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(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Daniele Fabbri.
Bezalel, an Israelite slave in Ancient Egypt, collects unusual things. When the Exodus begins, the boy insists on bringing his Beautiful Things Box with him. When God asks Moses to build a mishkan, a house filled with beautiful things, Bezalel is the only one ready to provide treasures. Soft paintings convey a sense of wonder in this unusual retelling of a biblical story (discussed in the author's note).
(4)
4-6
Will Wilder series.
Illustrated by
Jeff Nentrup.
First, Will discovered he can see demons (The Relic of Perilous Falls); now he is training at the town museum with the demon-fighting Brethren. When the Staff of Moses disappears, Will must defeat a demon summoning biblical plagues upon Perilous Falls. Though the overly complex premise remains cumbersome, occasional full-page black-and-white illustrations and a lighthearted tone help keep this fast-paced sequel entertaining.
(4)
4-6
Who HQ: What Was...? series.
Illustrated by
Tim Foley.
The long-running Who Was...? series (originally Grosset, now rebranded by Penguin Workshop) expands its coverage. This readable, informative volume is marred only by the caricatured cover art (typical of the classic series) and bland interior pencil illustrations. Otherwise, the book will give young readers a good sense of Moses's story. Occasional full- and double-page text boxes successfully illuminate related topics; photo insert included. Timeline. Bib.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Natascia Ugliano.
As Bezalel watches his grandmother Miriam (Moses' sister) comfort the Israelites on their trek through the desert, he draws pictures in the sand that extend or amplify Miriam's words and deeds. As a result, he's chosen to design and fashion the Holy Ark. Readers familiar with the Exodus story will appreciate this accessible and enjoyable interpretation illustrated with flowing desert-hued pictures.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jago.
Nachshon, a Jewish slave, grows up longing for freedom and fearing only swimming. Moses helps him overcome his fear when the Israelites are forced to flee Egypt. Cohen's text is accessible, and Jago's illustrations in yellows, oranges, and browns dramatically convey the dry heat of the Egyptian desert.
32 pp.
| Harcourt
| November, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-15-200946-9$16.00
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Barry Moser.
The late master storyteller marshals her prodigious power to relate the life of Moses. The striking watercolor illustrations set on creamy paper are framed and captioned. They are particularly arresting because of the use of light--sometimes blindingly bright, sometimes dark--to effectively magnify moments in the text.
32 pp.
| Little
| February, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-316-74131-0$$15.95
(4)
PS
Marzollo retells these Hebrew Bible stories in a conversational style. Varied typefaces emphasize the tales' drama. The simple watercolor paintings feature heavy black outlines on white backgrounds. Marzollo takes liberties with the material (silly talking animals on the bottom of each page), but the retellings capture the essence of the stories and serve as adequate introductions. Review covers these titles: Daniel in the Lions' Den, David and Goliath, and Miriam and Her Brother.
32 pp.
| Scholastic/Orchard
| February, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-439-35225-8$$16.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Gennady Spirin.
Beneduce's retelling of the story of Moses from the Hebrew Bible is clear, readable, and respectful of the original biblical material. Spirin's large, detailed paintings add a formal feel to the book and convey, with their elegance, Moses' importance to Hebrews.
32 pp.
| Eerdmans
| August, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-8028-5251-3$$16.00
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Pauline Baynes.
Flat, angular figures illustrate this brief re-imagining of the Hebrew slaves' plight in ancient Egypt. The focus, however, is on the baby Moses, his mother's sadness then joy, and his sister's confidence in his safety. Perspective and a sense of movement increase as the story progresses.
104 pp.
| Clarion
| August, 2002
|
TradeISBN 0-395-97825-4$$19.00
(2)
4-6
Illustrated by
Alexander Koshkin.
In this companion to Clouds of Glory, Chaikin limits her Midrashim to eighteen stories that trace the activity of God's angelic messengers on earth as they aid Moses after he has freed the Israelites. Blakean watercolors interpret the majesty of the celestial and the earthiness of the wilderness and its mountains. Comprehensive endnotes indicate what was drawn from the Bible and what from legend. Bib.
Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2002
(2)
4-6
This is the story of Moses and of the Hebrews in Egypt during the reign of Ramesses II, but in Lester's telling, history has been humanized, icons made flesh. Through a stunning blend of imagination and research, readers are transported into ancient Egypt, vividly evoked through a narrative that seems to reflect ancient discourse without sounding artificial. Bib., glos.
Reviewer: Mary M. Burns
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2000
64 pp.
| Delacorte
| February, 1999
|
TradeISBN 0-385-32612-2$$16.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Mark Podwal.
Sobel tells ten stories about the biblical leader, Moses, who survives his life of trials because of the intervention of angels. The mystical stories, set in a world where the boundaries between Heaven and Earth are vague, are told in an unadorned style, beautifully balanced with Podwal's spare paintings. A note about how closely these stories resemble the legends listed as sources would have been helpful.
34 pp.
| Eerdmans
| January, 1999
|
TradeISBN 0-8028-5175-4$$20.00
(3)
K-3
Wildsmith retells the Exodus story, from the birth of Moses to the arrival of the Hebrew people in the Promised Land. The storytelling is formal but understandable to a young reader. The illustrations are dramatic, and each page is bordered in gold, with God depicted as a prismatic star. Rather than emphasizing individual characters, the focus is on the sweeping landscapes and the crowds of Hebrews leaving Egypt.