Zebra on the Go

PreS-Gr 2—"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages: the circus is beginning." This wildly creative and rhythmic tale captures all the fun and excitement of the big top. Zebra and Lion are all set to put on a show when a performance misstep causes mayhem. Zebra accidentally steps on Lion's toe, prompting a very angry lion to give chase and sending Zebra "on the go." The two frantically run out of the circus arena and through town, creating a spectacle for all to see. To avoid being captured, Zebra finds a few clever hiding places that allow him to blend in with his surroundings. The chase continues until Lion has a mishap of his own and lands in a large body of water. Unable to swim, he sinks. However, what starts as an imminent misfortune for Lion becomes a lesson about friendship and compassion. In the end, the entire town witnesses a remarkable show filled with lessons about forgiveness. Nogales excellently captures the pandemonium of a circus performance, and her use of rhyme helps to make an elaborate narrative easy to navigate.