Reviews

All babysitters dream of having their charges fall asleep. And Uncle Henry and Aunt Henrietta are no exception. Caring for their niece and nephew, they hold the children spellbound with one frivolous tale after another detailing how they spent their honeymoon. With Uncle Henry recounting and Aunt Henrietta correcting, their mirthful disasters range from shipwreck and capture by fierce natives to Sahara treks and Antarctic explorations. The two cover the world with their imaginary exploits and in the process lull the children to sleep. Never mind that the next morning they learn the truth about Uncle Henry and Aunt Henrietta's honeymoon. Rubel has created another amusing story; her illustrations of this crocodile family will tickle any child. (3-7)

K-Gr 2 Uncle Henry and Aunt Henrietta are a pair of bright green alligators who come to babysit with their niece and nephew and spend the evening reminiscing about their honeymoon. Their Pacific cruise ship sinks and they are picked up by a passing whale. No, interrupts auntie, not a whale, but a canoe of fierce natives who offer soup. No, says uncle, interrupting in his turn, it was an octopus and then a flight to the Sahara. Again aunt changes the storynot the desert, but Antarcticanot the South Pole, but Mt. Everestnot Mt. Everest, but a rocket into space. This story puts the children to sleep (and not only the fictional ones). The dispute continues the next day as Mom and Dad get out the family album and renew the argument themselves. Nicole Rubel's illustrations lack gradations of tone and color, but are nevertheless vivid and engaging. These pictures seem a little less severe and more appealing than her illustrations for Rotten Ralph (Houghton, 1976) by Jack Gantos and far outclass the pointless plot. Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School Library, McKinney, Tex.