Once upon a small rhinoceros by Meg McKinlay
Ill. by Leila Rudge. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925126709
(Age: 3-8) Highly recommended. Themes: Determination, Adventure.
This tale is whimsical and gentle with soft, pencil illustrations in
muted colours that suit the style of the book perfectly. It is about
a rhinoceros named Lila who isn't content with just doing rhinoceros
things. She sees the boats that sail past on the river, bringing
with them exotic sights, sounds and smells and she dreams of seeing
the world beyond the mud and grass and trees that she calls home.
But the mud and grass and trees are everything a rhinoceros could
need says another rhinoceros. Lila agrees. It is. But still she
dreams. Finally, one day, she builds a boat.
Lila, with her human-like upright stance, contented smile and rosy
cheeks is such a likeable character. She is determined and
adventurous and absolutely refuses to be discouraged from her
mission, regardless of her lack of knowledge or experience. "You
can't row. Or steer. Or read a map" one rhino says. "I know" says
Lila. "You'll get lost" says another. "Perhaps" she says, as she
sails off around the bend wearing the bright orange life jacket she
found in the mud.
When reading this aloud it feels like you have to say the
mouth-twisting word rhinoceros or the even more gymnastic word
rhinoceroses one too many times, but this is minor critique for what
is a really rather perfect picture book. The illustrations of Lila's
travels are stunning, bringing to life little worlds that Lila
marvels in: the depths of the ocean, the rainforest and the city.
The page containing people from different cultures and walks of life
is a great discussion point. When Lila returns home most of the
rhinoceroses are content to hear her stories and then continue with
their normal lives. But in one rhinoceros, even smaller than
herself, she finds a similar dreamer.
This tale emphasises that you don't have to be big (or male) to step
outside of your comfort zone and to be an explorer and a pioneer.
Lila dreams and works hard to bring her dreams to fruition. She has
no help and no encouragement, but it doesn't deter her.
This isn't a unique story line for a picture book but it is a
particularly good one. Inspirational for young and old, male and
female.
Nicole Nelson