The Day the Tide Went Out-- And Out--

Prankish jungle animals frolic on the beach making sandcastles, and a humpless camel, the beachkeeper, flattens their creations. He wants that beach flat. While he sleeps, the animals build sandcastles on his back, to make him mad. But he just lays down in the sea and lets the tide wash the castle away. One time, however, when he tries to wash off a sandcastle, the tide goes out, and out. While he's following the tide, the animals build their biggest sandcastles ever. The beachkeeper finally decides that if he keeps the sandcastle on his back, at least the animals won't be able to put another one there. He simply ignores them and the massive structures they've built, and they all rush angrily back into the jungle. To this day, people see the sandcastles, now known as pyramids, and wonder how they were built. The camel, of course, has his hump. McKee's original story is dryly humorous, and his brightly colored jungle animals cavort playfully on the beach. (5-9)