THE KING WHO BARKED

Politics may be closely linked to monkey business in the minds of many, but a real monkey for mayor? How did that happen? Jones humorously retells 15 tales of animals that in one way or another functioned as rulers throughout the world. Many of these stories have been passed down through generations; it is difficult to tell how much is actually true. But the author does not shy away from modern examples as well. In a whirlwind trip across the globe, readers meet a horse from the Roman Empire that dined on flakes of gold, a Chinese Pekingese that won a top literary honor and Pigasus, the pig the Chicago Seven tried to nominate as a U.S. presidential candidate—to have his very own in-hoguration, of course. With bright acrylics and proportions stretched as far as the imagination needed to believe these tales, Yayo’s illustrations add to the whimsy and fun. After reading this fantastical romp, the family pet just may take its rightful place at the head of the household. (introduction, bibliography, index) (Informational picture book. 6-10)