Professor Noah's Spaceship

by Brian Wildsmith

Once upon a time, the animals and birds lived happily in a beautiful forest that provided for all their needs. Sadly, pollution begins to destroy their shelter and food supply, and their future looks bleak. Fortunately, Wise Owl leads the others to Professor Noah, who is building a spaceship rather than a boat like the first Noah did. The kind professor invites the animals to blast-off with him to another planet in order to escape the destruction of the forest. After traveling for 40 days and 40 nights, the time guidance system is accidentally twisted in reverse and the space travelers end up back on Earth in a pristine forest just after the famous biblical flood.

Readers can make connections between the reissue of this timely story and the need for 21st-century environmental protection and preservation. The richly-detailed and colorful illustrations will keep readers thoroughly engaged in the story.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

28 pages, Hardcover

First published December 4, 1980

About the author

Brian Wildsmith (1930-2016) was raised in a small mining village in Yorkshire, England, where, he says, "Everything was grey. There wasn't any colour. It was all up to my imagination. I had to draw in my head..."

He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art where he studied for three years. For a while he taught music at the Royal Military School of Music, but then gave it up so that he could paint full time.

He has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the greatest living children's illustrators. In 1962, he published his first children's book, ABC, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain's equivalent to the Caldecott Medal. He was also a runner up for this medal for The Owl and the Woodpecker.

Wildsmith has said: "I believe that beautiful picture books are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit in later life."

In 1994, the Brian Wildsmith Art Museum was established in Izukogen, a town south of Tokyo, Japan. Almost one and a half million people visited a traveling exhibition of his work in 2005. Eight hundred of his paintings are on loan to the museum.

Brian is married, has four children, and currently lives in the south of France.

— Source

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is for Wildsmith's artwork only, as I hate the idea of this book: destroy one planet, start again on another. In this case, the innocent animals are suffering the effects of man's pollution, so Professor Noah (Let's hope he's a better man than the biblical one.) takes them all on a magic, mystical rocket ride to a pure, uncontaminated planet.

I'm really not sure what kids would think of this one . . .

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so fun and creative! It's a retelling of Noah's Ark, but with a spaceship, and the animals taking on a bigger role. My five-year-old loved it. Highly recommended!

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant and beautiful. An interesting, science-fiction twist on the Noah's Ark Bible story. LOVE the artwork! Brain Wildsmith is a genius. I don't know how in the world I didn't know about his work until very recently. I am quickly making up for lost time by reading everything he ever wrote/illustrated! AMAZING stuff!

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

In case you were wondering if it is possible to be both didactic and boring, the answer is yes.

[Alicia Steagall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different twist to the story Noah’s ark, this is quit adorable and cute for children!

[Keshia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on the story of Noah’s Ark.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely art

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent illustrations.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting illustrations. kinda weird story.