Noah's Ark / Jerry Pinkney

In all honesty, this was the only book available at my local library that was illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. There were several others that the library has in their collection, but all others were currently checked out. I am not a religious person at all, and I literally had an inner debate in the stacks of my library's children's area as to whether I should check out this book, or if I should just wait until another book is returned. I decided to take the road most convenient and check out Jerry Pinkney's Noah's Ark, and after reading the book, I did not regret my decision at all.

Jerry Pinkney, in Noah's Ark, tells the very familiar tale of Noah and his family. God tells Noah that a "storm" is coming and that he should start building an ark to keep him and his family safe. The ark should be big enough to house all of the earth's animals, as well as enough food to eat and for the animals to eat. The townspeople mock Noah, but the storm comes and Noah's family is safe aboard the ark. The storm ends, and Noah releases the animals back into the wilderness.

Anyone who grew up in church knows the story of Noah, but it is not the story itself that makes this book so unbelievably wonderful; the illustrations are spectacular. Noah's Ark showcases Pinkney's talent extremely well, allowing him to draw every animal the mind can think of, Noah and his family, as well as the beautiful landscape that serves as the backdrop of the story. My favorite image within the book is actually the two-page spread of the ark under construction. Pinkney's illustrations make the reader feel as if he or she is transported to another time, another place, watching Noah build this amazing ark. This story may be a religious one, but religious or not, no reader can debate the wonderful talent of Jerry Pinkney's illustrations.

Jerry Pinkney has also illustrated Aesop's Fables, as well as four Caldecott Honor books, including John Henry, The Ugly Duckling, Mirandy and Brother Wind, as well as The Talking Eggs. In addition to these honors, Pinkney has also received the King Honor twice, the Coretta Scott King Award five times, and four gold medals from the Society of Illustrators (Pinkney, 2002).


Nate Smith

Resource:

Pinkney, J. (2002). Noah's ark. New York: SeaStar Books.