Joan M. Lexau (1929–2023)

I've frequently heard it said that kids can't, or won't, sit still like they used to. Now, there are a lot of different factors in this - electronics of course, and school schedules, and considering that we are now doing storytimes for babies whereas a few decades ago storytime was for elementary-aged kids. On top of that, quite a few of the picture books produced nowadays are extremely long and kids absolutely will not sit still for them! However, in my experience, toddlers and preschoolers will quite happily sit for even a lengthy story if it is a folktale or has a folktale-like cadence.

I don't remember where I originally heard this story; I probably read it as a child, but at some point I realized I needed it for storytime. I purchased an old and rather worn copy online and the kids LOVED it. They even liked my introduction, where I showed them "the mystery book" since it was missing its jacket!

Nevertheless, one can't fully enjoy a book unless you can recommend it to friends and colleagues, and with the only copy in my professional collection, kids coming to the library wanting the book I read in class are bound to be disappointing. So I was THRILLED when I found out that Prestel was republishing this gem!

The story is simple. Boy is exhausted, sitting on a rock, when Tiger shows up. Tiger tells him to run, so he can chase him and eat him, and Boy replies (in my favorite phrase of the book) "Eat me then...I have no more run in me." Tiger is curious, so Boy tells him the story of his adventures, with Tiger responding "That's good" and "That's bad" as one thing leads to another. It turns out, Boy is being chased by Rhino and a wild chase it's been!

Each spread is in dark blue with the shadow of green trees and the figures of Boy and Rhino acting out the story. In the forefront is the face of Boy, the storyteller, and Tiger, the listener, while the text runs on a white background strip below.

When Boy finally gets to the end of his story, there's an unexpected ending for Tiger and Boy's clever tale saves the day and that's good! For Boy at least...

This edition keeps the original art and text, although it's in a larger format than the original I have, which makes it a much better read-aloud. It adds some background information on the author and illustrator and compares the story to the Scheherazade and the Arabian Nights (the use of "virgin" was a little unneeded I think, good luck explaining that to any kids reading it on their own...) The only problem I've had with this story is explaining to kids that Boy is NOT wearing a diaper - I tell them he's wearing special shorts because he lives somewhere very hot.

Verdict: I am delighted to see this classic story back in print and in a lovely edition that's perfect for reading aloud. I can't wait for my friends to be able to share it with a whole new generation of kids, who I promise you WILL sit still for it!

ISBN: 9783791374192; This edition published March 2020 by Prestel; Review copy provided by publisher and added to my professional collection to replace my battered old copy; Purchased another copy for the general library; Included in our emergency virtual storytimes.… (mere)

Rafer is excited for his birthday and is looking forward to receiving a birthday card in the mail from his less than present father. When he checks the mailbox, he starts to think that his father forgot and his mood is ruined. That it until he realizes the reason he did not get a birthday card is because his father wanted to spend the day with him in person. I think this is a cute story and I'm glad it had a happy ending. I personally didn't think it was too special in anyway, but it wasn't terrible. It provides perspective for children who may have absentee fathers, but overall it was forgettable.… (mere)