By guest reviewer Liz Bray
This is a fable in the classic Aesop style.
Four animals sit among the ruins of Angkor Wat, talking about which of them would have made the best King in ancient times. A mysterious stranger sets them a challenge: they must test themselves by racing to a temple on a distant hilltop. Along the way each proves they have real qualities, but also reveals some failings.
While the story is quite simply told, the animals’ journey is genuinely exciting. They travel through intricate, complicated jungle and swamp settings and there is a real sense of challenge and peril, especially when they each encounter a fearsome snake!
It’s all rather satisfying and I can see younger kids being happy to read the story over and over again.
And all kids could spend ages poring over Graeme Base’s incredibly lush illustrations. He gives each of the animals—Tiger, Gibbon, Water Buffalo and Gecko—distinct personalities and body language. His scenes overflow from intricate frames styled as stone friezes of events in an elephant king’s life. There are intriguing, almost-hidden details of foliage and insects—including a ravishing butterfly which appears in each spread, making the journey with the other animals.
Just finding Base’s signature in each piece of art is a wonderful treasure hunt!
I like that the virtues expounded in this story are contemporary yardsticks. They’re the qualities we want to teach kids now: strength, compassion/kindness, resilience, courage and wisdom. I like that the book offers a chance to talk to kids about what these concepts mean, andI can imagine classroom teachers using it as a tool to do that, too. And it’s important that each character has both strengths and weaknesses.
The Angkor Wat setting gives the book an added dimension. Of course, the temples of Angkor are beautiful – and Base has made wonderful use of their stonework in his illustrations. But it’s also quite an iconic place for many Australians and part of ‘our’ neighbourhood. There’s a brief explanation of Angkor Wat’s location and history on the last page of the book.
Who’ll love this: Kids of around 4 to 7 who enjoy sitting down to share a longer story, especially kids with a sense of adventure.
Teachers will love it too and could use it with older kids.
And because it looks luscious with its detailed illustrations, dust-jacketed cover and classic themes, the hardcover would be a great choice for grandparents and others wanting to buy a special gift.
Price: $26.99
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
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