Mem Fox and Judy Horacek are back together on their sixth collaboration retelling an old favourite, but there's nothing new here.
Feature image credit: Penguin Books Australia
Anyone who lives in Australia and has not heard of Mem Fox cannot call themselves Australian! Since the time Possum Magic was published in 1983, she has been entertaining our young people and families for generations. Most people will have their own favourite story from her collection.
Many artists have had the opportunity to illustrate one of her books, but this is the sixth picture book that has been illustrated by Judy Horacek. Very fitting because this is the 20th anniversary of Where is the Green Sheep, which was Horacek’s first collaboration with Fox.
Meerkat Mayhem is strongly based on the traditional folktale The Great Big Enormous Turnip. Fox has moved away from using our own Australian wildlife and chosen animals from her African childhood instead.
This is the story of a meerkat who loves his food. One day, after sitting in his burrow eating a meal of worms, melon, and seeds, he finds he is too fat to leave his burrow. He becomes wedged in the entrance. So, one by one, the other animals — elephant, giraffe, zebra, monkey, and bird — offer to help pull him out. As with the traditional story, all the animals mock the strength of the bird, being the smallest.
In Meerkat Mayhem, the illustrations give a clue as to which animal is coming next: the leg of the giraffe, the bottom of the zebra, and the monkey and bird sitting in the tree watching. The facial expressions on the animals are sometimes hilarious. The language used by the animals is unexpected and quite funny. “Mother of all meerkats!” says the meerkat and “How hard could this be?” asks the giraffe.
Many children will be able to memorise this story once they know the order of the animals. Kindergarten and junior primary children will also be able to act out the story, or maybe make up their own version.
Meerkat Mayhem is a nice story, but nothing about it is original, and with so many fabulous picture books on the shelves today, this may not be one you choose to buy. But for those who love anything Mem Fox, you will want to add this to your collection.
Reviewed by Sue Mauger
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Penguin Books Australia
Released: November 2024
RRP: $19.99
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