The Real Winner by Charise Neugebauer illustrated by Barbara Nascimbeni

"Nobody wants to play with me. Humphrey wasn't surprised. Rocky turned everything into a contest, and if he didn't win he whined and cried."

Humphrey is a patient friend. He is not concerned about the way Rocky behaves. He is a kind soul who moves gently through the world. As Humphrey and Rocky head down to the river Rockys races ahead keen to be first to arrive at the bridge but Humphrey sees a little bird that has fallen out of the nest. He lifts it up carefully and places it back safely in its home. So Rocky is first to arrive at the bridge (but does this matter?). Then they come to a stream. Rocky is sure he can be the first to reach the other side. Humphrey hears someone crying. It is a little lost duck. 

"Gently, Humphrey guided the little duck around the rocks ... Swim, little duck, swim."

So again Rocky wins and he is first across the stream. At the fishing pond Rocky is sure he will catch the first fish. A small frog needs to be rescued from a bucket, so Humphrey stops fishing and helps the tiny creature. The pair of friends then sit on the bank together but the fish are not biting today so Rocky suggests they should climb into a boat. Again, there are no fish. Rocky is beside himself - he just has to catch a fish, the first fish. Luckily Humphrey is wise and patient. He tells Rocky to slow down, to stop worrying about winning and think about the fish. And yes - Rocky catches a fish - just a small one. 

"Congratulations, Rocky. You caught the first fish. You win."

But something is wrong. Rocky looks unhappy. 

"Rocky thought about the little fish squirming to free itself from his grasp. He thought about the little bird, the little duck, and the little frog. Humphrey had been their friend."

What discovery has Rocky made? YES!! winning isn't everything. And then he tosses the little fish back into the river. 

Yes, this story is didactic, but it is also a warm-hearted and gentle story about patience and friendship and kindness. And the illustrations are bold and very appealing. I especially like the way Barbara Nascimbeni shows Humphrey and Rocky at the end of the day bathed in moonlight. 

I'm sure you might have guessed but yes sadly this book is out of print (published in 2000) but it is so brilliant I just had to share it here. Once again, we have the publishing company North South and their commitment to bringing children the best European books. The original title was Wer gewinnt?

Take a look here to see art by Italian illustrator Barbara Nascimbeni.

There are two other books in this series about Humphrey - I do hope they will be in the library where I found The Real Winner. One day I will visit the International Youth Library in Munich - I am sure they will have a huge collection of all the wonderful books published by North South.

Santa's gift

On the back cover it says The Real Winner is a Michael Neugebauer Book. I did a little digging and discovered another book with this label that I used to enjoy reading to Kindergarten groups in my school library  - How will we get to the beach. And also the wonderful Non-Fiction title Precious Water a book of thanks. FInaly I am really keen to find this third book by Jane Goodall - The Eagle and the Wren - it is another North South Book and is listed as a Michael Neugebauer Book.