The Water Hole

by Graeme Base

From Graeme Base, the international bestselling author of Animalia , comes The Water Hole , an exciting and fun counting book that makes numbers as engaging as a vibrant jungle full of wild animals.

“An absorbing visual feast.” — Kirkus Reviews

One Rhino drinking at the water hole.
“Snort, splosh!” (Mmm, delicious!)
Two Tigers lapping at the water hole.
“Grrrrr!” (Goodness gracious, how very delectable!)
Three Toucans squawking around the water hole.
“Ark, ark! Arrrk!” (It’s party time, fellas! Drink up!)

Children will love counting from one to 10 as animals of the world gather around a water hole. As one rhino gives way to two tigers, then three toucans, on up to 10 kangaroos, die-cut pages reveal the water hole in 10 different worldwide habitats, from African plains to Himalayan mountains to the Australian outback.

But the water hole keeps shrinking, and with it the number of frolicking frogs. Can anything bring back the water that the animals all need to survive?

A stunning fusion of counting book, puzzle book, storybook, and art book with timeless colors and humor, The Water Hole features the layers of interest that make Graeme Base’s books among the world’s best-loved picture books. Careful readers will find additional animals, many of them endangered, silhouetted in the borders of every spread and hiding within every landscape. It’s a book children will ask to be read again and again.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Counting, Art, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Graeme Rowland Base is a British-Australian author and artist of picture books. He is perhaps best known for his second book, Animalia published in 1986, and third book The Eleventh Hour which was released in 1989.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. Usually, in Graeme Base books I’ve read, he has all these hidden games throughout the story. He did not do that here. This is a straight forward story about counting animals around water holes around the earth. I think it shows the importance of water. The animals are beautiful and this is a simple story.

There is a cutout on each of the first 10 pages you can see the water down to the bottom. That is a nice touch. I like that. The water hole does shrink.

My niece got a little worried. What do animals do with nothing to drink? It bothered her to know they didn’t have water. I said it can be very hard on them in the dry season and only the healthy ones survive. She gave this 3 stars because of the anxiety it produced in her, I think. The nephew thought this was fun and he loved seeing the big animals. He gave this 4 stars. He had no anxiety over the story.

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me (and likely for many), the absolute star of Graeme Base's deceptively simple counting book The Water Hole (that is to say that the text itself is straight forward and simple) are the puzzles (the many "I Spy"animals) hidden in the bright and lively, intricate and detailed illustrations. It not only trains children in a fun type of "game" to recognise patterns and the like, it also might just give them a chance to truly shine, to be better than, to lord it over their parents (as children are actually often better than many adults at these types of puzzle like actvities, and I personally think it does wonders for a child's spirit and self-worth to actually be able to do something that their parents perhaps cannot do, or cannot do quite as well). However and that all having been said, I still very much do rather wish that Graeme Base had added a great deal more endangered and/or extinct animals in some of his illustrations. The picture, the illustation spread featuring hidden, to be located animals of Europe (the ladybug conference), for example, would have been both much more poignant, more thought-provoking and considerably more interesting if some of the animals to be located had been of severely, critically endangered species like the Iberian Ibex or the Wisent (the Eurasian Buffalo).

But really and truly, what I in many ways most appreciate about The Water Hole is the fact that while an important and essential environmental message (regarding water conservation in particular and especially) is ever present, it exists without hitting readers (or listeners) over the proverbial head with this (and I do very much appreciate the fact that ALL of the hidden animal images in the illustration of the dried up water hole are animal species now generally EXTINCT or believed to be thus). And while more message-heavy environmental and ecology themed picture books definitely and importantly do have their place, I think it is equally essential for illustrated children's books with more subtle environmental messages to also be available. A truly wonderful counting book, that is actually so much more, Graeme Base's The Water Hole is highly recommended (it is both multi-use and multi-generational, a combination of fun and education for everyone ).

