Nathan Saves Summer / Nathan rescata el verano

PreS-Gr 3—Nathan, a large hippopotamus, dreams of being a lifeguard. Every summer, animals from all around gather at a small pond for their vacations. He proves to them that he has the necessary skills, but they discourage him, saying that he is just too large for the job. When he mistakenly "rescues" a tiger cub and inadvertently causes the pond to go dry, the animals disperse in disgust. They ultimately find a lagoon downstream and hail Nathan as the hero for saving the summer. This resolution makes very little sense and leaves readers feeling as empty as the pond. The Spanish translation is well done and stays true to the English version. The watercolor illustrations are detailed, colorful, and add to the sense of place, but the story ultimately doesn't hold water.—Roberto Zapata, San Antonio Public Library, TX