Amos & Boris

Picture source Amazon

Author & Illustrator: William Steig
Publisher: Farrar Str
Age : All, Read alone- 5+ years

‘Amos and Boris’ is one of those books that I enjoy reading repeatedly to my daughter, Anushka. A mutually cherished book. This lyrical ode to friendship, I felt, would be a fitting start for this novice reviewer at Saffron Tree.

William Steig is the award-winning author/illustrator of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, which I am yet to read, and he also created Shrek. Amos & Boris is a simple and timeless tale, laced with humour, about friendship. It is said to have evolved from a sketch of elephants pushing a whale into the ocean.

The story opens with Amos (a mouse) building a boat, the "Rodent". He soon finds himself at sea literally and otherwise. Boris (a whale) rescues him. They have fun together and after a while, inevitably part ways, not expecting to meet again. But they do and Amos finds a way to reciprocate the kindness shown to him by Boris.

Without being pedantic, Amos and Boris is a thumbs up to unlikely and generous friendships. There is profoundness to this tender tale which will not escape a little one.

It also spurs a child’s curiosity and helps bring forth some differences between sea creatures and those that live on land.

The adult like illustrations in soft water colours, largely blue and grey with a dash of saffron, are rendered by the author, Willian Steig and are very evocative.

Although it is a warm story, I must admit that there is a sense of poignancy/loss, since the two friends need to go their own separate ways. I suppose that is reality.