DATE: Tuesday, October 14, 1997             TAG: 9710140053

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KRYS STEFANSKY 

                                            LENGTH:   32 lines

NEW LIFE BREATHED INTO ``NOAH'S ARK''

THE STORY of Noah, the great flood, the idea of animals marching two-by-two aboard the ark, has fascinated children for ages. Now, thanks to artist Lisbeth Zwerger's imaginative new interpretation, here is a lovely and gently whimsical look at this Old Testament Bible story.

The text of ``Noah's Ark'' (North-South Books, $16.95, ages 5 to 8) is written by Heinz Janisch and translated by Rosemary Lanning. It is the familiar tale of a world gone bad and an angry God. Zwerger's drawings give it an unexpected freshness.

Noah follows God's command to build a great ship, then the animals arrive in pairs. Zwerger blends fantasy with scripture in traditional picture book-style drawings, and in beautifully detailed sketches that look like illustrations from zoological texts. As the deluge begins, unlucky folk scurry about under umbrellas and fish swim through the open windows of submerged buildings.

Last year, Zwerger's interpretation of L. Frank Baum's ``The Wizard of Oz'' was given a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award. This latest unique effort by the internationally acclaimed children's book illustrator, an Austrian native, is again a delight. It is appealing even to adults. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

NORTH-SOUTH BOOKS

``Noah's Ark'' features the work of award-winning illustrator

Lisbeth Zwerger.

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