Boa’s Ark

“A book that skillfully rhymes to highlight the life-threatening actions of humans, yet never lacks linguistic wit or glimmers of hope.” – JUNIA

“Cornelia Boese knows her way around, beneath and behind the scenes, having worked for many years as an opera prompter and having recounted the lives of famous musicians in verse. She is also well-versed in the Bible, having set the Nativity story and Noah’s Ark to verse. On her Boa’s Ark, much of this now comes together in an unconventional and cheerful way: as the story of a spectacle for a young audience about the survival of animal species whose habitats are being destroyed by humans. Featuring appearances by a tiger, a bat and others, who recount their suffering and are expected to compete for the audience’s favour and for a single place on the saving ark. She stages this in bold rhymes and with precise metre, but above all with a punchline that transforms a rather cynical event into a grand, solidarity-driven rescue mission. And Stefanie Jeschke supports this with illustrations that take all the episodes a step further in colour and form, so that activism, wordplay and humour come together convincingly.” – The Jury of the Poetry Recommendation, German Academy for Language and Literature

“A compelling blend of wordplay and creative education, in which environmental issues – such as species extinction and climate catastrophe – are addressed through light-hearted verse.” – STUBE

“A wonderful book that makes you think – and perhaps even take action.” – Children’s Literature Association

“Cornelia Boese’s skill in presenting the dramatic impact of human activity on the climate and biodiversity in a witty, humorous way is compelling from the first act to the last.” – KJM

“A powerful plea for greater species and environmental protection, delivered with plenty of wit and lively rhymes.” – buchjournal

“A book that skilfully uses rhyme to capture the essence of humanity’s perilous actions, yet never lacks either linguistic wit or a glimmer of hope.” – JUNIA