[سیده فاطمه مطهری · Rating 5 out of 5]

بشدت جذاب برای بچه های 5 سال به بالا
پسرخواهر هفت ساله شیطونم، یکی دو ساعت با این کتاب و تصاویرش سرگرم بود

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As 1, 2, etc. up to 10 animals come to the water hole, it gets smaller and smaller, with cool cut out pages for the water hole. Then, with rain, the water hole gets bigger again, and the final page shows all the animals when they return to it. At the end of the book the numbers 1 through 10 are again listed with the natural location of each animal in the book: by continent, country, region, or habitat. Each of the book’s pages shows different animals in different parts of the world.

I especially liked the paintings of the snow leopards, the raindrop, and the final and very busy page. But every page has so much to view and think about.

I recommend pairing up this book with Base’s amazing alphabet book Animalia for a fun way to learn about both counting and the alphabet, and they’re gorgeous books to peruse even for readers who know all the information.

I particularly like the how this book makes clear how precious our water resources are, and there’s room for much discussion and further reading on that subject.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been hearing good things about Australian picture-book author/artist Graeme Base for some time now, so when Water Hole was chosen as one of our April selections in the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, I was quite excited to sample his work! This beautifully-illustrated counting book follows a series of animals, from all parts of the globe, as they come to the same watering hole to drink. A rhinoceros from Africa, two tigers from India, three toucans from South America, four snow leopards from the Himalayas, five moose from North America, and five other sets of creatures, all appear at the shrinking water hole, until the day there is nothing left. Is this the end of the story, or will the water return...?

This would be an excellent book to use to introduce the concept of rainy and dry seasons to younger children. Of course, the animals depicted don't all come from the same type of ecosystem, and many of them would never meet up in the wild, but the fantasy element allows Base to tie them all together, and to highlight the fact that all life is dependent upon water. The illustrations are eye-poppingly gorgeous, making this more than just a fun counting book! I imagine that children will enjoy poring over the artwork, finding and identifying all the animals in the paintings (each page has a little guide along the borders). Definitely one that young animal-lovers will want to check out!

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sumptuous illustrations as Base introduces children to animals from every continent who gather around a waterhole.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice way to introduce young ones to the rainy-season/dry-season aspect of nature and also to emphasize the importance of water (my husband works with water resources and this is really one of the areas of our environment that is underappreciated! We are facing a major water crisis in the future if something doesn't happen to fix it!) Children will enjoy the little cut-out "watering hole" on each page, getting smaller and smaller as you flip the pages. The animal illustrations are realistic and interesting.

[Amy W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Water Hole is a gorgeous counting book. Each page shows a number of animals drinking at the water hole, starting with one rhino and ending with ten kangaroos. Then oops! The water hole is suddenly dry and the animals go away. But rain comes soon and all the animals come back.

The elaborately detailed illustrations are just beautiful. There is so much detail and so much personality in these images. I just loved the whole book!

This book is great for reinforcing numbers in a classroom, but it also gives a lesson on wildlife and how they need water and sometimes the water goes away. I think it would be a great way to introduce those concepts to younger kids.

(Note: this is my "counting" book selection for the book project. It is found on p. 73 of the textbook.)

[Sharni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! I do wonder why I was completely fine with snow leopards, moose and pandas showing up at the same watering hole but when I got to kangeroos, I was like this is a bridge too far… where are we?

Loved finding all the frogs scattered across the pages - I found my little glasses wearing guy on most of them!

[Beliphaty · Rating 5 out of 5]

یه دور افتخار براش زدم.

[Nikta Khoraman · Rating 5 out of 5]

خیلی خلاقانه‌ست:))
پر از جزئیاته و نمیشه با یک بار خوندن به همه‌ی جذابیت‌هاش پی برد‌.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful picture book, as we have come to expect from Graeme Base. It's a counting book with animals, but so much more. There are hidden animal pictures on most pages, which are fun to look for,and some are difficult to find! And the variety of animals is great, they are grouped together on each page by the region of the world where they live. There's even a page of extinct animals, which is a good lesson by itself. Overall, a great book to read aloud with children, poring over each page carefully as you go.

This story was selected as one of the books for the April 2010 - Environmental and Nature Themes reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Base book, with dense, rich images that reward careful study.

