The Zebra's Great Escape

By Katherine Rundell and Sara Ogilvie
Published by Bloomsbury 
Ages 4 upwards 


"... he took off at a gallop down the street. There were a few adults on the pavement, but they were all looking at their phones: adults rarely notice things."

In this story, Gabriel the zebra is lost after his parents have been taken by the villain Mr Spit. Gabriel finds a brave little girl, Mink and through speaking to her in pictures, asks her for help. She comes up with a plan, with the help of Rainbow the dog, to find them. They learn that zebras aren't the only animals Mr Spit has taken. Can they rescue the zebras and the other animals all on their own? 

This tale is funny, witty, has a brave heroine, animals talking AND a spectacular ending.

I love the animals communicating with each other and with Mink, that different species help each other and the message that wild animals should be free.

Rundell's adventure reminds me of Roald Dahl and my favourite illustration, apart from Ogilvie's wonderful menagerie at the end, is a zebra eating knickers! 



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