Dume's Roar

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

When the animals gather to elect a king, two animals put themselves
forward as candidates. Kobe the tortoise claims he should be king
because he is the wisest animal in the forest. Dume the lion says he
should be king because he has a mighty roar. Impressed with the big
noise, the animals choose Dume but they soon regret their decision.

Dume begins arrogantly demanding that the animals serve him like
slaves. “Clean and groom my mane,” he orders. “Fan me, I am
hot.” Although the animals do not like serving Dume, they obey him
because they are afraid. Suddenly, ravens announce that hunters have
entered the forest. At last, the animals have reason to rejoice that
they have chosen a mighty lion as their king but they are dismayed to
discover that Dume is as frightened of humans as they are. Their only
hope is Kobe, who is afraid of neither the hunters nor Dume.

This classic brains-over-brawn animal yarn is flawlessly told. The plot
has many fetching twists, but perhaps the most clever turn is how Kobe
manages to save the day without humiliating Dume (Kobe teaches him how
to act like the king he was elected to be). The accompanying
illustrations are equally exceptional; the animals are rendered in
realistic poses, yet their expressions could almost tell the story
without words. Highly recommended.