Super Jumbo

PreS-Gr 2—This companion to How to Cheer Up Dad (Dial, 2014) plays up the humor of Little Jumbo's life as a superhero. From acting as safety patrol while a family of snails crosses a busy intersection to assisting a cat complete its mission of climbing a tree, no task is too small and no creature is so insignificant as to be disregarded by Little Jumbo. Though he may mistake the good guys for the bad guys, misuse home goods as crime-fighting tools, or inconvenience the majority of the town's residents in performing his good deeds, there are the rare occasions when Little Jumbo is able to successfully come to the rescue. When Little Jumbo encounters a child crying over a broken wheel on a red wagon, he overcomes his weakness for sweets and helps repair the vehicle, earning a friend and sidekick. This heartwarming story is full of humor. Especially noteworthy is the use of a gray patterned texture that resembles elephant skin, which appears throughout the artwork for floors, walls, and backdrops.