Noah and his wife rescue the animals

God loves Noah and his wife and their children. And they love God. Because they love God, they listen to Him.

One day, God tells Noah that there will be a big flood. It will cover all the earth.

"Build an ark, Noah," God says. "In the ark you and your wife and your children will be safe." And God says, "Take into the ark with you a pair of all the animals on earth—one male and one female of each kind of animal."

Noah builds the ark like God has told him to. It's a kind of big boat. Then Noah's wife gathers lots of fruits and vegetables and other food for the family and for the animals. Noah and his kids help to load the food into the storage rooms of the ark.

Thick, black clouds appear in the sky. God tells Noah that it's time to go into the ark. The animals arrive. They go into the ark two by two. Big ones and medium-size ones and little ones from all parts of the earth come walking, jumping, crawling, hopping, and flying into the ark. There are squiggly worms and colorful beetles, screeching owls, slithery snakes and lizards, howling wolves, lions, bears, and porcupines. Noah and his wife find a place for all of them — even the long-necked giraffes and the fat hippos.

When all the animals and all of Noah's family are inside, the door is shut tightly.

Then the skies open, and tons and tons of water drop down on the earth. The water floods all the fields and houses and trees. It even floods the tall mountains.

Inside, the animals and the people are warm and dry. Although it's very crowded, the animals don't fight because they are so glad to be safe in the ark. And there's enough food for all of them. But feeding all the animals and cleaning up after them is a big job. Noah and his wife and his children work from morning till night.

Outside, the storm is raging, and the ark is tossed about on the waves. It rains for many days. But God does not forget the people, and the animals in the ark. God never stops guarding them.

Finally, the rain stops. The water goes down and the ark lands on top of a Mount Ararat.

Then Noah opens the window of the ark and sends, out a dove. But the dove can't find any dry ground to rest on, and it comes right back to him. A little later, Noah sends the dove out again. This time it returns with an olive branch in its beak. So Noah knows God is causing new plants and trees to start to grow on the earth. When Noah sends out the dove a third time, it doesn't come back at all.

Now Noah knows he can open the door of the ark. The sun is shining. And the animals start running, jumping, flying, crawling, and hopping out onto the dry land.

The lion is shaking his mane. The elephants are swinging their trunks. The giraffes are stretching their necks. And the bears are rolling roly-poly down the ark's gangplank. Beetles, birds, and butterflies spread their wings and take new flights.

Noah and his wife and his children thank God for keeping them and the animals safe. And for making everything new on the earth. God makes a promise to them that there will never again be such an enormous flood. At that moment, a rainbow appears in the sky. The rainbow is a sign from God that He will always love them and care for them.

So Noah and his wife and his children begin to dance with joy. They love the beautiful land. And they love listening to God.