Meet at the Ark at Eight

My 9 year old daughter and I read this short book in a few sittings and found it charming and funny. The author takes a perennial favorite story, Noah's ark, and turns it on its ear. Younger children might simple find the story fun. The two chosen penguins don't want to leave their young, irascible, yet endearing friend behind when they leave for the ark. So the two smuggle him aboard in a suitcase. The high jinx are wonderfully illustrated by [[Jörg Mühle]]. Discerning middle readers might pick up on more difficult questions, such as Why would God choose to punish even animals with the deluge? Why does the young penguin commit an evil act? Why is he forgiven? Can even God make mistakes? And there is an even subtler layer. The author show more has chosen to make the two penguins chosen to be saved on the ark male. Only through a careful watch of pronouns is this obvious. And when the two penguins disembark, there are indeed three of them, although through adoption not procreation. So whether the book is enjoyed as a witty children's story, a religious thought-provoker for middle readers, or a social commentary, I would recommend zipping through it for it's unique take on an old story.

Note: I read an uncorrected proof. show less

Publisher's description: "Two squabbling penguins who smuggle their little friend aboard Noah's ark under the watchful eyes of an officious, overworked dove, find many answers to their questions about God during their journey."

My first thought when I saw that was, "uh....no." Who would ever read that? But those penguins look awfully adorable and I read a couple other blurbs from the publisher and became interested. So, I requested a copy from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

To sum up, I really enjoyed this book but I can't think of a kid at the public library that I would hand it to. Although it's loosely framed around the story of Noah's Ark, Noah only appears briefly at the end and most of the story is dialogue between the three penguins show more and then the dove. In the end, the penguins and dove pair off and I think that's really going to bother some people, even more than the religious questions. People are weird.

The original description is a little misleading, since there's no final answer to the penguins' questions about God. It's not an overtly religious book for any particular denomination, but it raises topics like why does God allow suffering, how do you know God exists, and does God make mistakes? I don't think many kids will pick up on one of the main themes - that all these different creatures are defining God the way they see him - without some adult guidance. It's also quite funny, in an almost adult way, with little digs and sly jokes here and there.

Verdict: This would be a really interesting book to read together with an 8-12 year old, or younger, to spark discussions about God and religion. However, I don't think it's going to be of general interest in the public library. I will probably donate my copy to the local Catholic school, as I think this is something they'd find interesting to discuss with the kids.

ISBN: 9780802854100; Published September 2012 by Eerdmans; Review copy provided by publisher through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. show less

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The back of the book claims this story is for kids aged 8 to 12, but I think 12 is really pushing it. I would say more 6 to 10, if you're looking for a four year stretch.

The book is astonishingly European---appropriate I suppose since that's where it hails from. Unlike most American books for this age, the story is loaded with ambiguities. Is the story pro-God or anti-God? Hard to tell. Does it end with a comment on marriage rights or just an everyday moral about being friends even with those who are different? Hard to tell.

I read it to my 5yrold and 3yrold and they both enjoyed it, though I'm not sure they really dived into the questions asked and unanswered by the book.

Me? It's a 68-page illustrated lark. No complaints.

A nice little charming book, and unexpectedly thought-provoking. The penguins' silly antics and cute illustrations will make kids and adults laugh, and the conversations about God may stimulate discussion about what God looks like, why God caused the Flood, etc. (That wasn't the case with us, but we were reading it at bedtime and thus didn't have time to get into a theological discussion!)

Three penguins find out that God is about to flood the world, but only two tickets to the ark are available...what are they going to do?

Ulrich Hub adds some strange scenes and funny situations in this retelling of the Noah's ark story. It is not meant to be accurate to the source, but instead it adds some tongue-in-cheek dialogue and plot twists to create a cute book for kids, or adults who are kids at heart.

Meet At the Ark at Eight is a story about some penguins who can't bear to leave their friend behind when the announcement comes that only two may go on Noah's ark to be saved. After trying to avoid the rain, the decide to smuggle the third penguin on board in a suitcase. The characterizations of the animals - especially the penguins and the dove (who also seems to be the purser for the ship) are humorous. The dialogue is witty. There are lessons to be learned about friendship and sticking together.

However, if you are conservative about the Word of God being inspired and not adding to or taking away from it, this is NOT the book for you. There are some traits these animals have (lying, sneaking) that are not scripturally endorse. The show more liberties taken with the Noah's Ark story are vast and the characterization of Noah as being somewhat dimwitted is definitely not in holding with what the Bible teaches.

For me, I very much enjoyed this chapter book as fiction. It made me giggle out loud in places, and I thought it was a very cute idea based on an age old story. However, I would not use it in a Bible class nor would I advocate putting it in a church library due to the controversial nature of the story. I am planning on giving it to my twelve-year-old to read as a starter to an actual study of the Noah's Ark study. I know she can discern reality from fiction and I think we can have some fun with it. show less

Cute illustrations are throughout this translated-to-English children's novel. The story is cute enough to entertain voracious readers, but many children may find the book a little draggy. I don't really want to dwell on the negative, and I know it is hard to write a universal kids' book nowadays. If your child loves penguins and just can't read enough, check this one out from the library. The book questions God's motives in flooding the Earth (killing most of the animals and humans) and many other things you or your kids might ask. The answers are a little mixed.

I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.