Kirkus Reviews
"Koralek gracefully retells the Old Testament story of Moses in the bulrushes in lyrical prose complemented by stylized paintings from Baynes. . . The thoughtful retelling and striking illustrations make this a fine choice for reading aloud in group settings."
Publishers Weekly
"Baynes, best known for her illustrations for the original Narnia books, delivers masterly paintings that specifically evoke ancient Egyptian art in their perspectives but that retain a contemporary sense of color and motion."
School Library Journal
"Staying true to the Old Testament tale, Koralek keeps a reverential tone and tells the story using accessible though not oversimplified language. The beautifully rendered artwork is well placed and successfully evokes a strong sense of place and time."
Booklist
"Baynes' gently textured illustrations have the feel of ancient Egyptian art. . . This unpretentious, accessible segment of a familiar story will work well on its own, as a preamble to the longer story, or, for older children, as a springboard for a simple discussion of slavery then and now."
Catholic Library World
"The story uses simple language so that young children in kindergarten through grade two can understand it. The illustrations by Pauline Baynes are stunning and capture the essence of the ancient Egyptian style of decoration. . . This is a familiar Bible story that is brought to life through lively illustrations and flowing text."
Horn Book Guide
"Flat, angular figures illustrate this brief re-imagining of the Hebrew slaves' plight in ancient Egypt. The focus, however, is on the baby Moses, his mother's sadness then joy, and his sister's confidence in his safety.' (Recommended)"
Children's Literature
"Baynes's visualization of the ancient story with such important consequences suggests Egyptian wall paintings. . . The characters are coifed and costumed appropriately, set in scenes that are framed with thick decorative borders. The colors and compositions reinforce the very positive emotional message of the text."
Church & Synagogue Libraries
"This is an ideal picture book for young children at Passover for both church and synagogue libraries."
Libraries Alive
"The lovely, colorful illustrations include not only the main characters, but beautiful plant and animal life as well. This book will be a favorite with its readers."
Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter
"A fresh approach to the biblical story of Baby Moses. . . The text is clear, simple, and slightly formal, matching the somewhat stylized illustrations. The paintings by Pauline Baynes are beautiful, providing a real sense of the Egyptian environment through details in the flora and fauna, and by using a style reminiscent of ancient tomb paintings. . . A ready-made classic for Preschool?Grade 3."