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L'Arche des Noé
A heartwarming chapter book about the relationship between a little girl, an endearing old couple, and their very special pet store.
Sophie lives in a tall, tall building that overlooks a large green park. In the middle of the park is the biggest, strangest, most wonderful pet shop in the world. Built like a ship, with tall glass sails stretching to the sky, the pet shop is called The Noahs' Ark.
Every evening Sophie makes three secret wishes as she gazes at the ark in the park. She wishes for a pet, she wishes for cousins, and she wishes that she could visit The Noahs' Ark. Over at The Noahs' Ark, the owners of the pet shop, Mr. and Mrs. Noah, also make a secret wish—the same one every time. They wish that they had grandchildren.
On a very special birthday, Sophie and the Noahs finally meet. In the days that follow, they all learn that wishes sometimes do come true.
Sophie lives in a tall, tall building that overlooks a large green park. In the middle of the park is the biggest, strangest, most wonderful pet shop in the world. Built like a ship, with tall glass sails stretching to the sky, the pet shop is called The Noahs' Ark.
Every evening Sophie makes three secret wishes as she gazes at the ark in the park. She wishes for a pet, she wishes for cousins, and she wishes that she could visit The Noahs' Ark. Over at The Noahs' Ark, the owners of the pet shop, Mr. and Mrs. Noah, also make a secret wish—the same one every time. They wish that they had grandchildren.
On a very special birthday, Sophie and the Noahs finally meet. In the days that follow, they all learn that wishes sometimes do come true.
96 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2013
About the author
Wendy Orr
57 books211 followersI’m an author, but I could never have started writing books if I hadn’t loved reading them first. Reading isn’t just one of my favourite things to do; it’s one of the most important things in my life. I can’t imagine a world in which I couldn’t read, every day. That’s why I always read to my children every day, just as my parents used to read to me. Stories can be exciting, sad, funny, scary or comforting, but the most amazing thing about them is that they take us into new worlds and teach us something more about ourselves, all at the same time.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 10, 2015
Everybody has needs. In this book we meet Mr. and Mrs. Noah who need a grandchild. And a little girl who isn't altogether sure what she needs, but figures it out pretty quickly in the most perfect of places. Once more Wendy Orr hits it out of the park with a story that makes me smile. I love every one of her books!
September 23, 2016
This gorgeous children's story even held the attention of a machinery-and-all-vehicle-loving 7-year-old chauvinist who wouldn't normally give a moment to any book with a female protagonist and no wheels on the cover! Some lovely messages about friendship, new arrivals and impossible wishes. We can't always get what we want, but sometimes what we do get is even better. Highly recommended.
April 17, 2023
A sweet story of a girl in a big city without grandparents or anyone to do things with on weekends when her parents are busy with her younger siblings, and an elderly couple who run a pet store with no children or grandchildren. They both make an impossible wish which is granted in the best way.
September 20, 2015
A heartwarming and highly appealing chapter book for early readers. Seven year old, Sophie, has two newborn twins in her household which are absorbing all of her parents time and attention. She lives in a NYC high rise apartment, is forbidden to have a pet, has no extended family members nearby, and all of her school friends are busy or gone during weekends so she has no one to play with or spend time with. In her loneliness, she stares out her bedroom window fantasizing about the nearby pet shop that is built in the shape of a seven story "ark".
On her 7th birthday, Sophie coaxes her parents into letting her visit the pet shop. That starts off a mutually satisfying relationship between the grandparently owners of the "ark", Mr. & Mrs. Noah, and Sophie. She enjoys new adventures, experiences, and valuable lessons, as a result of adopting them, the animals, and the "ark" into her life. An age appropriate book that helps teach that there are alternatives that can be just as satisfying when our greatest wishes can't be fulfilled.
