The Wobbly Waitress

No, it isn’t Mrs Wobble from the Happy Families series making a comeback; this waitress is a giraffe named Mabel, an employee at the zoo café where, rather surprisingly, her fellow workers are all animals, not so most of the customers however.

Lisa Stickley’s story – told from the viewpoint of child narrator Ada who is eating at the café – focuses on one particular Tuesday when Mabel has a severe attack of the hiccups. The result is, that try as she might, this heretofore, excellent member of staff wobbles left and right with disastrous consequences. Bolognaise splatters over a gentleman’s newly cleaned shoes; ice-cream sundae ends up smothering an elegant lady’s hair and macaroni cascades all over the floor.

Her customers and fellow workers are sympathetic but poor Mabel is distraught nonetheless.

Something must be done to effect a cure. Various possibilities are considered until a realistic plan is agreed upon:  will it have the desired outcome?

Told in rhyme, Lisa Stickley’s story bounces along nicely with the added fun of the anticipatory repeat refrain: ‘She wobbled to the left … she wobbled to the right … She tried to keep steady with all of her might, BUT …’ while the author has fun portraying the food fiascos in her action-packed mixed media illustrations that will surely bring on some giggles from young listeners.