All Aboard for Noah’s Ark! Story by Elana Azose, Illustrations by Monica Garofalo; Minneapolis: Jar-Ben Publishing Co © 2024; ISBN 9781728-486826; 32 pages; $18.99.
SAN DIEGO – This fictional story for children between the ages of three and seven imagines that such animals as beavers, woodpeckers, and alligators helped Noah to build the Ark. Furthermore, two hedgehogs who were marvelous event planners had matters well in hand, although Noah did not recognize their talents.
Hedgehogs Lionel and Dolores sent invitations to animals in distant lands to float to the Ark on top of icebergs. They also arranged for food to be stored aboard the Ark, so the animals would not get so hungry they might eat each other. They arranged for Orcas to cushion the boat in the event of big waves. They even had games for the animals to play during the 40 days and 40 nights that the voyage lasted. When at last the Ark made landfall and trees again grew, Lionel and Dolores arranged for the beavers, woodpeckers, and alligators to build rafts on which the animals could float back to their own continents.
At last, Noah recognized the hedgehogs’ efforts, telling them, “You two really saved the day! You may be small, but you are powerful.”
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com