THE DEEP JUNGLE

A snail finds his most notable skill in this original folktale from debut picture-book author/illustrator Hanna.

Snail, Elephant, Lion, and Snake all live together in the jungle. Snail, as the smallest, feels that he has no special talents. His other friends seem so much bigger, stronger, and more capable, so he asks them to name theirtalents, hoping it will help him identify his own. But as Lion and Snake share their strengths, Snail grows more depressed. Snake suggests, “Go see Elephant. He knows what everyone is good at.” Instead of an answer, Elephant tells a tale of how the first tree came to be, showcasing the importance of differences. The next day, during a game of hide-and-seek, Snail finally realizes that his size and his shell are strengths, after all. Hanna’s tone and language evoke much older folktales, especially in the telling of Elephant’s fable. The short sentences will be accessible to young independent readers, but the changing typeface size makes for an inconsistent reading experience. The illustrations are less polished than the text; Hanna uses a hand-drawn cartoon style that feels rather flat and simplistic, with muted colors, but it may appeal to younger children.

An encouraging but unevenly executed story about celebrating unknown strengths.