Noah Makes a Boat

This British import, a secular humanist version of the Flood, puts an inventive spin on the familiar biblical tale. In Goodhart (Row, Row, Row Your Boat) and Lodge's (Tanglebird) version, Noah wears overalls and has a grandson named Little Noah. Omitting any reference as to why the famous boat needed to be built in the first place, the story focuses on the boy and Noah as they design and construct the ark. When God gives the order to build without explaining how (""Work it out,"" says He, with Old Testament imperiousness), Noah reports back to Little Noah, who takes charge and suggests that his grandpa turn to nature for inspiration. Noah hits on a fish as the model for the boat, then suggests they carve it from a tree trunk--it's Little Noah who points out, ""But that wouldn't be big enough for all the animals."" Goodhart's matter-of-fact style (""Mrs. Noah hung out her washing and a rainbow hung in an arc over the boat. It was beautiful"") allows Lodge free reign for his full-bleed spreads of animals running rampant in pairs as they ready themselves for the ark-bound parade. His spare opening scene of Noah and God's tete-a-tete against a stormy gray background is a dramatic contrast to those that follow, populated by animals and saturated in festive greens, reds, yellows and blues. The bright, dense colors enhance the sturdy black lino-cut outlines, and endow each spread with graphic impact. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)