Product Description

This jungle tale reads as a long joke, furnished with a punch line. Designed for young readers, a simple scenario is established, and the repetitive text builds up to the end twist. The story features the preparation for Jumbo the elephant's birthday.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1020649 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Review
Rollicking, repetitive verse tells how Jumbo the elephant asks various of his friends to get the toucan to announce his - Jumbo's - birthday, with the satisfying surprise that the friends gather together with one another before they find the messenger. Undistinguished but lively illustrations give new readers a chance to identify the many animals mentioned. Good readaloud fun. (Kirkus Reviews)

Customer Reviews

Featuring a host of jungle animals, Colin West presents a more complex story
with the usual twist at the end!

Simply illustrated paperback covers open to 30 high quality shiny pages, in the popular 2-page spread format.
With detailed illustrations throughout, this book is further enhanced by meaningful facial expressions and the repeat element.
Clearly laid out text....far more than the other titles in the series......representing a true challenge!

Example of text:-

'Hey, today it is my birthday!
thought the elephant one morning.
I'll go tell it to the toucan,
so then he'll tell everybody
all about my birthday party,
and we'll have a jamboree!

So Old Jumbo looked around him
but he couldn't find the toucan,
so instead he told the tiger:
"Hey, today it is my birthday!
Please go tell it to the toucan,
so then he'll tell everybody
all about my birthday party,
and we'll have a jamboree!....'

....and as the tiger also struggles to find the toucan, he passes the message on and.....
......as that toucan remains elusive, more and more creatures, including:-

the rhino
the zebra
the ostrich
the lizard
the leopard
the cricket.............

join the growing list!

Until, eventually........success, at last........
....or is it?

In my experience, this book has proved the most challenging of the titles, especially on the narrating front with the task to get to the end of the list of 2-syllable animals...
...... all seeking the toucan
.......... to pass on the message
...... before running out of breath, which generally proves amusing to older listeners.
In the older age group, useful extension work is provided by a test-the-memory game, asking the more attentive what animal comes next - also giving an excuse to pause for that aforementioned gasp for breath!
The younger age group are generally less receptive because some of the animals are new to them and their attention does tend to wander!

However, one of the other titles in the series is a great starting point to progress from:-

"Pardon?" said the Giraffe
"Not me," said the Monkey
"Have You Seen the Crocodile?"
"Hello Great Big Bullfrog!"

excellent
a great story of all the animals in the jungle trying to get a message to the toucan to tell everyone about Jumbo's Jamboree!! Great illustrations and a fabulous tongue twisting tale. Recommended!