“Elephant! Elephant! Heavy! Heavy! Heavy! Elephant! Elephant! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!” Elephant was shouting and stomping. But could he stomp a hole deep enough to reach water for the thirsty animals? Maybe…maybe not. All the animals tried until tiny Gecko takes a turn. He is small…but he is determined. And he’s not going to give up! Kids will love to chant and stomp along to this Ugandan folktale. "MacDonald sure knows how to supply young readers with scripts to shout from.” - Daniel Kraus, Booklist April 2013 Inspired by “Chameleon and Elephant,” this version of the traditional story stars Gecko as hero of the day. It’s been a long dry spell, and the animals are thirsty. There’s no rain in sight, so they decide to dig for water and to proclaim the one who finds it chief. How shall they dig? With tusks or horns? Not everyone has those, so they decide that everyone will STOMP because everyone has feet. (Except for snake, of course). “Heavy, heavy, heavy. Stomp, stomp, stomp” goes Elephant. But, no water. Next, it’s Hippo’s turn. “Heavy, heavy, heavy. Stomp, stomp, stomp.” But, no water. Rhino tries, then Buffalo, then Giraffe. Next come the medium-size animals: Monkey, Warthog, and Hyena. Then, the little animals try: Rabbit and Iguana. Lastly, Gecko wants a turn. “Heavy, heavy, heavy. Stomp, stomp, stomp” says light-footed Gecko. “They can laugh. I won’t give up.” And before long… SPLASH, SPLASH, SPLASH. Of course, Elephant tries to steal Gecko’s claim to fame, but the others know the truth. They build Gecko a special place right near their new watering hole. Children will enjoy repeating the refrain and the cumulative aspects of this tale. Done in watercolor and colored pencil and enhanced with Photoshop, the cartoon illustrations of the expressive animals are pleasing and large enough to be used with a group. This is a good choice for introducing folktales or for use in storytimes with a variety of themes including animals, perseverance, or tales from other lands .–Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA School Library Journal June 2013 This Ugandan folktale begins, appropriately, in the desert, where a group of thirsty animals decide to dig for water. Popular vote decrees that stomping on the ground is the preferred method of digging, and that the one who finds the water will be elected chief. Elephant goes first: “Elephant! Elephant! / Heavy! Heavy! Heavy! / Elephant! Elephant! / STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!” This chant is picked up by subsequent large animals before the “middle-sized” animals get a turn. They, too, fail, leaving only tiny Gecko. Into the hole jumps the spirited little green dude, who stomps and stomps so long it gives rise to a new chant: “GIVE UP, GECKO!” It’s a peculiar story, one that perhaps loses a bit in translation, but MacDonald sure knows how to supply young readers with scripts to shout from. Melmon, meanwhile, offers up simple earth-toned vistas with colored pencils that betray just enough paper texture to contribute to the overall sandy feel. A small note on the tale’s history ends this quirky ode to never giving up. Preschool-Grade 1. --Daniel Kraus Dr. Margaret Read MacDonald travels the world telling stories and looking for more great tales to share. After over 30 years as a children’s librarian, and with a Ph.D. in Folklore from Indiana University, MacDonald now spends her time offering storytelling workshops and telling stories in schools and at festivals in such delightful spots as Kota Kinabalu, Songhkla, and Penang. Raised in Southern Indiana, MacDonald still hears the voice of her grandpa when she tells stories. She now lives in Seattle, where she directs the PowellsWood Storytelling Festival (http://youtu.be/vBIBrofWq0A). Her down time is spent on the deck of her Guemes Island cabin. MacDonald is the author of over 60 books on storytelling and folklore topics. See her website for more: www.margaretreadmacdonald.com Deborah is a freelance illustrator, living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. She knew she was going to be an artist when she created a paper maché lion in the eighth grade that grew so large, it had to be transported home in the trunk of my parent's Oldsmobile...with the lid up! After graduating from Academy of Art University in San Francisco, she started her career illustrating covers for the Palo Alto Weekly. Since then she has produced artwork for picture books, cookbooks, magazines, educational publications and licenses her artwork on giftwrap, greeting cards and fabric.