Ven el Bordo de el Arca de Noe

PreS-Gr 1-In this brief retelling of the story of Noah's Ark, the emphasis is clearly on the illustrations. Each of the five spreads features four lines of text on the left-hand side, along with applicable illustrations that face a full-page, full-color larger illustration on the right-hand page (of Noah and his sons building the ark, of the animals getting situated as the first drops of rain fall, and so forth). The illustrations are lively, colorful, and detailed, with a humorous expressiveness coming through the animals' faces and the incidental details. Both text and illustrations downplay the destruction of civilization by keeping the focus sharply on the ark and Noah, although the final page of text highlights, in small print, a series of discussion points for parents to share with their children, and a prayer invoking aspects of the story. The story of Noah's Ark is a perennial favorite of writers and artists, and this is a large, handsome board book that is sure to be popular in bookstores. On the other hand, the didactic tone of the final page may encourage some librarians to seek a less specifically religious retelling.-Coop Renner, Blackshear Elementary, Austin, TX