The Puddle

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A boy and some imaginary animal playmates have fun despite the weather. "This delectable rainy-day adventure showcases McPhail's singular ability to blend fantasy and reality," said PW in a starred review. Ages 2-5. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This delectable rainy-day adventure showcases McPhail's singular ability to blend fantasy and reality. Through a series of whimsical watercolor vignettes, he traces a boy's outing one drizzly afternoon to a puddle where he sails his toy boat. Though the little fellow heeds his mother's warning to stay out of the water himself, he gets wet nevertheless, thanks to a menagerie of fun-seeking visitors bent on splashy fun (including a pig in an inner tube and an elephant that swells with each sip of water). The little skipper navigates readers into the world McPhail evokes, that dreamy realm of the imagination that exists beyond the safe boundaries of home, a place where talking frogs and alligators are expected. The illustrations with their rain-misted setting, edges softened and gentle colors melting together like sidewalk chalk after a spring showerfurther illuminate that magical province. McPhail's tale, a winning effort in all regards, comes to a particularly satisfying close: home at last, the soggy boy finds his mother has drawn him a hot bathand he can bring his boat. Picture books just don't get much cozier. Ages 2-5.

Children's Literature - Shalini Murthy

As an antidote to rainy day boredom, a little boy asks his mother if he can sail his boat in the puddles. She agrees but asks the boy to avoid getting in the puddles himself. Equipped with a rain slicker, hat and boots, the boy finds the perfect spot for sailing his boat. He is soon joined by a menagerie of animals who make the little boy's day more interesting. McPhail's illustrations are beautiful and reminiscent of the illustrations in the books by Beatrix Potter. The illustrations in this book capture well every incident in the story and endear the reader to the little boy and his rainy day companions.

School Library Journal

A puddle and a few imaginary friends create a rainy-day adventure for a little boy. While attempting to sail his toy boat across the puddle, the young narrator encounters an unruly frog who hijacks the boat and recklessly crashes it into a turtle floating on his back and drinking tea. The protagonist is unable to retrieve his boat since his mother told him to stay out of the puddle. A giant alligator kindly offers to rescue it, but crushes it in his powerful jaws. An elephant drinks up the water and sprays it all over the other animals. The sun comes out, the puddle dries up, and everyone departs. Back at home, the child's mother has a hot bath waiting for him, and he happily sails his boat in peace. McPhail's sweet, watercolor illustrations are presented as vignettes against white backgrounds. The text is evenly distributed under each picture, so readers can easily follow along. A good choice for snuggling or quiet time. Susan Garland, Maynard Public Library, MA

Kirkus Reviews

From McPhail ("Edward and the Pirates", 1997, etc.), a tale that demonstrates that rainy days provide lots of interesting possibilities, at least for the boy who lives in a world where alligators visit puddles, and elephants drain them dry. "It was a rainy day. I asked my mom if I could go out and sail my boat in the puddles," says the young narrator. She agrees, cautioning him to stay out of the puddles. He finds a nice specimen and launches his sailboat. A frog commandeers the craft and sails to the middle of the puddle. Vexed, but knowing he mustn't wade through the water, the boy glowers from the shore. An alligator offers help and manages to cripple the boat during the rescue. A pig then splashes the boy, an elephant comes for a drink and the next thing readers know the sun is coming out. Everyone leaves, including the boy, who heads home to a less public venue for sailing his boat: the bathtub. In watercolor illustrations that make plain how real the boy's imaginings are to him, McPhail nimbly weds the simple pleasure of being out in the rain with a light adventure.