[Cassandra Doon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: The Waterhole
Author: Graeme Base
Genre: Picture books, Children’s Books
Recommend: Yes
Amount of Pages 32
My feelings:

I really enjoy children's books. And read them to my kids every night. But one thing I don't do is review them. Why I don't know, but I decided it was time to start. This book is an absolute masterpiece. Unlike other Graeme Base books I've read, this one does not rely on hidden games or puzzles to capture the reader's attention. Instead, it tells a simple yet powerful story about counting animals at water holes all over the world. The theme of water and its importance is beautifully woven throughout the narrative. The illustrations of the animals are lifelike and mesmerizing, bringing the story to life in vivid detail. One particularly charming aspect of the book is the cutout on each of the pages, allowing readers to peer into the depths of the water hole. As the pages turn, the water hole gradually shrinks, mirroring the dwindling supply of water in real life - a thoughtful and poignant touch by the author. This book is a must-read for both children and adults alike, as it teaches valuable lessons about nature and conservation while also captivating readers with its stunning imagery and storytelling.

[Taylar Sizemore]

This book has great illustrations that have deeper meaning than what meets the eye. This book is a counting book numbers 1-10. So this book would be great for pre-school or kindergarten aged children. Each page has a different number and a different animal, on that page there is "animal language) and it is translated into English. Each page there is also a small math fact that equals 10 on each page, for example on one page there is one rhino and 9 frogs to equal ten, (and so on). In the back ground there is a different setting (country) and there are clues to figure out where the animal lives. At the back of the book there is also a key telling you all of the places the animals were. All in all a very neat and educational book.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun coloring book that I didn't even know was an actual book. As a result the reader gets to enjoy a book while the colored illustrations from the original are now open to allow readers to color the book as they see fit.

What makes this book fun is that it is a counting book, a can you see find book and one that also faces the questions of what happens when the world's necessary water is drying up. As a result for such a little book there is plenty to do.

The reader will find that in the background there is usually a clue as to where that waterhole can be found whether it is Mt. Rushmore, the Taj Mahal, etc. If the reader doesn't pick up on some of these clues there is a listing in the back for those who are curious.

At the same time each two-page spread gives a story count. This usually gives the number, an animal and some fun sound that is then interpreted into what an animal may be saying. Children will enjoy trying to make these sounds if this is a shared read.

At the same time if the reader looks at the border of the pages they will also find other animals from the same region shown. If they are willing to look hard enough they can usually find these extra animals within the actual page itself whether in the forms of trees, other plants, water, rocks, etc.

All in all it is a bit of a green read but one that does take into account the importance of resources for all living things. The raindrop with Earth inside was a cute reminder of just how much rain is life for all while I don't think many adults will argue that point.

This is definitely one enjoyable coloring book with plenty to do. But at the same time it makes me want to find the actual original book and see how the colors blended together for the illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I glanced through this book at the library, I was confused because various animals from different countries were drinking from the same water hole. (Pandas? Moose? Tigers?) But as I looked at it more I realized that each illustration represents a different part of the world. (For example: Africa, India, Himalayas, North America, Rivers and Streams, Europe, China, South America, Galapagos Island, and Australia.) The locations are revealed at the end of the book. So very educational!

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graeme Base illustrates animals that are so real they seem to be alive on the page. Love his work and this book follows suit.

The Water Hole is for the most part, a counting book. 1 rhino visits the water hole, then 2 tigers, and so forth until all the jungle animals from all over world have consumed all the water...but the story doesn't end there. The counting theme ends and Base focuses on the jungle's cycle of drought and flood. You could easily tie this book into a science unit or lesson on seasons, animals, or patterns of water.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Another gorgeous book featuring the brilliant, colorful illustrations of Graeme Base. The animals come to gather at the water hole, but, as we turn each page, viewing the pool through die-cut ovals of progressively smaller sizes, we realize it is shrinking for lack of rain. A fun counting book.

- Jess O.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVE this book. Beautiful artwork, wonderful story, and a fun little scavenger hunt.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Water Hole" was inspired by a month-long safari Graeme Base took to Kenya and Tanzania. Originally meant to be a book on Africa and its wildlife, Graeme added four more continents, two large countries (India and China), the Himalayan mountain range, the Galapagos Islands and "Rivers and Streams". This book shows how water is vital to ALL animals.

