It's Simple, Said Simon - Softcover

Simon may be careless, but he's no simpleton. When this self-assured young boy encounters a dog, a cat, and a horse one day in the city, they challenge him to growl, stretch, and jump, in turn. No problem for this fellow. "It's simple," says Simon. But when he meets a tiger, it almost looks as though Simon has met his match. After boosting the boy's ego with greater and greater challenges, the wily feline tricks him into jumping onto his back, and away they go into the jungle. As the sun sets, Simon gets nervous. "Could you please take me home now?" he asks. "It's almost suppertime, and I'm hungry." The tiger responds ominously: "I am, too." Will our hero outfox the tiger and get home in time for supper? You know the refrain: "It's simple," says Simon.

Mary Ann Hoberman's clever story, terrific for read-aloud, has all the elements of a classic fable: a cunning, dangerous animal, an appealing, confident hero, a battle of wits, and a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Hoberman is the author of many acclaimed books, including A House Is a House for Me and And to Think That We Thought That We'd Never Be Friends. Meilo So's stunning illustrations, created with inks and watercolors on Indian rice paper, are the perfect vehicle for Hoberman's tale. Broad, loose strokes and splashes of color belie the careful intricacy of each gorgeous image. So's exquisite watercolors can be found in several award-winning books, including Tasty Baby Belly Buttons. (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie Coulter

oy goes out for a walk. He encounters a dog, a cat, and a horse. The dog dares him to growl, the cat dares him to stretch, and the horse dares him to jump. "It's simple," says Simon. Then he meets a tiger, who challenges him to all three dares, with increasing difficulty. Will the boy best the tiger, or the tiger best the boy?