The Log of the Ark
| Company type | Children's book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Founder | Kenneth Walker |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Children's literature |
The Log of the Ark is a children's story authored by Kenneth Walker with illustrations by Geoffrey Boumphrey. It debuted in 1923, published in London by Constable & Co. The American version, entitled What Happened in the Ark, was issued by E.P. Dutton & Co. in New York in 1926. An important reprint appeared under Puffin Books in 1963.
Plot summary
The tale centers on an excluded creature known as the scub, who sneaks aboard the ark and introduces meat-eating habits to animals that were formerly herbivores, feeding solely on porridge with treacle. This transformation is depicted with physical comedy, such as Noah's original ark layout grouping large animals together for companionship, which later endangers the vessel’s balance.
Mythical beings like the unicorn feature in the story, contributing to the suspense due to their uncertain survival prospects. The book skillfully intertwines humor and sorrow, illustrated by characters like the 'Seventy-sevenses', timid mammals who flee the ark because of harsh conditions, and "The Clidders," creatures that dissolved when exposed to rain.
This rendition excludes any divine intervention or traditional flood motivations but subtly incorporates Christian ideas of the Fall through the disruptive role of the scub. The conclusion shows a surprised Noah witnessing animals adopting their new predator-prey dynamics after the deluge.