As its inside jacket mentions, this book "is an ingenious fusion of a counting book, puzzle book, storybook and art book." Each natural habitat has one or more of its native animals represent their location--and a number from one to ten. Meanwhile, ten other animals from each of their places are literally hidden within the foliage and ground. You can also find a colorful group of frogs by the Water Hole in each drawing.

There are four things I like about "The Water Hole". First is the pond itself which is done in a die-cut throughout most of the book. Shaped in decreasing ovals as you read through the book, it gives the water a 3-D "ripple effect" that helps move the story along.

Second is, when one glances near the upper left corner, there's a picture-postcard scene shown through the foliage. In Africa, where there's one Rhino taking a drink at the Water Hole, one can see Mount Kilimanjaro. Then we have two Tigers, representing India, lapping up the cool water with the Taj Mahal in the background. Within the Himalayas, there are four Snow Leopards (which are Graeme's favorite animal) enjoying refreshments at the pond with Mount Everest looming in a corner. Also, Graeme colors in each number with the--not real, of course--hide, scale or shell. He doesn't miss a beat!

Three--after the water is all gone, Graeme depicts an "eleventh hour," a page that includes ten extinct animals such as the Great Auk, the Dodo Bird and the Quagga (a half-Zebra and half-Horse). But fear not--the rains soon return with its first drop representing the Earth. Then the puddles form which becomes a literal water map of the world. And soon all the animals--from one to ten--come back to the Water Hole.

Finally, Graeme Base brings the best of both worlds with his words and amazing illustrations. "The Water Hole" is a great way to entertain and teach children and adults alike about animals and the hydrologic cycle. Keep up the creativity, Graeme! I hope to see you at another author's event soon!

Rating for "The Water Hole": *****

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Booklist (October 1, 2001 (Vol. 98, No. 3))
Ages 3-6. From the creator of Animalia (1986) and The Sign of the Seahorse (1992) comes another beautifully illustrated animal fantasy, this time doubling as counting exercises. "Down at the secret water hole the animals all come,"the text begins, and on each spread, animals from an international roundup gather to take a drink: one rhino, two tigers, and so on, until, by "ten kangaroos,"the water has run dry. Luckily, the rains come, bringing everyone together. There's so much to look at here: lush vegetation; lively, detailed animal characters; cutouts that represent the shrinking water supply. Sly humor, sometimes geared towards adults, comes in quotes from the animals--first, as they sound to humans ("ark, ark! Arrrk!"); then revealing what's actually being said ("It's party time, fellas! Drink up!"). The story is slim, but the ideas are powerful--life's dependence on water; the concept of limited resources--and children will savor the gorgeous, animal-packed spreads.


Horn Book (Spring, 2002)
One rhino, two tigers, and other animals up to ten kangaroos come to drink from a water hole, a die-cut hole that shrinks through successive pages. Why are animals on different continents shown drinking from the same water hole? Why is the water hole shrinking? Don't ask--just enjoy searching the detailed paintings for hidden animal images and a family of sartorially savvy frogs.


Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 2001)
After the comic futuristic chronicle "The Worst Band in the Universe "(1999), Base returns to his "Animalia "(1987) roots. In big, natural scenes teeming with realistic detail, animals gather in increasing numbers around a waterhole that not only shifts from continent to continent with each turn of the page, but shrinks too, until "Ten Kangaroos" find only a dusty pit. Along with a superfluous die-cut hole, the artist adds a similarly shrinking crew of increasingly concerned-looking tropical frogs-some clad in bathing suits or pearls-to each spread, plus animal forms concealed within patterns of bark, rock, and foliage for the sharp of eye to pick out. It all makes an absorbing visual feast, and the ominous ecological theme is optimistically capped by a rainfall that restores the waterhole, bringing back many of the animals for a grand finale. This eye-filling, not altogether earnest counting book/consciousness-raiser will draw an unusually wide, and wide-eyed, audience. "(Picture book. 4-9)"


