Product Description

Beside the sea, there once lived a cow, a donkey, a sheep, a pig, and a tiny little mouse. One warm, sunny morning--for no particular reason--they decided to go for a row in the bay. Do you know who sank the boat? "Funny . . . just right for the very young."--The New Yorker. An American Bookseller Pick of the List Book. Library of Congress Books for Children. Full color.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #115286 in Books
• Published on: 1996-04-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780698113732
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

ONE MOUSE TOO MANY
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This book has the simplest of plots but it is very charmingly told.

Imagine a pig carrying an umbrella, a sheep doing knitting, and a cow and a donkey and a mouse, all walking along on their back legs in single file.

What else is there to do on a fine sunny morning but to go for a row in the boat?

But there is one big question. "Who sank the boat?"

We are told the outcome right up front, but who was the culprit? The tension and suspense is fantastic as each creature in turn gets aboard. The donkey is a smart critter since he knew how to balance the weight of the cow. The sheep was just as smart since he got on the opposite side to the pig. We are now very low in the water now, but still afloat.

The smallest and the lightest of the friends now gets on board. Glug, glug, glug - Time to swim. "You DO know who sank the boat" - don't you?

This is a classic children's story, beautifully illustrated.

For the thoughtful child it is a good introduction to some interesting physical phenomena. The straw that broke the camel's back is an overworked (and unpleasant) metaphor. Our mouse friend is a good analogy to that one snowflake that triggered the avalanche.

Everyone did!
Lovely illustrations, and a good text, which has some good rhymes. A reading aloud book, definitely, as some of the words are hard for beginning readers, while the story-line is suitable for younger readers. As for science, it is worthwhile building up the picture that everyone sitting in the boat contributes to its sinking. Eventually, the cry goes up that "Everyone did!" in reponse to the question "Who sank the boat?"

Pamela Allen also wrote "Mr Archimedes Bath" which is a terrific exploration of water displacement.

STILL A VERY NICE LITTLE STORY AND BOOK.
This one has been around for at least twenty years or more. I was glad to see that it is still in print. This is a simple story of a cow, donkey, sheep, pig and mouse who live by the sea. One day the decide to take a boat ride. The boat is rather small and it does not take much to imagine what will eventually happen. The fun part, with the children, is asking "who sunk the boat?" As each animal gets into the boat, things get worse and worse. This is a good one to talk to the children about and with. The story is simple, the illustrations quite good. Recommend this one highly.
D. Blankenship