Tug-Of-War

"In 1968, Burningham — now known for Mr. Gumpy's Outing and Granpa, among other stories — illustrated Letta Schatz's The Extraordinary Tug-of-War, a retold West African folktale. This edition reprints the original illustrations with a new retelling from Burningham himself. Hare, the smallest of three creatures, faces merciless teasing. Hippopotamus calls Hare 'a tiny, wimpy thing' and a 'weak little fool,' and Elephant trumpets, 'Hare, you really are a feeble idiot.' Such insults may give readers pause, yet they show why Hare is keen to defeat his tormenters using his superior wits. Hare finds Elephant in the forest, challenges him to a tug-of-war, and gives him an end of rope. Hare meets Hippopotamus at the river and gives him the other end. Sight unseen, both creatures believe Hare is pulling against them, and fail to realize their error until Hare 'was already miles away, up in the hills.' Burningham's energetic yet shadowy mixed-media drawings, in aqueous hues of blue, brown, and green, recall the oily lithography of the 1960s, yet hold up well in this still-relevant fable. Ages 5 — 8." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

CN

John Burningham is one of the worlds most recognized and beloved childrens book creators. His work has received countless awards, including two Kate Greenaway Medals and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor for Its a Secret! With Candlewick Press, he is also the author of Theres Going to Be a Baby, illustrated by his wife, Helen Oxenbury, and his work is featured in the collectors volume John Burningham. He lives in London.