Rumble in the Jungle

Text: Giles Andreae, Wikipedia

Illustrator: David Wojtowycz

Year: 1996

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 86039 660 7

This book is just right for all those little ones who dream about adventures in the jungles. Rumble in the Jungle is essentially a collection of witty poems, each focused on a specific animal - crocodiles, lions, elephants and the rest!

The illustrations burst with color and vitality boosted by the use of plentiful primary colors to engage babies too!  :-)

This book is a keeper. :-)

Excerpt

The night has started falling

But the jungle never sleeps,

The vultures circle slowly

While the leopard softly creeps.

Ten out of bed

By Penny Dale

Year: 1993

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 40632 884 4

This is an enchanting bedtime tale. It’s a fun book with humor and a hint of lyricism.

The book features a boy and his nine toys who play until they are exhausted and go to bed, one by one. No prizes, though, for guessing who's the last one to go to bed.

The story’s structure reminds me of the age-old advice of counting sheep to go to bed.

Excerpt

There were eight out of bed and the little one said, “Let’s play!”

And Rabbit said, “Let’s play THEATRES!”

So eight played theatres until Rabbit fell asleep.

Albie and the Space Rocket

Author: Andy Cutbill

Illustrators: Andy Cutbill and Mark Stacey

Year: 2003

Publisher: Collins Picture Books, London

Age: 7 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-00-786522-2

This is a hilarious tale that seems to engage all the imagination of a little boy. Penguins that steal a bed, moose dancing in the loo, zebras feasting on baked beans in the kitchen, elephants that have built a rocket to Jupiter. Now you know what I mean. :-)

Albie finds that his bed has been stolen from under him. That’s how the story begins. 

Albie’s sister has been accidentally rocketed off to Jupiter. That’s how the story ends. 

In between, are several animals who somehow come together to make a comical story. The illustrations are perfectly matched too! I loved the pompous expressions on the elephant scientists' faces. 

Excerpt

“That?” said another elephant.

“Oh, that’s just a super-duper, intergalactic spacerocket.”

“But it’s built from my bed!” spluttered Albie.

“And the cooker and the downstairs loo!”

“It’s state-of-the-art,” said the elephant.