Five short picture-book chapters celebrate life in a cozy neighborhood in Africa—presumably South Africa, where the author/illustrator draws his inspiration. Mama Jumbo (an elephant) builds a home out of scrap near the pawpaw tree with the help of new friends. Juju (a monkey) helps hang a house number on the home (“a rusty old store sign”—7 UP) and Mama Jumbo settles in, but it just doesn’t feel like home until Little Chico (a chicken) comes to share her home. (“He looked and smelled as if he needed someone to look after him.”) Not a lot of excitement in this story—just comfortable chapters (a bubble bath, a missing Little Chico, a scary shadow) that culminate in a surprise birthday party. Wonderful endpapers introduce each of the story’s characters and bring the warmth and exuberance of the interior illustrations to the reader from start to finish. (Picture book. 4-8)