Library Talk (March/April 2002)
Touted as a counting, puzzle, story, and art book with an ecological message, Base's large-format book will appeal to children primarily for its ingenious visuals. Readers will be intrigued by the concentric, die-cut rings of the water hole, which get progressively smaller until it is all dried up. Cryptic text counts the animals as they come to drink and notes their disappearance from the shrinking water hole and their return after a replenishing rainstorm. Readers may scratch their heads at animals from disparate environments gathering around the water hole at the story's end. They will also look past the counting and the environmental lesson as they take up Base's challenge to find the animals concealed in each meticulously rendered wildlife scene. Additional Selection. Jan Aldrich Solow, Library Media Specialist, Lt. Eleazar Davis Elementary School, Bedford, Massachusetts


Publishers Weekly (October 22, 2001)
Readers will find more to see the longer they linger over the enticing pages of Base's (Animalia) latest innovative effort. Successive spreads introduce a growing number of animals (from one rhino to 10 kangaroos) at a water hole which, as viewed through die-cut ovals of progressively decreasing size, becomes smaller with each turn of the page. Though the minimal, somewhat quirky text makes no reference to the locale depicted in each mixed-media painting, images in the background of the various landscapes help pinpoint the country or continent in focus (e.g., Mount Rushmore is visible through the trees that flank five North American moose lapping up water and the Great Wall of China looms behind seven thirsty pandas). Borders at the top and bottom of each spread feature silhouettes of 10 animals indigenous to the spotlighted locale. In the accompanying illustration, Base cleverly conceals renderings of these creatures, subtly working them into the vegetation and sometimes into the remarkably lifelike images of the featured animals themselves. Keeping these creatures company and adding a dose of whimsy to the visuals is a cast of diminutive frogs, bedecked in pearls, knit caps and shirts. Though the animals disappear when the water hole dries up, rain eventually falls and the earth springs back to life. Base's final panorama reveals all the species gathered peacefully at one much larger water hole, bringing his story to a hopeful close. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.


Publishers Weekly (October 11, 2004)
Successive spreads introduce a growing number of animals at a water hole that, as viewed through die-cut ovals, becomes smaller with each turn of the page. "Readers will find more to see the longer they linger over these enticing pages," wrote PW. Ages 4-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.


School Library Journal (December 1, 2001)
Gr 3 Up-Come to the water hole and immerse yourself in an extravagant experience. The offering from a master of visual delight is at once a counting book, a zoological tour, and a fascinating hidden-picture challenge. As 10 different animals from 10 different countries come to quench their thirst, a metaphorical water hole diminishes until it dries up completely and the visitors leave. Then the cycle begins again with a single drop of water, a torrent of rain, and a luxuriant new watering hole that draws all of the creatures back again. With a quarter page of simple counting text and three-quarters page of sumptuous watercolor and gouache, the story unfolds on many levels. The water hole itself is a concentric cutout oval that shrinks from page to page. There are silhouettes in the borders of the creatures indigenous to each country and those same animals are hidden in the dense background. A comic note is added with 10 frogs, some wearing clothes, whose numbers also decrease as the water dries up. While some children may miss the illustrative subtleties indicating that each water hole is actually in a different part of the world, this numerical and ecological companion to Animalia (Abrams, 1987) is a visual treat.-Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. # # |0892725125 BLOXAM, Frances. Antlers Forever! illus. by Jim Sollers. unpaged. Down East. 2001. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-89272-512-5. LC 2001087832.

[Maggie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Water Hole is an example of an engaging book for the reader. I love how this book challenges the readers brains in multiple aspects throughout reading the book. First, while reading throughout the book, there are a number of animals relevant to the tropical and savanna area such as Africa. The numbers go up from 1-10 animals and the image correlate with the number on the left side of the page. The images focus on a similar scene of a jungle area throughout the whole book. However, we notice that the water hole is getting smaller and smaller as the more animals. We could focus on the reason of why the water hole is a lot smaller. While also reading, the outline of each page has the design of specific animals that are hidden within the jungle. The students could use this as a way to practice for hidden places within a novel. This will be good practice to close reading skills for later in the novels as they get older. Once the end of the book, it started to rain and that is how they filled in the watering hole again. The illustrations and text are an excellent way to engage students within their book. The hidden images within the book is a good way to challenge the students brains for future close reading in novels that they will read when they are older. Not only can we use this for literature, but we can focus on science elements as well.

