The Watching Game

by Louise Borden, Teri Weidner (Illustrator)

Nana's four grandchildren visit her in the country during the different seasons and play a watching game with a sneaky fox

32 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1991

About the author

There were already two Louises in my family when I was born: my mother and my grandmother, Nana, who lived with us when I was growing up. So early on, I was given the name Leezie. This is a name that my family still calls me. Years later, my niece was born and also named Louise. Then there were four of us with the same name! Louise is a fine name to have except that people often spell it incorrectly. Sometimes my mail is addressed to Louisa, or Louisie, or Lewis, or Lois. Leezie is also tough for people to spell. Names and their pronunciations have always interested me, so writing about a teacher named Mrs. Kempczinski was a natural thing for me to do.

I grew up in a house at the top of a steep street in Cincinnati, Ohio, the kind of street that is a big challenge when you are pedaling uphill on your bicycle. My two sisters and I used to ride our bikes down, down our street, and then to the local dimestore to buy candy bars or meet up with our friends. But coming home, we had to pedal up our long hill. (This was before mountain bikes!) Pedaling slowly up my street may be where I learned perseverance, something all writers need when they are working alone at their desks.

Writing picture books came much later—after studying history in college, getting married, and raising three children. Even though I didn't grow up to be a composer, I like to think that my picture books are almost songs because the sound of words and the poetry of my style are so important in the texts that I write. I work very hard at my desk, revising and revising and revising, trying to find just the right words that will be beautiful or fun to read.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy narrates this gentle tale of his seasonal visits to his grandmother's house in the country, and the watching game he and his cousins play with the fox that lives near her property. Whether during the snowy cold of winter or the heat of summer, the children watch for Lickety-Quick, or 'Nana's fox,' as they sometimes call him, each hoping to be the first to catch a glimpse. When Halloween comes, the boy, dressed up as a fox himself, finds that it is he who is being watched by this vulpine neighbor...

Although I wouldn't describe it as particularly memorable, there was a sweet quality to the narrative of The Watching Game that I found appealing. Author Louise Borden manages to capture that sense of nature as both nearby and far-off, familiar yet separate, in her text. The illustrations from Teri Weidner, which look to be done in watercolor, are likewise gentle and sweet. My favorite part, visually speaking, was the fox (naturally), although I also liked Nana's cat. Published in 1991 and long out-of-print, this is one I might never have picked up, were it not for my interest in the depiction of foxes in children's books. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books featuring foxes and/or the four seasons.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations! Sweet story about a grandma and visits from grandchildren and a fox.

[Rachel Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about going to Grandma's house and waiting for a fox to come around.