor List.

Indpepndent Reading Level: Pre-K to Kindergarten
Awards: Caldecott Medal Winner ( )

I have a love of all things Noah's Ark, and this is a standout "retelling". Spier's book starts with a translated Dutch poem, but the rest of the book is wordless. In place of prose are detailed, imaginative drawings that capture that ups and downs of the narrative. There's so much to look at and laugh over for both children and adults. Top of my list are the unique holding areas for different types of animals and the messes they leave behind! #relatable C definitely prefers books with words, but still spends a lot of time studying the images and reading the storyline in them.

Interestingly, the book, with the exception of the opening page, is all illustrations. The text/poem titled The Flood by Jacobs Revious 1586-1658, is noted, and part of the text includes the following:

"Pair by pair,
Gross and fair,
All that walked.
Crawled or stalked
On dry earth
Found a berth.
But the rest.
Worst and Best,
Stayed on shore
Were no More"

Page after page has crowded photos of both the humans and the animals who were on the ark. The images note a very crowded amount of animals in a limited amount of space.