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Python's Party
Deep in the jungle, Python is very hungry. All the animals keep out of his way until he thinks of a clever scheme. He'll throw a party and everyone is invited. Now, who could pass up a good party?
Goat and Fox, Parrot and Gnu--they all come, and everyone takes turns doing special party tricks. But Python's is a dirty trick, and it takes elephant to save the day!
Now in paperback, Brian Wildsmith's fanciful animal drawings and brisk and amusing text make even a Python's party fun.
Goat and Fox, Parrot and Gnu--they all come, and everyone takes turns doing special party tricks. But Python's is a dirty trick, and it takes elephant to save the day!
Now in paperback, Brian Wildsmith's fanciful animal drawings and brisk and amusing text make even a Python's party fun.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Brian Wildsmith
246 books44 followersBrian Wildsmith (1930-2016) was raised in a small mining village in Yorkshire, England, where, he says, "Everything was grey. There wasn't any colour. It was all up to my imagination. I had to draw in my head..."
He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art where he studied for three years. For a while he taught music at the Royal Military School of Music, but then gave it up so that he could paint full time.
He has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the greatest living children's illustrators. In 1962, he published his first children's book, ABC, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain's equivalent to the Caldecott Medal. He was also a runner up for this medal for The Owl and the Woodpecker.
Wildsmith has said: "I believe that beautiful picture books are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit in later life."
In 1994, the Brian Wildsmith Art Museum was established in Izukogen, a town south of Tokyo, Japan. Almost one and a half million people visited a traveling exhibition of his work in 2005. Eight hundred of his paintings are on loan to the museum.
Brian is married, has four children, and currently lives in the south of France.
— Source
He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art where he studied for three years. For a while he taught music at the Royal Military School of Music, but then gave it up so that he could paint full time.
He has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the greatest living children's illustrators. In 1962, he published his first children's book, ABC, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain's equivalent to the Caldecott Medal. He was also a runner up for this medal for The Owl and the Woodpecker.
Wildsmith has said: "I believe that beautiful picture books are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit in later life."
In 1994, the Brian Wildsmith Art Museum was established in Izukogen, a town south of Tokyo, Japan. Almost one and a half million people visited a traveling exhibition of his work in 2005. Eight hundred of his paintings are on loan to the museum.
Brian is married, has four children, and currently lives in the south of France.
— Source
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 11, 2008
This simple folktale-like story tells of a hungry python whom nobody trusts. He decides to throw a party, at which he promises to behave himself.
All the animals show up and perform tricks in the hope of entertaining one another. A fox and a genet balance on one another's feet. A zebra kicks coconuts into the air with his hind feet. A lion paints himself with mud and asks the other animals to guess what he's supposed to be.
Finally, a pelican invites several animals to climb into his enormous beak. This trick impresses the partygoers so greatly that the python offers a challenge: he's certain he can fit into his mouth even more animals than the pelican could.
You can guess what happens from there. There is a happy ending, but you'll have to read the book to find out who saves the animals.
The vivid, kinetic-seeming illustrations are the real standout here, with the simple story providing a perfect foil for Wildsmith's crawling, curling jungle foliage and boldly painted animals. I particularly like how he allows the watercolor to bleed and feather into the paper; it gives the illustrations a sense of movement.
This is my (and my daughter's) first Wildsmith book. We'll be interested to check out more!
All the animals show up and perform tricks in the hope of entertaining one another. A fox and a genet balance on one another's feet. A zebra kicks coconuts into the air with his hind feet. A lion paints himself with mud and asks the other animals to guess what he's supposed to be.
Finally, a pelican invites several animals to climb into his enormous beak. This trick impresses the partygoers so greatly that the python offers a challenge: he's certain he can fit into his mouth even more animals than the pelican could.
You can guess what happens from there. There is a happy ending, but you'll have to read the book to find out who saves the animals.
The vivid, kinetic-seeming illustrations are the real standout here, with the simple story providing a perfect foil for Wildsmith's crawling, curling jungle foliage and boldly painted animals. I particularly like how he allows the watercolor to bleed and feather into the paper; it gives the illustrations a sense of movement.
This is my (and my daughter's) first Wildsmith book. We'll be interested to check out more!
April 22, 2020
Folk tale-style book about Python trying to lure the other animals to a talent show party so he can eat them. I love the illustration style. However, the tricks weren’t amusing to me. In addition, so many of the animals don’t live in the jungle, just Africa, and that inaccuracy in the title annoyed me.
May 23, 2020
A riotously illustrated trickster tale.
March 5, 2023
Beautiful illustrations and a sound moral: don't party with a python.
August 6, 2011
Python is hungry because all of the animals hide from him. So he decides to have a party and invite everyone. At this party all the animals have a contest to see who can perform the best trick. The final trick is Pelican trying to get as many animals into his pouch as he can. Python thinks he can do better. So he invites all the animals to climb into his mouth. Of course, after all of the animals climb in python closes his mouth. All of the animals want out but of course Python won't let them out. Elephant comes along and the animals inside Python call out for help. Elephant steps on Pythons tail to force him to open his mouth. The animals climb out and tie a knot into Pythons tail so he'll remember not to do that again.
October 18, 2013
A trickster story here--the python is hungry and invites the jungle animals to perform tricks at his party. Wildsmith uses color in the most exquisite way, love how the colors play off of the white background. His illustration of the gnu is so good, all the fat and curves. Yes, it was an originally published in 1976.
February 5, 2016
A python is very hungry, but can't find any animals to eat. So he plans a party to trick the animals to come out. The party is a huge success and the python even manages to trick the animals to crawl into his mouth. An elephant rescues them from being trapped inside the python.
Colorful, interesting illustration.s
Colorful, interesting illustration.s
October 15, 2010
Gotta love a book whose moral is: don't go to python's parties.
I also enjoyed the animal talent show. There was a certain believability that most of the acts would just be animals balancing on one another. Lack of thumbs cut out many possible talents.
Love love Brian Wildsmith's art.
I also enjoyed the animal talent show. There was a certain believability that most of the acts would just be animals balancing on one another. Lack of thumbs cut out many possible talents.
Love love Brian Wildsmith's art.
July 21, 2012
Python is hungry and convinces all the hiding animals to come to his party where he tricks them into his mouth...until elephant happens by!
Reminds me of African Folk Tales, sly fox stories, or Anasi the Spider stories.
Reminds me of African Folk Tales, sly fox stories, or Anasi the Spider stories.
March 7, 2012
reissue of original 1974 edition.
January 13, 2013
I can't get over Brian Wildsmith's illustrations, and you've got to love a jungle talent show with gullible animals and a tricky python.
June 12, 2013
Beautiful illustrations. I love this artist.
February 11, 2014
Although he is hungry, Python tries to prove his goodwill by throwing a party for all the jungle animals.
October 1, 2015
Story - 3 Stars
Illustrations - 4 Stars - loved them!
Overall, 3.5 Stars
Illustrations - 4 Stars - loved them!
Overall, 3.5 Stars
July 22, 2023
Children will love the illustrations and the funny "talents" of the various animals, but this story will also give plenty of chance for discussion.
December 20, 2013
Interesting art style and though I didn't like the moral I still liked the book
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews