Jungle book draws in young readers> Illustrations beautifully textured

THE BIRD, THE MONKEY, AND THE SNAKE IN THE JUNGLE; written by Kate Banks and illustrated by Tomek Bogacki; Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, New York, 1999; 26 pages, hardcover, $16.

Do you have a beginning reader in your family? If so, I’ve found you a real winner of a book: “The BIRD, the MONKEY and the SNAKE in the JUNGLE.”

A bird, a monkey and a snake share a tree home in a jungle. Like human siblings, they really know how to aggravate each other. Then one day their tree falls over in a storm, leaving them homeless. Each dreams of a shelter of his own. As they explore the jungle, every promising tree has occupants who do not want to share. Night falls. Suddenly the three feisty individuals must band together to save each other. By the time morning dawns, they have learned a very important lesson.

Everything about the book draws the young reader in. The plot is a real page turner. The characters are lively and engaging. The clever, nontraditional placement of words keeps little eyes and fingers moving briskly. And it is a rebus book in which key words in the text are symbolized by pictures.

Author Kate Banks was motivated by the scarcity of good rebus books to attempt one. “What I find appealing is how a rebus book bridges the gap between words and images. I remember my own experiences as a child learning to read. I would often attach my own mental images to a word to give it meaning. I think children do this. And I think it’s a valuable tool not only for reading, but for verbalizing and for the whole process of expression. A rebus book allows a child to explore more freely the concepts of words and ideas and how they are related.”

The illustrations are beautifully textured, from the wind and rain storm that topples the tree to the enormous spider that practically springs off the page. A sense of motion is well-conveyed, particularly in the night scenes where bats swoop, a crocodile prowls and a tiger stalks its prey. The monkey’s facial expressions and postures are priceless, from his belligerence as he declares, “No, mine,” to his fearful crouching in the dark, to his obvious contentment in his new home.

In fact, although it is designed for a young child, the book’s robust illustrations, suspenseful plot and anything-but-cutesy characters would make it a satisfying choice for an older student reading below grade level or learning English as a second language.

A parent will appreciate this book at still another level, especially if he or she has three or more children. Just like our offspring, the bird, the monkey and the snake annoy each other, squabble, wish for the others to go away, and when threatened, defend each other with fierce courage and loyalty. This is not a book that will get on adult nerves after a few dozen readings.

In fact, Banks’ experiences as a parent, a child and a sibling influenced the relationship she created among the animals in the story. “What I hear when I reread the book is the voice of the young child (or adult) wanting his or her way. Then what I hear as the conflict resolves itself is the more mature voice of the child (or adult) who has learned something from experience.”

Unlike many authors who find the most satisfaction in being able to see their published books, Banks most enjoyed actually creating her story.

“The process of imagining and giving life and expression to characters in a way that is meaningful to children is deeply rewarding to me,” she said. “The challenge in this book was to find a fun and meaningful story and to tell it simply, using a lot of accessible and appealing nouns.”

Banks’ advice to young children is to read, read, READ! “Don’t worry about not knowing words or saying them properly the first time. It will come in the same wondrous and magical way that all wisdom comes. And with it will come a whole new world of places, people, feelings that you can access whenever and wherever you like.”

And in her latest book Kate Banks has surely created a powerful incentive and aid for them to do just that!