The last king of Angkor Wat by Graeme Base
Viking, 2014. ISBN 9780670077151.
(Age: all) Highly recommended. Cambodia, Myths and legends,
Elephants. Each of the four animals sitting amongst the ruins of
Angkor Wat, a tiger, a gecko, a water buffalo and a gibbon, thinks
he would have made a great king of the city, displaying the
attributes needed for kingship: strength, compassion, perseverance
and bravery. But an elephant behind them asks them to prove
themselves worthy by going to the temple at the top of the hill.
Each heads off, vowing to the first to get to the temple, but along
the way each comes across a hurdle to overcome. Each deals with
their hurdle differently, allowing the elephant at the finish line
to tell them that none of them passed the task set. Each had failed
in some way to combine all of the attributes needed for leadership.
Only one animal combines all the attributes needed for kingship and
his statues abound in the Angkor Wat ruins, as the four find when
they think about what had just happened, and look around the ruins
for themselves.
Base's illustrations are most recognisable and he puts his talents
to illustrate this legend in a way which enhances and expands the
story. Framed illustrations almost fill each double page, with
plants and animals spilling out under the text, adding a feeling of
menace when the overhang is a large snake, or compassion at the
plight of the wounded crane.
No reader can escape the beauty of this World Heritage site in
Cambodia, as presented by Base. His illustrations of the place are
stunning, the details inviting the reader to look much more closely,
seeing parallels to the story in the frames, and marveling at the
number of times elephants make an appearance, encouraging the reader
to ponder why the elephant is the king of the beasts. A page of
information about Angkor Wat completes the handsomely presented book
which will be a delight for readers of all ages.
Fran Knight