Row, Row, Row Your Boat

by Robin Muller

Wanting to sail in his little boat to the great seas, a young badger sets off, singing, and is soon joined by a monkey, a llama, a platypus, and many other creatures, causing Badger to change the theme of his song. Original.

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

He was an enterprising child who began his own small publishing house at the age of eight. His passion for storytelling continued into high school where he started a second, competing school paper named Exodus. Muller's paper featured creative writing by students including short stories, poetry, book reviews and paid advertising. Muller left high school at sixteen to make his living as an artist, in the Yorkville section of downtown Toronto. Muller enjoyed the six years he spent painting because "Art is self-indulgent as opposed to publishing books. Only one person has to buy a painting for it to be successful". (Writing Stories, Making Pictures, 234) Gradually, his interest in the fine arts waned and Robin Muller began looking for a new creative outlet. With his interest in narrative revived, he sought out a medium where he could marry his storytelling and illustrating abilities.

Muller's interest in children's books began in his teens, when he worked in a publisher's warehouse. He found the children's books so fascinating that he decided to try to write and illustrate his own book. However, his first book, Rupert's Star, was rejected by every publisher he sent it to. Disappointed by the publishers' responses, Muller waited ten years before he attempted another book. Muller was twenty-nine when his second book The Sorcerer's Apprentice, appeared in bookstores.

Reviews

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Badger decided he wanted to be a sailor, so he set out alone in a rowboat. A chimp saw him and climbed in, and soon badger had so many passengers that he was not happy about sailing! Fun story and fabulous illustrations. Funny ending.