On her 7th birthday, Sophie coaxes her parents into letting her visit the pet shop. That starts off a mutually satisfying relationship between the grandparently owners of the "ark", Mr. & Mrs. Noah, and Sophie. She enjoys new adventures, experiences, and valuable lessons, as a result of adopting them, the animals, and the "ark" into her life. An age appropriate book that helps teach that there are alternatives that can be just as satisfying when our greatest wishes can't be fulfilled.
March 29, 2016
One of the must moving and heartwarming and stunning chapter books I have read. I read it when I was a small child and when I came across it again recently, I was very excited. It felt very nostalgic to read it again.
It's the story of a couple, Mr and Mr Noah who own a pet shop in a park. That pet shop just happens to be inside of an ark. A little girl from across the street named Sophie loves animals but her family cannot own any. So she strikes up a friendship with Mr and Mrs Noah and helps out at the Ark, taking care of the animals.
I won't give away the ending that, upon re-reading after recently discovering this book, had me welling up ! All I will say is that Sophie and the Noah family were able to give each other something very special and sacred.
A very, very sweet and wonderful book that brings out the child in all of us (after all, who wouldn't want to visit a pet shop housed in an ark?!?)
It's the story of a couple, Mr and Mr Noah who own a pet shop in a park. That pet shop just happens to be inside of an ark. A little girl from across the street named Sophie loves animals but her family cannot own any. So she strikes up a friendship with Mr and Mrs Noah and helps out at the Ark, taking care of the animals.
I won't give away the ending that, upon re-reading after recently discovering this book, had me welling up ! All I will say is that Sophie and the Noah family were able to give each other something very special and sacred.
A very, very sweet and wonderful book that brings out the child in all of us (after all, who wouldn't want to visit a pet shop housed in an ark?!?)
July 6, 2008
Sophie is lonely. She's almost seven and is stuck in her apartment whenever she's not in school. Her father works all day and her mother is busy taking care of her younger twin siblings. She doesn't have any cousins or grandparents to visit and she really wants a pet. One day she makes three wishes: to have cousins to play with, to visit Noah's Ark, the amaing pet store in the park; and to get a pet. The Noah's, who own the pet store, have their own problem--the only thing they ever wanted was children. And now they only want grandchildren. They have settled themselves to the idea that they will never get their wish, but they still dream.
This cute chapter book shows that dreams sometimes do come true, but not always in the form that you might expect. The illustrations are fun and adorable. And the story is just plain nice (in a good way).
This cute chapter book shows that dreams sometimes do come true, but not always in the form that you might expect. The illustrations are fun and adorable. And the story is just plain nice (in a good way).
December 23, 2016
Sophie's impossible wish is for a pet and for cousins. Her not-so-impossible wish is to visit The Noah's Ark Pet Store. Mr. and Mrs. Noah were never able to have children, so their impossible wish is to have a grandchild. On Sophie's 7th birthday, she convinces her parents to take her to The Noah's Ark just to look around. They all have such a wonderful time that when Mr. & Mrs. Noah ask Sophie to come back and help them the following Saturday, they agree. Sophie learns how to make friends with the pets and even when they are taken away by customers, she still has Mr. and Mrs. Noah to comfort her. "Who says impossible wishes can't come true?"
Sweet story.
Sweet story.
August 26, 2009
A sweet book about an older couple who own a pet store and wish for a child, and a 7-year-old girl who loves pets and wishes for grandparents. Not as entertaining as Orr's Mokie and Bik. Ages 5-8.
June 17, 2014
My daughter enjoyed this cute story about a giant pet store that looks like Noah's ark. The Noah's (shop owners) have always wanted children but never had any and now wish for grand children. To their surprise there is a young girl wishing for grandparents and a pet.
November 2, 2008
A cute little feel-good story. I read it in an hour or so and am strongly encouraging my boys to give it a try.
April 21, 2010
booklegger 2nd
December 30, 2011
A lovely story about how wishes can come true, just not in the way you expect.
October 13, 2012
The biggest, strangest, most wonderful pet store in the world...and in the middle of the park!
A very sweet book by the author of Nim's Island.
A very sweet book by the author of Nim's Island.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews