Goodnight, Ark

by Laura Sassi, Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Overview

Goodnight, Ark provides a fun bedtime story for kids, helping them settle in for the night alongside the animals on Noah’s ark as nighttime—and rain—approaches. Kids will enjoy the rhymed story where, as storm gets louder, boars, quails, elephants, snakes, and a few other furry friends join Noah in bed in search of comfort.

This adorable children’s book:

• Is perfect for ages 4-8
• Features eye-catching illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator Jane Chapman
• Is an ideal read-aloud bedtime tale, especially to help settle little ones who don’t like storms
• Great for baby showers, baptisms, holiday gifts for Christmas or Easter, and birthdays

Author Laura Sassi brings a new dimension to one of the Bible’s most popular stories, giving a delightful glimpse into the emotional bond between Noah and the animals in his care.

And if you enjoyed Goodnight, Ark, be sure to check out Goodnight, Manger as well!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310749387
Publisher:	Zonderkidz
Publication date:	08/04/2015
Pages:	24
Sales rank:	369,295
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	AD430L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 Months to 4 Years

About the Author

Jane Chapman studied illustration at Brighton University a long, long time ago but now lives in a tiny village in Dorset. She illustrates children’s books and writes them when she can think of a story. She has illustrated over 150 books and is celebrating 30 years in children’s books!

Editorial Reviews

08/04/2014
Sassi's debut offers a fun twist to the oft-told story of Noah's ark. After boarding the ark, the animals, frightened by the storm, clamber two by two into Noah's bed. Short, dramatic rhymes full of onomatopoeic words and ellipses build suspense: "Crash! Boom! Rumble! Thunder quakes./ Wakes the... ELEPHANTS AND SNAKES!/ Thump, stomp, slither, up they scurry./ Curl by Noah in a hurry." With animals all piled in one room, the ark tips, and Noah's bed breaks, terrifying the skunks with humorously stinky repercussions. From this chaotic apex, Noah restores calm: "Softly, Noah starts to croon/ a soothing, sleepy nighttime tune." Chapman's (Bear Snores On) paintings in hues of brown, orange, and blue capture the story's manic energy and playful tone. A scene of Noah snoozing soundly while boars burrow under his red patchwork quilt, quail fly, sheep leap around the room, lightning zigzags outside his window, and the skunks sleep peacefully under his bed creates anticipation of the frenzied drama to unfold. A fresh addition to the crowded shelf of Noah's ark books. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

09/01/2014
PreS-Gr 2—After the animals board the ark and find sleeping spots, Noah heads off for a well-deserved rest. Unfortunately, the sounds of rain, hail, lightning, and thunder wake the animals who soon seek refuge—two by two—in Noah's bed. The patriarch doesn't wake until the tipping ark startles the skunks, which release noxious fumes. After the excitement, Noah croons a sleepy tune to lull the restless passengers to sleep. Sassi's bouncy verse incorporates lots of onomatopoeia for the sounds of weather and animals. The quail "Squee! Squee! Squawk!" while hail "pops" and "pings." Minimal text per page allows Chapman plenty of space to showcase the animals' movements. Sleepy skunks under Noah's bed appear harmless until the collapse. Listeners will enjoy following the pairs from one illustration to the next. Despite the storm, the tone is reassuring, not frightening, making the book an obvious bedtime choice. Worthwhile companion titles include Susan Campbell Bartoletti's soothing Naamah and the Ark at Night (Candlewick, 2011) and Sandra Boynton's busy Going to Bed Book (Little Simon, 1982).—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato

School Library Journal

2014-06-04
Noah packs up an ark full of critters and heads out to sea in a gale in this rollicking, rhymed version of the Old Testament story.The short text comprises one quatrain per page, with just a few words per line. The verses describe different animals and the sounds of the thunderstorm, with lots of onomatopoeia (“Crash! Boom! Rumble!”) and evocative language detailing the animal antics (“Thump, stomp, slither, / up they scurry”). The frightened animals pile into Noah’s bed two by two as the storm increases in intensity, with an action-filled climax involving a listing ship, a broken bed and a pair of stinky skunks. Noah calms all the creatures with soothing lullabies, and peace prevails as the animals bed down at last. Chapman’s appealing illustrations make the most of the humorously crowded conditions on the ark, with expressive elephants, slithering snakes and leaping tigers. Noah’s wife is nowhere to be seen in this interpretation, an unfortunate omission when all the other inhabitants of the ark are shown in pairs. There is no real religious content in the story beyond the basic premise, making this more of a humorous introduction to rather than a retelling of the Bible story.A breezy text kept afloat by the buoyant illustrations—if only Mrs. Noah had been invited along for the ride as well. (Picture book/religion. 2-7)

Kirkus Reviews