[Indra · Rating 5 out of 5]

At a previous school we had "traveling teacher" day where the teachers swap classrooms and read to other grades. I grabbed The Water Hole off the shelf and walked into second grade. The book came recommended as literature the taught early counting, so I got one on Amazon and loved it - the illustrations drew me in and then we needed to find all places in the world that the animals came from.

In every grade, I took this book with me and found it works on all levels. The pictures and animals drew in children of each elementary ages. At the end, I'd ask them to talk about the picture with every animal together and the discussions that followed pulled out their knowledge of science and geography revealing passion we share for our world and water resources.

This book starts my year now as a fifth grade teacher tipping off a year of studying history and geography. I couple this book with a unit on Ducks Overboard and the balance between salt and fresh water and the race for resources around the globe. The book comes out again for language arts, we make a chart of numbers, places, animals, action verbs, prepositions, onomatopoeias, and explanations in parentheses.

The illustrations are stunning with new things to see every time we read it.

This book makes for a wonderful Christmas or birthday present. Every grandma need to have a copy for when the children come over.

[Rachael Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about how more and more animals keep coming to the watering hole and the water is slowly disappearing.
My first reaction to this book is that it had simple and complex concepts in it such as counting, more and more animals (simple) and it talks about seasons and droughts (complex). The illustrations in this book are amazing they are so life-like and colorful they are beautiful.
I would use this with pre-k through 3rd the younger child will love seeing the pictures of the animals and they can understand that the more animals drink the more water goes away. I would use this with older children to show the seasons changing and how drought affects the animals in that environment.
I would use this in a classroom for identifying numbers, the science of seasons changing, social studies the geography of where this could happen/ where the animals are from. There are so many different ways you could use this book!

[Rosaly Truman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Water Hole is a very colorful book and I believe it is a book for all grades. The amazing story of sustainabillity, animals sharing what little water they have, and how animals are able to co-exist in an area that rain is so limited. It provides a good sense of how we need to conserve water, provide for animals and a bit of how things are able to grow in an ecosystem. The wonderful art work and illustrations prepares you for a walk in the Savannah. You actually leaving your home and transporting in your mind. The words are so involved and they make you feel that you are in the Savannah. The colorful pictures are a wonderful animation for young readers. For older readers, trying to look for animals within the pictures is just an amazing twist and funfilling critical thinking. Please read this book and get your copy ASAP.

[Bailey Winter]

This children's book is inviting from the minute you pick it up. The cover and artwork on the front of the book are sure to get your reader’s attention right from the start. There are so many intriguing animals involved that readers will meet. The animals range from Africa to the jungle of the Amazon. There are woodland animals from North America to the deserts of outback Australia. All these animals are coming together to drink from the water hole. The problem is that the waterhole is slowly going away. There are hidden pictures with each turn of the page for readers to find. The mystery that is trying to be solved as they read is: Will the animals come back to the water hole or will it be gone forever?

[Min · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graeme Base is everything I love about modern children's books. A dazzling display of illustrations with a treat in every corner, and a captivating story. In this case, learning to count in a most interesting way. The image of the water hole decreases with each rising number. Eventually, there is no water, and the images along the edge are all extinct animals.
Along the edges of each page are silhouettes, and the names of other animals in that biome of the one featured, as well as being ever so expertly hidden within the illustration itself. This man's art is so stunning. If these were available to be in my childhood, I know I would have stared at these images for hours, fascinated.

[Kalynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance this book appears to be a counting book, and it very much is, but it is also the effects of long periods between rain and the effects to the animal habitat. Granted the animals represented in this habitat, are in fact from many different habitats, but the idea behind a shrinking resource is still there, ready for further discussion. An additional feature that I love is the texture the author gave the water hole, you can see and feel it getting smaller and smaller. I also absolutely love the artwork depicting a drop of water.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: I didn't realize until I added Animalia did I realize that Graeme Base had more books, so of course I had to track some down. I really enjoyed this one as did Munchkin, the art was slightly different with more realistic art and more hidden images. I really like the way the art and theme went together and conveyed an important message for young readers. Definitely recommend adding this one to your shelves even if you don't have a child. I have found Munchkin many times hunkered down looking at the pictures.