George and Martha
Common Sense Note
Story lines are solid and text is understated. The plump, lovable characters keep kids turning the pages.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Mary Dixon Weidler
Two giant hippos--one with a gold tooth and one in a skirt--teach lessons about friendship, respect, and courtesy. Sure, they're friends, but that doesn't mean that either one lets the other get away with anything. "We are friends, but there is such a thing as privacy," Martha tells George as she dumps a bathtub on his head.
The stories lead kids to their own conclusions about the hippos' misbehavior. "He shouldn't do that!" one child said when George peeks through Martha's window. "He should just tell Martha he doesn't like it!" another commented when George hid the dreaded split-pea soup in his loafers. Bright color washes added to expressive line drawings gently convey the warmth between Martha and George.
From The Book
But George was getting tired of watching Martha look at herself in the mirror. One day George pasted a silly picture he had drawn of Martha onto the mirror. What a scare it gave Martha. "Oh dear!" she cried. "What has happened to me?"
Plot Summary:
How big can a friendship be? Just imagine the friendship shared by two hippos! Five stories explore issues such as vanity, privacy, and honesty. Will Martha make fun of George's gold tooth? Will there be split-pea soup for lunch again? Lessons in behavior are included in these solid, simple stories.
Related Books:
Also by James Marshall are George and Martha: Tons of Fun, Swine Lake, and The Cut-Ups. Children interested in hippos may want to check out Hannah the Hippo. For a video about frienship with animated characters try Pooh Friendship: Clever Little Piglet.
Rate It!
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Social BehaviorGeorge peeks through a window at Martha taking a bath. |
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