Power to the People! The President of the Jungle by Andre' Rodrigues, et al

LION WANTED A SWIMMING POOL. SO, BECAUSE HE WAS THE KING OF THE JUNGLE, HE RE-ROUTED THE RIVER TO FLOW INTO HIS FRONT YARD.

Lion was one of a long lineage of jungle rulers, so what he wants is what he gets. But diverting the river has a very bad outcome for the other animals. Baby animals are thirsty without their river. Armadillo complains that Lion only considers his own needs. Crocodile calls for a protest, and Sloth rouses himself to suggest they get a new leader who cares about everyone's well-being. They all show up in Lion's front yard for a demonstration. Protest signs are waved right under Lion's nose.

#OCCUPY THE JUNGLE!

SAY NO TO THE LION'S POOL!

GIVE US BACK OUR RIVER!

"THIS KING NEEDS TO GO!" CROAKS CROC.

The animals agree that they need a new leader. Owl suggests that instead of a kingdom, the jungle needs a democracy and for that they need ... AN ELECTION! There must be candidates, who campaign, describing what they think is best for everyone in the jungle, and everyone in the jungle gets to vote, and the winner will be the one who ends up with the most votes. Everyone agrees, and together they agree on the RULES--to wit, VOTES are secret, and no one can offer gifts in return for a vote, and the candidate with the largest number of votes wins. They agree to have an election once a year.

Sloth, Snake, Monkey, and Lion decide to become candidates. There are TV speeches, rallies, selfies, leaflets, discussions of issues, denigrations of each other by the candidates, and finally debates!

LION GOT DISQUALIFIED FOR GIVING VOTERS PEANUTS SO THEY'D CHOOSE HIM.

It's an all too familiar scenario, in The President of the Jungle (Nancy Paulson Books, 2020), by Andre' Rodrigues, Larissa Ribeiro, Paula Desgualdo, and Pedro Markun, who take a genuine but light-hearted look at that most critical time in any democracy, the election. With a glossary appended and spirited collaged illustrations with sly comments in speech balloons, this picture book is a humorous but insightful primer about voting and voters, elections and democracy.

In their starred review, Kirkus Review says succinctly, "A fun, lively, accessible primer on the democratic process (good for weary adults, too).”