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Jungle Drums, Graeme Base
Penguin
Reviewed by Lisa Hoult (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

The best thing about having children is I have a great excuse for buying their books and going to their movies – all under the pretext of "being a good parent".

Most children's books these days are of an admirably high calibre, which makes them all the more enjoyable, and this magnificently illustrated book is no exception.

It is the tale of little Ngiri Mdogo the smallest warthog in the jungle. He is constantly teased by the other warthogs about his size – but that's only because they are feeling inferior themselves. The other animals that live across the river have striking stripes or stunning spots or graceful long necks while the wart-hogs are plain and mud-coloured.

Every year the other animals hold a grand parade to show off their beauty and every year the warthogs aren't allowed to join in – all they can do is mud-wrestle – and that's hardly suitable for a grand parade.

Ngiri decides he is tired of all the teasing so sets out to do something about it. A lovely little moral dwells in the story, and the language used is a great vocabulary broadener. Delightful, clever and highly recommended.