Genre
Picture books for children
Stories in rhyme
Subject
Animals
Jungle animals
Jungles
Racing
Size

The animals are getting ready for the jungle run, and everyone is so excited. Cub is participating in the race and will prove to everyone that small animals can do just as well. ( )

Mitton, T. (2011). The jungle run. (Ill. by G. Parker-Rees). New York: Orchard Books.
32 pp. ISBN: 978-0-545-39256-3. (Hardcover); $16.99.

Popular children’s poet, Mitton, writes a book about animals participating in an obstacle course in the jungle. Mitton has won many awards for his work in England, including the 1997 Nottinghamshire Libraries/Dillons Children’s Book Award, the 2000 Smarties Prize, and the Publishers Weekly 2003 Cuffies Award for Best Book of Poetry. In his story, a little cub shows up to participate in the obstacle course and the other animals laugh and tell him that he is too small. At first he struggles to keep up with the other animals, however, through all of the challenges in the course, the animals discover that being small does have an advantage. In the end, the animals all come together as one to celebrate the victory of one of the animals. Parker-Rees has illustrated many children’s books, mainly involving animals. The illustrations are very bright and eye-catching. In addition to the colorful, full-page illustrations on every page, Parker-Rees has created a map of the jungle obstacle course and included it on the first and last pages of the book. Having a map such as this encourages children to create their own obstacle course with their friends. ( )