The High Council of Hilltop passed rules on everything. One day, they decide the people in their little hamlet should drink from the top of their heads. The people are confused, but of course, they obey. Then one day, a boy from the South asked them, “Hey, why don’t you drink with your mouth?” Not knowing the answer, the people go to the High Council to find out, which leads to the entire town learning something new.
The Soggy Town of Hilltop is a funny, rhyming story by Kevin McNamee. Having read McNamee’s The Sister Exchange and If I Could Be Anything, I was eager to read his latest book. The author has a great knack for turning something seemingly ridiculous into an engaging story for youngsters. In The Sister Exchange it was a young girl who wanted to trade her sister in at The Sister Exchange. In this latest book, the rulers of Hilltop are bored and decide to make up a silly new rule for the people to follow.
What I really like about The Soggy Town of Hilltop is that McNamee spells out the lesson in the end for readers. There isn’t any second guessing as to what the point is. Like one of Aesop’s fables, the moral of the story is in plain sight.
The illustrations in this one are equally funny and beautiful. Eugene Ruble does such an excellent job of bringing a story to life with his artwork. From the freckles on the boy from the South’s cheeks to the pointy nose and evil eyes of one of the High Council members, and from the mountain peaks to the dirt road running through town, the details Ruble adds make the pictures jump off the pages.
I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Kevin McNamee!
Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
The Children's and Teens' Book Connection 
Cheryl,
Sounds like a very interesting book. Thanks for posting the review.
Nicole Weaver
http://www.authorsden.com/nicoleweaver
This sounds like a book all politicians should be required to read. 😉
No kidding.
Thanks for sharing this review. What a clever story idea to challenge the “we’ve always done it this way” approach to rule making.
Love it! Way to go!
This is a great sounding book. I like the cover artwork. Thanks for sharing the review. Some adults would be the wiser for reading this book.
Thanks for stopping by everyone. This is a really fun book. I’m sure many youngsters will enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing the review of this fun book, Cheryl! Kids seem to enjoy ridiculous stories and have their imaginations stirred by them. Teaching a lesson as well as being fun makes a great combination!
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