Tales from the Waterhole: Candlewick Sparks - Softcover

Graham, Bob

3.34

83 ratings by Goodreads

9780763633158: Tales from the Waterhole: Candlewick Sparks

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0763633151 ISBN 13: 9780763633158

Publisher: Candlewick, 2008

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"A warm ode to the unplanned days of summer. Friends of George and Martha or Frog and Toad will read these stories over and over." — KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)

Morris the crocodile and his best friend, Billy, a tortoise, like nothing better than messing around at the waterhole with their animal friends. In five amusing stories, Morris and company do just what kids do during a hot summer —- perform ill-timed stunts on the diving board, get beaten in soccer by a team of moms, and see their wildebeest friends off on vacation (aka their annual migration). By turns wry and laugh-out-loud funny, Bob Graham’s whimsical waterhole gang pays tribute to the merriment and mishaps of young friendships everywhere.

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About the Author:

Bob Graham is the award-winning creator of many books for children, including JETHRO BYRD, FAIRY CHILD, winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal; "LET'S GET A PUP!" SAID KATE, a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award winner; and MAX, a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year. Of TALES FROM THE WATERHOLE, he says, "As an author, I have loved spending time with Morris, Billy, and friends. I’ve been able to send them down to swim and play at the waterhole for endless hours — unaccompanied by their parents. What freedom! At this waterhole, there is no ‘nature red in tooth and claw.’ Here they string up colored lights at dusk, dance, and take party photos. I might just go and live there." Bob Graham currently lives in Australia.

From School Library Journal:

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, TX
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