The story of Noah and the ark has something for everyone: there are cute animals for the little ones, a lesson in architecture for older readers, and some bawdy details for adults…. as well as a couple of serious issues of respect for one’s elders and by way of midrash, respect for the earth.

However, it’s those cute animals that most often become the focus. Pass a preschool classroom and you might hear a chorus of “bahs” and “moos” when Noah is introduced. Modern interpretations of the Noah story, introduce the issues of women — where are Noah’s female relatives in this story? And the notion of extinction, ecology and saving the earth. Noah’s wife Naamah becomes a heroine, as important as Noah.

Here’s a selection of books from the vast number of retellings of the Noah story. Most are versions for children although the story has also been novelized for teens and adults. Some of kid lit’s most famous authors and illustrators have created their own versions of Noah’s ark.

Bartoletti, Susan. Naamah and the Ark at Night. Naamah sings a lullaby to quiet the frightened animals.

Coplestone, Lis. Noah’s Bed. Noah doesn’t sleep alone on the ark.

Krensky, Stephen. Noah’s Bark

Lunge-Larsen, Lise. Noah’s Mittens. A pourquoi story that tells the origin of felt for mittens.

Sasso, Sandy Eisenberg. Naamah, Noah’s Wife. We know almost nothing about Noah’s wife. Sasso fills in the details with this modern midrash.

Singer, Isaac Bashevis. Why Noah Chose the Dove. Why the Dove? Read and find out.

Blake, Sarah, Naamah. A novelization of the story of Noah’s wife.

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. Old MacNoah Had an Ark. The Noah story set to the tune of the familiar nursery song.

Pasquali, Elena. Mrs. Noah’s Vegetable Ark. Tells of how the world was replanted.

Spier, Peter. Noah’s Ark. Classic, almost wordless version of the story.

Lyons, Erica. Counting on Naamah.

Napoli, Donna Jo. Storm. A novelization of the flood story by an award-winning YA writer.

Reid, Barbara. Fox Walked Alone