The Log of the Ark facts for kids

The Log of the Ark is a fun children's book written by Kenneth Walker. It has cool pictures by Geoffrey Boumphrey. The book first came out in London, England, in 1923, published by Constable & Co. Later, in 1926, it was released in the United States by E.P. Dutton & Co. with a different title: What Happened in the Ark. Many years later, in 1963, Puffin Books also published an edition of the story.

What the Book is About

This book tells a funny and sometimes sad story about Noah's Ark. It's not just about Noah and the animals, though! The main idea is about a sneaky animal called the scub. This scub manages to get onto the ark even though it's not supposed to be there.

The Scub's Big Secret

Before the scub arrived, all the animals on the ark were vegetarians. They ate only porridge with a little bit of treacle (which is like a sweet syrup). But the scub has a secret plan. It slowly teaches some of the other animals how to eat meat. This changes everything on the ark!

Funny Moments on the Ark

The story is full of funny, silly moments, known as slapstick humor. For example, Noah, who isn't very good at sailing, first builds the ark by putting all the big animals together. He thinks they will be good friends! But he soon finds out this makes the ark very wobbly once the flood waters rise.

Mythical Creatures and Sad Stories

Like many other stories about Noah's Ark, this book includes amazing mythical creatures, such as the unicorn. These creatures add a lot of excitement to the story. You might wonder if they will survive the long journey!

The book also has some sad parts mixed with the funny ones. One memorable part is about two very shy animals called the 'Seventy-sevenses'. They name themselves after their cabin number. The atmosphere on the ark becomes very difficult for them, so they decide to leave on a small raft. There were also "The Clidders," another pair of animals who sadly melted when the rain started!

A Different Kind of Flood Story

This book tells the Noah's Ark story in a unique way. It doesn't talk about God or why the flood happened. Instead, it focuses on how the scub changes the innocent world inside the ark. This part of the story can remind readers of the idea of "the Fall" in Christian stories, where things change from good to not-so-good.

In the very last scene, Noah is shocked. He hasn't realized what has truly happened on his ship. He watches as the animals, now free from the ark, chase and fly from each other. They have learned new ways of living and are now hunters and hunted.