The Enduring Ark

This striking picture book is a retelling of the story of Noah and the ark. Noah is warned by God that a great flood is coming and it is his duty to protect a pair of each species that will enjoy the new world. He duly completes the task and is rewarded with a renewed landscape and rainbow-filled sky.

Gita Wolf’s text explains that new things emerge from the remains of the old, and that great tales deserve to be repeated. The clever use of concertina pages reinforces these ideas of continuation and repetition – the folded pages are turned and turned again with no end binding only to be flipped and turned again in a new direction. It’s a lovely form to support this simple story.

Joydeb Chitrakar’s traditionally Indian illustrations are bright and bold with strange shapes and enduring patterns. The exotic setting complements the story, which remains a strange and mystical tale.