Naamah and the Ark at Night (Hardcover)
$16.99
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Staff Reviews
We all have heard of Noah and his ark, but what about Naamah, his wife? Bartoletti lyrically imagines Naamah’s role on the ark, soothing every person and animal into sleep and comfort. The repetition of “at night” on each page, and the chorus of “Naamah sings all through the night” lulls as one imagines an unexplored biblical figure. The collaged illustrations are both intense with the flooding world, and sleepy sweet. A beautiful and intriguing new lullaby to share.
Jory
Description
As Noah’s wife sings the animals to sleep, an age-old tale is told afresh in a soothing poetic form brought to life with beautiful collage illustrations.
Naamah is the wife of Noah, and her name means "great singer." For forty days and forty nights, as the ark tosses on storm-wracked seas, Naamah sings. She sings to the animals, two by two. She sings to her husband, her sons, and their wives. She sings, and they all sleep, finally at peace. Acclaimed author Susan Campbell Bartoletti’s rhythmic, lyrical text pairs with Caldecott Honor winner Holly Meade’s luminous collage for a cozy, tender lullaby, and an ode to the power of song.
About the Author
Susan Campbell Bartoletti has written many celebrated books for children, including the Newbery Honor–winning Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow. She wrote Naamah and the Ark at Night in a strict but exquisite poetic form: the ancient middle-eastern ghazal. Susan Campbell Bartoletti lives in Pennsylvania.
Holly Meade has illustrated many picture books, including David Elliott’s On the Farm and In the Wild, as well as the Caldecott Honor–winning Hush! A Thai Lullaby and its follow-up, Peek! A Thai Hide-and-Seek, both written by Minfong Ho.Holly Meade lives in Maine.
Praise For…
Lovely and lyrical...Bartoletti and Meade take a most familiar story and make it breathtakingly new.
—Booklist (starred review)
Sunlit figures with a peaceful absence of detail contrast with quietly dramatic, near-black silhouettes. Affection between pairs warms many a scene.
—The Horn Book (starred review)
The text has a lovely, soothing effect, with the repeated ending words and a lilting cadence that effectively suggests a comforting lullaby. Meade's watercolor collage illustrations match the dramatic pacing of the text with varied perspectives and humorous views of the sleeping (or prowling) animals. . . . This captivating interpretation creates a remarkable partner for Noah, who uses her special talent in a memorable way.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)