Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Edward in the Jungle
Picture Book
For ages 3 to 6
Little Brown, 2002 ISBN: 0316563919
Edward loves to read books and he especially loves the ones that have jungle adventures in them. Tarzan is his hero and like Tarzan Edward would love to be friends with all the animals. One day when he is outside on the lawn in front of his house and reading another Tarzan adventure Edward finds himself being threatened by none other than a great big crocodile. Just as the crocodile moves forward to attack Edward is swept off his feet by none other than Tarzan himself.
Tarzan arranges for Edward to have protection by telling all the animals in the jungle that they should “watch over” Edward as he is their new friend. Edward goes on to have all manner of adventures and ends up thinking that maybe crocodiles aren’t as bad as they are made out to be.
This wonderful adventure into the imaginary world created by a small boy takes us far into a magical place where animals can understand humans and where the good guys always win in the end. David McPhail clearly wants to show us how books can indeed take us on journeys where wonderful things can happen and where good prevails. Readers will enjoy David McPhail’s other book about Edward, “Edward and the pirates” in which Edward’s reading gets him into quite a different sort of imaginary pickle.
