I’m not really all that excited about graphic novels. The right story can make one great, and I’ve read a few that I enjoy, but I would much rather sit down with a good comic book instead, preferably Superman or other members of the Justice League, although I have been known to read a few Marvel comics from time to time.

So when I received a copy of Noah, which is subtitled “A Wordless Picture Book,” I wasn’t expecting to be overly impressed. I expected either a collection of drawings loosely connected, or a graphic novel without words, of which I really didn’t get the point.

However, I was surprised. In reality, Noah is both of those things: a graphic novel without the words, and a collection of art, but it is well designed and the art is exceptional.

On the positive side, the illustrations are well done, and evocative. Although they are slightly graphic novel-ish, they communicate the scenarios depicted quite well. And the sequence of the illustrations follows closely along with the biblical narrative of Noah and the Flood. In fact, there are a couple of illustrations that my kids may find a bit disturbing, including one man who is drowning. It’s a touch too graphic.

On the other hand, there is a negative aspect to Noah as well. I still really don’t understand the point of creating a book without the narrative of Noah’s life and the Flood to go along with it. I know the timeline of this event well, but many don’t, and it is necessary to grab a Bible to read the account of the Flood in Genesis 6-9 to go along with the images in order to understand them fully. At the very least, a few pages at the beginning or the end of the book with the biblical narrative would have helped.

Someone who isn’t familiar with Noah’s Flood won’t understand fully what is being depicted here. In my opinion, that is a detriment to the goal of sharing the story of Noah, if the people who pick up this book don’t know just what it is they are looking at.

Taking both the good and the bad together, this book finds a place in the middle. It lacks the ability to be understood fully without the text, but the illustrations are well done and very creative, and it stays very close to the account in Genesis. But when my kids want to sit and read it with me, we will grab a Bible to go along with it.

Question: Do you enjoy graphic novels or comic books? What has been your favorite? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

I received this book free from Handlebar Publishing as part of their Handlebar Publishing blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.