James Marshall is one of the first children’s book illustrators I was ever introduced to. My mother always found reading to be essential (bless her) and Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard was a favorite. Miss Nelson tells the story of a sweet elementary school teacher who leaves her class with Miss Viola Swamp on account of their wicked behavior. This book was brought to life by James Marshall’s easy and lively drawings and I will never forget the dreaded face of Viola Swamp.
I could have included the above mentioned story in a collection of five favorites, but the tales of George and Martha are the artist’s pure vision and a theme that I’ve come to embrace in life thanks to my wife. She introduced me to George and Martha. It was a wonder that I had never read these stories before. I was familiar with many of James Marshall’s books. His illustrations have been embedded into my vernacular. But it was only fitting that my wife/best friend introduced me to a collection of stories about two hippos who are also best friends. We found the book on the bargain shelf at a Borders bookstore and decided we should have it, “were we ever to have children…” Well, we have a daughter now, and I have an obsession with children’s books.
What interests me are the repeated images you find on any illustrated page – Martha is cooking soup and the painting on the wall reads, “soup’s on.” Martha has a flower in her hair and the picture behind her shows the same flower with the title, “le fleur.” Of course, this picture is only up during Martha’s French lesson to George, a story which also included the term “ooh la la” in a book that Martha is reading. So funny cute! Every time there is a framed picture or phrase on the wall it bears a second or a third look. I also like the way Martha’s striped dress matches her house, or George’s gold tooth blends in with a yellow background. You see, when George loses his tooth he has it replaced by a gold one. It is forever that way in all subsequent stories. Don’t forget to look for the dentist’s name. And the style is so simple. The wideness of the hippos is in perfect contrast to their tiny eyes and delicate grace. The term, “My stars!” is such a sweet way of cursing I’m not even sure it is a curse at all. Details like these make the characters feel so real.
When George finds himself frustrated with Martha because he is trying to read to himself and she keeps interrupting and fidgeting, he must leave. Reading alone to himself he finds that the book states, “it is important to be considerate to your friends.” George thinks, “Martha should read this book.” When he finds her, Martha apologizes for fidgeting on account of her loneliness. George forgets about sharing this new info and the two share stories well into the night instead. In every story we find that it is always better to have a friend.
The collection is available here.
