NOAH'S NOISY NIGHT

What was everyday life really like on Noah’s Ark? Correa gives readers a peek at bedtime.

Noah is looking forward to some well-deserved rest, but just when he begins to snore, a “BOO-HOO” wakes him. It’s the bears, and it’s too dark for them to sleep. A pair of fireflies in a jar (with ventilation holes) is just the right night light. But before Noah can even return to his bed, a “CREAK and a CRASH” send him to investigate. Some clever problem-solving sorts out the crocodiles, who each want the top bunk. But Noah’s night is far from over. Hot penguins and rain that’s too loud for the rhinos are dealt with before a final ruckus awakens the whole ark: The giraffes are too wound up for sleep. But Mrs. Noah has just the solution, and it’s one readers are sure to be familiar with. Lots of onomatopoeia set in all-uppercase display type will keep listeners attentive, though the formatting of the text in what looks like stanzas may throw readers who are expecting rhymes. Braun’s cartoon animals are inconsistently anthropomorphized—many sleep in beds, and they have toys and accessories, though they don’t wear clothing.

Readers may come away from this bedtime tale with a new appreciation for Noah’s hard work.