THERE'S A LION IN THE FOREST!

The suspense of (possibly) meeting a lion turns into the pleasure of an introduction to several uniquely South American creatures.

What is a lion doing in South America? A small, disparate group of animals “deep in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil” wind one another up, Chicken Little–style, over the possibility that there is a lion in the forest. Toucan is first, hearing “a deep, growly growl.” Capybara, at first sanguine about the lack of lions in South America, gets into the act, spotting a “terrifying tail.” Coati, confident that “lions live in savannas, and this is a tropical forest,” nevertheless spots something that could be the lion’s mane. Jaguar, however, patiently explains that it would be “highly unusual,” as the family of big cats follows rules. Finally, the newcomer is revealed, and all the creatures are prepared to contradict its claim to be a lion. But the golden lion tamarin monkey (because this is, after all, the Brazilian forest) gets the last word. Silly, light, and lighthearted, this is nevertheless a fine mix of story and fact, an amusing combination of anticipation and information with a cartoonlike, funny cast of characters. Fact-filled, young reader–friendly paragraphs on each of the characters (including the tanager, who appears on nearly every page in a nonspeaking role) in the backmatter expand the story for the inquisitive. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Entertaining and edifying.