ALL AFLOAT ON NOAH’S BOAT

While the beginning and end of the story remain the same, with quotes from Genesis—Noah builds the ark for two of every animal; dry land and a rainbow appear—this book focuses on the middle and the various cohabitating animals. Gott divides them into groups: nocturnal animals like koalas, bats, and owls; a variety of cats, big and small; a spread of dogs that also includes red and fennec foxes; sea creatures below the boat; wild animals such as giraffes, hippos, camels, and squirrels; birds singing every type of song; snakes and reptiles; animals from the forest, desert, and plains, including moose, rhinos, and antelope; cold-climate animals such as polar bears and penguins; a variety of insects; and all the apes and monkeys. Nguyen’s illustrations were previously published in another rhyming picture book, Jimmy Lynn’s Birds, Beasts, Critters & Creatures: The Story of Noah’s Ark, though the verses in this book are an improvement despite mentioning only one species (lions) by name. The pictures feature luminous colors, black-line textures in the waves and clouds, and gently smiling creatures. Identifying the many animals will keep children (and likely their caregivers) busy. Once the ark is built, light-skinned, white-haired Noah is the only human who appears.