Tales from the Waterhole (Candlewick Reader)
Kindergarten-Grade 3–"Here they come–puffing and grunting, towels flapping, caps flying…. The rains are over. The waterhole is full." It's summertime on the African savanna, creating a carefree opportunity for Morris the crocodile and his animal friends to play, share in community events, and challenge one another. Graham's five short stories revolve around themes of friendship and family relationships and feature vacation-time activities that will be familiar to many children. In the first chapter, Morris has a confrontation with his friend Billy the tortoise (who thinks Morris's mother looks like a fruit salad in her new bathing suit) but the two eventually make up. In succeeding tales, the moms take on the kids for a vigorous soccer match; Morris tries to impress Wendy the warthog with his skateboard stunts; and the friends sympathize with Waldo Wildebeest, who is not looking forward to a long walking vacation with his family. In the final installment, the young animals purchase new clothes to look their best for the annual celebration of the coming of the "long rains." Only Morris's couch-bound dad receives an unsympathetic portrait. Done in watercolor, pen, and ink, the cartoon illustrations colorfully depict the antics of the endearing characters. Generous white space and a large font create a bridge to longer chapter books for beginning readers. An amusing summertime romp.–Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.