Bumper Tubbs

by David McPhail

The adventures of a crocodile who turns mishaps into successes with luck and help from his friends.

46 pages, Hardcover

First published February 20, 1980

About the author

David was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. While there, he began illustrating. He is now an award-winning author and illustrator of nearly 200 books beloved by children, parents and librarians across the United States. McPhail has garnered many prestigious awards, including a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Mole Music in 2001. McPhail’s other books include First Flight, which the New York Times praised as “hilarious and helpful”; and Lost!, which was chosen as an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.

McPhail has four children, three stepchildren, and is a proud grandfather. He is married to Jan Waldron, with whom he has written and illustrated several books. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bumper Tubbs is an alligator. He lives in a cottage by the sea where he fixes old junk, reads in his rocking chair, and makes lots of pancakes. His laid back antics and good-natured humor remind me of the classic Frog and Toad stories. Here are three shorts in one picture book: Bumper has trouble waking up on time, enters a frog-jumping contest, and tangles with his ornery neighbor over his favorite pastime. A gorgeous example of illustrator David McPhail's style as he illustrates the residents of this seaside town of anthropomorphic animals, most of whom wear clothes.