I first discovered Mark Ludy’s work when my children were younger and we had a regular library routine. Just browsing through the books I found a copy of  The Farmer. The illustrations were bright and whimsical so I added it to our check-out pile. The Farmer quickly became one of my favorite books. It’s probably in my Top Ten of All-Time Favorite Children’s Books. Truly. All time.

Ludy’s most recent work, NOAH, is a gorgeous and friendly  re-imagining of the Biblical account of the world wide flood. I’ve been anticipating the release of this book because I was a supporter in his Kickstarter campaign. I’ve received updates and sneak peeks into some of the art work all along the way and I must say, after finally viewing the finished product, I am delighted! The colors are deep and rich, the pictures are full of detail, and the characters are drawn so skillfully that you sense the fun, the fear, the sadness and the hope that makes up the story.

My favorite part about the whole story, something I didn’t realize until I was an adult, is that after Noah has gathered all the animals into the ark, GOD closes the door. GOD. I figure that’s not common knowledge. I’ve never seen it in any other Noah story books. But if you read the Biblical account, you’ll find it there. So when I received this book for review, I looked specifically to see if there was an illustration for that. Guess what?? There was! And though you don’t see GOD in the picture, you see Noah and his wife react in a way that you or I would likely react as well.

Another beautiful picture in the book is where the water has burst up through the ground and the rain has been pouring and the ark is being tossed on the waves. The color is deep teal and moody. There is also a man in the picture….sinking. It’s not a horrible image but it’s a nice reminder to me that the story of Noah’s Ark is not just a children’s tale about collecting and pairing animals or 40 days of rain.

NOAH  is a great gift idea for children of all ages. Non-readers will enjoy seeing the story in pictures and hearing someone share the story with them. Anyone interested in art will enjoy pouring over the illustrations. For adults, it’s a great conversation piece.  It certainly inspires me to revisit the Biblical story and remind myself of all the details that have become hazy over time.  With all of Mark Ludy’s books, there is a seek and find element. Squeakers the mouse is drawn into every page and I have to tell you, it’s a challenge for me to find him.

This wordless picture book is a visual treasure and I have a signed copy that I’d love to send out to you. To register to win, leave a comment here on the blog telling me your favorite story or song about rain. The winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Monday, October 27th.