Noah's Bark (Carolrhoda Picture Books)
There are a lot of Bible-themed picture books out there, but this title’s humor distinguishes it from the crowd. It is long ago, and the world is full of confusing sounds made by silly animals: beavers crow, snakes quack, pigs howl, and elephants hiss. Annoyed at the noise, Noah barks at them to keep quiet while he builds an ark, but they ignore him—until the rains begin. In the ship’s lower deck, the animals crowd together, trying to find enough space for themselves. To stifle their chaotic cacophony, Noah borrows a turkey feather, writes a list of all the animal sounds, cuts the list into pieces, and puts the scraps into a kangaroo’s pouch. Thanks to Noah’s bark (bigger, in fact, than his bite), the animals get to randomly choose their new, and permanent, sounds, restoring sanity and safety. The stylized, brushstroked paintings are embellished with highlighted sound effects and subtle comic expressions. Inventive and sure to elicit a boatload of giggles. Grades K-2. --Julie Cummins