Friday, December 27, 2013

Book Review: If I Were King by Randa Handler

If I Were King
By Randa Handler
Publisher: Premier Digital Publishing
Published: Dec. 12, 2012
ASIN: B00ANBHJIC

Amazon Synopsis:

One rainy day in the jungle, unlikely friends—Zebra, Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, Monkey, Elephant and Chameleon—gather to lament how boring their daily activities are. 

Zebra’s imagination and fun-loving nature convinces the other animals to escape their mundane lives by pretending they are kings. Playing this game teaches them about their many differences and, more importantly, their own likes and dislikes. 

Zebra, upon discovering this information, realizes that it’s okay not to always want to play with other zebras as long as she listens to her inner voice and yields when it warns her of

 dangers and cautions her to maintain clear boundaries. Immediately she learns that Lion can stop being her friend when he’s angry or hungry.

Along her quest, she learns about everyone’s likes and dislikes including her own and discovers the true meaning of friendship.

Book Links
Amazon  *  B&N  *  Goodreads

My Thoughts

This was an engaging tale of a young zebra looking for a little excitement while playing with some of her jungle friends. Zebra learns that each of them have similarities and differences and it is important to respect those differences. She learns that she needs to know herself, and be comfortable with who she is, her own likes and dislikes and that she should be true to herself.

Zebra learns that friendship is important and friendships can be had with animals of all kinds, as long as she listens to her conscience warning her of danger, and takes care to maintain her boundaries.

I found the pictures in this book to be interesting, full of colour. I think young children would be interested in them. I also think that children would enjoy listening to this story over and over. There are a variety of things that parents could talk to their children about in this story as starting points for life lessons; things such as friendship, being true to yourself, being different is okay, teasing and so on.

I think this is a great book for parents and children to share together. I gave it a rating of four stars.


Thank you to the author, Randa Handler for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.

About the Author

Randa Handler is an international journalist, publicist and publisher. Her interview with actor Rock Hudson (his last) was published worldwide. In 2003, Handler moved into publishing, successfully launching an educational series of children's books used as 'lesson plans' by elementary school teachers. She is currently dedicated to writing and illustrating children's books. She almost always tries to encompass multiracial characters to instill, in her early readers, acceptance and tolerance of diversity.
IF I WERE KING, IS 2013 WINNER OF MOM'S CHOICE AWARD

Contact the Author
Website  *  Facebook  *  Twitter

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