Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Nora's Ark
Illustrator: Nora Hilb
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 7
Zonderkidz, 2013 ISBN: 978-0310720065
The weatherman has predicted that it is going to rain so Nora decides that she is going to build an ark. Nora imagines that her ark is just like the one Noah built, but it is not quite the same. Nora’s ark it a lot smaller, and it is made out of a broken attic chair, two wooden boxes, and three fences slats. Just like Noah, Nora invites animals to come aboard her ark. Since Nora cannot find any tigers, elephants and other wild animals, her ark is loaded up with two spiders, two goldfish, two cats, and two toy monkeys.
Just like Noah, Nora waits for the rain to come, though she spends her waiting time doing the kinds of things a little girl would do, things such as eating pretzels, painting toenails, and playing. Then the rain finally comes and Nora’s wait is over.
Children have wonderful imaginations that allow them to have all kinds of adventures that most adults, alas, are unable to have. Generally, adults simply do not have an imagination that is flexible and creative enough to allow for such things. In this appealing picture book Eileen Spinelli explores one little girl’s imagination, celebrating the ways in which her imagination enrichs her life.
