Welcome to metomi.com, your online source of great reads and activities for children! We are having a great time reading children's books about wild animals! Join along as we invite ourselves to a jungle party, to enjoy some hilarious animal antics! Travel with us to a land from long ago, to learn an important lesson from a wise monkey king. Play a fun detective role while learning how different creatures use their body parts to help them thrive in the wild! And of course, don't forget to visit our children's Fun Stuff page for our Wild Animal Printable! Happy Reading! And if you're interested in more great children's books, do visit our Children's Library!
Title: What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
Author/Illustrator: Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
For curious young minds and animal lovers, this beautifully illustrated children's book hits the spot! Readers are shown different types of animal noses, tails, hands, etc., and asked, "what do you do with a
like this?" First is the fun of guessing who's who - some are easy, some a bit harder - followed by interesting facts about how each of these animals use that particular body part. We found the facts delight by providing some unexpected details (who knew crickets hear with their knees?!). At the end of this children's book there is a summary and description of all the animals. Steve Jenkins performs his usual magic with richly coloured, wonderfully textured animal collages.
Title: Jungle Party
Author/Illustrator: Brian Wildsmith
Readers are invited to a wonderful jungle party, hosted by a snake who has more than just partying on his mind! The hungry snake devises an elaborate scheme to lure his fellow jungle mates to a fun get-together, in hopes of catching himself a nice meal afterwards. The festivities start with a talent show, where readers join the animal audience in watching some hilarious animal antics - we cheered and heckled along with the audience and laughed out loud at the lion with the measles! Towards the end of the show, the snake demonstrates his own "talent", boasting that he can hold the entire audience in his mouth. The animals are fooled and walk single file into the snake's mouth. It seems like the snake is in for a very large dinner...if not for a very large friend who comes to the rescue! Lots of fun, lots of laughs in this comical children's book.
Title: Through the Heart of the Jungle
Author: Jonathan Emmett
Illustrator: Elena Gomez
We have a very well-worn, well-loved copy of this children's book at our home. Ok, so maybe lions don't live in the jungle, but the book is nonetheless a joy to see and read. Readers learn that there is a relationship between the smallest and largest of creatures, and every one in between - not a bad lesson in these environmentally conscious times. The vivid animal illustrations complement the catchy rhyme perfectly - our favourite is the toad "with the big googly eye". We have read this to our children since they were wee toddlers, and it is a family favourite. Although it looks to be out of publication, the book should be available in the children's section of your local library!
Title: The Monkey Bridge
Author: Rafe Martin
Illustrator: Fahimeh Amiri
This children's book tells a long-ago tale of how a delicious fruit tree came to exist in the ancient city of Benares. We are first introduced to a kingdom of monkeys who live peacefully in the leaves of a large, fruit-bearing tree, located by a river far away and upstream from humans. The fruit, we are told, is extremely delicious, and the wise Monkey King knows he must keep it a secret from the humans downstream. He warns his subjects not to let any fruit drop into the river below...but one does manage to fall into the water unnoticed. We are next introduced to the listless human King of Benares, who tires of serving his subjects, preferring instead to go on pampered outings. On one such boat outing, he discovers the sole fallen fruit, and as the Monkey King predicted, demands that the tree be found. As the humans approach, the Monkey King makes a critical decision that ultimately humbles and changes the King of Benares. The Kings part as friends, and the beginnings of the Benares fruit tree is revealed. A wonderful childhood tale and lesson you will want to read many times with your older children!
Title: A Color of His Own
Author/Illustrator: Leo Lionni
Our younger children wants to read this children's story over and over and over again. And we do too :). The main character in the story, a chameleon, longs to have its own colour, instead of always changing with its surroundings. And although the chameleon does not find what it first wants, it does end up finding an equally satisfying alternative and happy ending. Leo Lionni does a masterful job with this very short story - readers immediately empathize with the creature and care what happens to it. As grown-ups reading this book, we instantly recognize this need to belong, to feel a part of something, and believe that younger readers do too. We suggest you read the stand-alone version of this children's book for the best experience, versus the treasury version, as some of the illustrations are omitted or rearranged.
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