Jonah and the Big Fish

by Susan Collins Thoms, Naoko Stoop (Illustrator)

Overview

What happens when you disobey God? Author Susan Collins Thoms and illustrator Naoko Stoop answer the question in the most inviting, child-friendly retelling of Jonah and the Big Fish ever created. This lush edition of the classic Biblical story captures the tale’s watery world in jewel-toned illustrations by Stoop, who paints her incredible images directly on wood planks—each chosen specifically for its unique character. Perfect for parents and children to share, it makes a beautiful companion to our All Creatures Great and Small and Noah’s Ark.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454914938
Publisher:	Union Square Kids
Publication date:	03/01/2016
Pages:	22
Sales rank:	390,897
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Susan Collins Thoms is the author of Cesar Takes a Break, The Twelve Days of Christmas in Michigan, and Noah’s Ark (all Sterling). She lives in Grand Rapids, MI, with her husband, three children, two cats, one parakeet, one lizard, and one hermit crab.
 
Illustrator Naoko Stoop now lives in Brooklyn, NY, but was born and grew up in Japan. She is a self-taught artist who generally paints on brown paper bags and wood scraps. She sells her work in her Etsy shop (etsy.com/shop/naokosstoop) and also exhibits in several galleries. Naoko illustrated a board book edition of All Creatures Great and Small for Sterling, as well as Noah’s Ark, and is the author/illustrator of Red Knit Cap Girl (Little Brown, 2012). Read Naoko's blog (naokosstoop.blogspot.com), check out her collection online (brownpaperbagcollection.com/page/cover.php), and follow her on Twitter @naokosstoop.

Editorial Reviews

02/15/2016
Thoms and Stoop follow All Creatures Great and Small and Noah’s Ark with a retelling of the biblical story of Jonah, one that takes its scriptural message seriously, but also finds room for a little fun. Thoms’s narrative uses numerous sound effects to emphasize the violence of the storm threatening Jonah’s boat (“Crack! Lightning flashed. Boom! Thunder rolled”) and the relief after he’s released from the fish’s belly (“Blooey! The fish spat. Plop! Jonah landed safely onshore”). The wood-grained textures of Stoop’s illustrations give the pages a homey, weathered look that bolsters the sense of God being on Jonah’s side, even when he’s being tested. Ages 1–3. Illustrator’s agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

2016-03-16
A popular Sunday school story in board-book format. The story of Jonah's disobedience and subsequent repentance while in the belly of a big fish (depicted as a whale) is retold in simple language: "Jonah found himself inside the belly of the fish. And that's where he stayed for three days and three nights." The illustrations feature round-faced, bearded, olive-skinned men dressed in robes like those used in a Bible school pageant. The most lively part of the story is the storm scene with flashing lightning, booming thunder, and waves battering the ship. In the original, the sailors cast lots to discover who has brought God's wrath to the ship, but here, Jonah calmly volunteers to be thrown overboard. Further, Jonah suffers no anguish while in the whale's belly but quickly turns to prayer. He is shown kneeling in a pristine white robe along with another fish, a bird, and a turtle. Thoms makes some awkwardly modern word choices. Jonah "hopped" on a ship, and the whale says "Blooeey" when it spits Jonah out. With none of the nuance of the original text, the complex tale of God's compassion and Jonah's faith is reduced to a didactic lesson of obedience. To introduce the literal version of the Bible story this is an acceptable choice, but since it lacks complexity and nuance, one wonders whether the story shouldn't be saved for an older audience that's ready for it. (Board book. 2-4)

Kirkus Reviews