Harry and the Heron
Wendy Meddour and Merle Goll
Oxford Children’s Books

Elsie, Clive and Harry are otters and we first meet the playmates as they practise keeping still by pretending to be logs. This is easy for Elsie and Clive but Harry, no matter how hard he tries, just can’t. Just as he’s about to have one more try he spies something in the reeds and asks the others what it is. ‘Just a heron,” Elsie replies urging Harry to lie down again. As you probably anticipate, Harry keeps fidgeting and staring at the static heron.
The heron, Ray, meanwhile stares at the water wondering why he never gets to play with the otters. Feeling left out, he hunches over and lifts one leg out of the water deciding that ‘Feeling a bit left out is probably the worst feeling in the world!”

Along comes Harry waving and calling hello to Ray. He tells the heron his name and how he loves the way he stays so still. Ray in return says he loves how Harry moves so much. They decide to teach one another their respective skills.

Meanwhile Harry’s otter pals rouse themselves and notice Harry with the heron. The tell the bird to leave Harry and drag their friend away, unaware of the effects it will have on Ray. A dejected Ray goes into miserable mode and Harry begs the other otters let Ray play with them. As Clive gives what he thinks is a good reason for refusing, Harry points out something about Ray, something that the other otters can’t argue with and it changes the way all four creatures feel.

A fun story about including everyone in a group activity. I love the wry humour of Wendy Meddour’s telling and Merle Goll superbly expressive illustrations of characters with their similarities and differences. Definitely a book to share and discuss with younger primary readers and in families.