4.0 out of 5 stars
Down by the old waterhole, April 5, 2005
This review is from: Tales from the Waterhole (Hardcover)
If you are at all familiar with the fabulous, "Let's Get a Pup, Said Kate" (and no true literary parent or guardian has any excuse for NOT knowing that remarkable story) then you're already well aware of author/illustrator Bob Graham's talents. If you don't, then you're in for a treat. Having conquered the concerns of pup loving people everywhere, Mr. Graham shifts his attention here to the African savanna. Or, to be more precise, to the lives of the animals that live and play in it. With the summer months here and the lure of the old waterhole ah-calling, this book faithfully documents five hot weather stories that many a child will identify with and many more will enjoy. Though you may not think it to look at them, animals are just as concerned about showing off, playing soccer, family trips, and going shopping for clothes (with mom) as people are. If not more so.
Our hero is Morris the crocodile and his family and friends. In "Fruit Salad Swimsuit", the waterhole has just opened for business and mom is paging through the Dry Season mail-order catalog in the hopes of finding a new swimsuit. However, when the item arrives it causes a bit of a ruckus between otherwise good friends Morris and Billy the turtle. The story "Soccer Match" begins with a familiar situation (keeping an eye on a younger sibling) then takes a huge twist when the children of the savanna find themselves playing their toughest opponents yet.... their mothers. In "Daredevil Stunt", Morris attempts to catch the eye of Wendy Warthog with an oddly planned stunt. "Vacation" shows that no matter how badly your own family situation is, there's always somebody who has it worse. Like Waldo Wildebeest (who always goes on vacation with "zillions of relatives" and ends up watching ALL their kids). Finally, with "Long Rains Party", Morris goes pants shopping with his mom and ends up not entirely displeased by the result.
Now the whole beauty of these stories comes in part from Mr. Graham's subdued illustrations. The watercolors and pen and inks draw easy-to-understand situations that will look instantly comfortable and familiar. Morris's mother is usually wearing a dress that displays an askew bra strap and his house has just the right amount of toys and clutter to feel like a home. Even when characters fight, as Morris and Billy attempt to do at one point, they're so haphazard and clueless that a line like, "They went outside and beat each other up", is belied by the multiple pictures of swings and misses. That and the fact that the next line says, "Well, they circled and shuffled and grunted, and they groaned and swished at the air". Put your minds at rest, high strung parents everywhere. This book does not condone fighting. I just want to make it clear that for all their simplicity, Graham's pictures know just how to show comfort, mixed emotions, and action on hot African afternoons.
The stories are a lot of fun too. As I mentioned before, the story "Soccer Match" begins one way and ends another. With Morris's mother telling him to keep an eye on his brother Little Bob, you expect this to be one of those stories in which the older brother sticks up for/grows to appreciate his younger sibling. But suddenly, midway through the tale (as if Graham himself grew bored of the trite telling) all the mothers of the kids come stomping in, still wearing their dressy clothing, and proceed to beat their children in a rousing game of soccer 17-1 (the kids make a final point at the end and everyone's happy). Few stories for children are this inventive. Few stories would also let the mom's win so obviously.
So if you'd like a lovely summery set of picture book tales to tell your little ones, "Tales From the Waterhole" is your best bet. It creates a safe place where kids can play without any adult supervision whatsoever, and places it in an entirely believable little world of its own. A beautiful wonderful book.
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