THERE'S A GOBLIN ON THE ARK!

In this whimsical imagining of Noah’s Ark, the animals puzzle over a mysterious noise.

What could be making that “woooooo” sound? It’s not the owls or the cows or the pigeons; those “hoooooo,” “moooooo,” and “coooooo,” respectively. When the animals discover an adorable little green goblin, they immediately team up to drive the creature away. But soon they realize that the goblin is calling out to find their mate—the goblin is one of a pair, just like everyone else on the boat. The read-aloud–friendly text lends itself to a younger audience, with rhyming sounds and pleasant repetition. There’s even a brief exploration of the senses as the animals combat the goblin using bright lights, loud noises, and stinky odors (courtesy of the skunks). Halfway through, the story shifts to a narrative about the importance of helping strangers, no matter how different, as the animals work to unite the two goblins. The colorful cartoon animals and their emotive faces contribute to an overall coziness that bridges both halves of the tale. The illustrations depict one representative from almost every species pair with long eyelashes—an unnecessary hint of sexism. Though we’re told early on that Noah brought the animals onto the ark, no humans are seen, and the story contains no overt biblical references. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A gentle, accessible take on Noah’s Ark laced with a message of acceptance.