Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. ( )

*reviewed from uncorrected egalley*

children's graphic fiction with great vocabulary. Love this so much! How many times have I wished for a story about a donkey shoemaker? And capybaras, an anteater, sloth, and famous singing manatee? Sara Varon has provided everything and more. ( )

A nice, little story for kids with cute animal drawings. I was under the impression that it was a graphic novel, but it is more like an extended pictured book. ( )

Francis the donkey is a renowned shoemaker in his tropical village. One day he gets an order to make shoes for the famous singer Miss Manatee, the River Queen. But Nigel has gone missing and he's Francis' supplier of wild tiger grass, a material he uses to make his shoes. Francis who has never left his village sets out with parrot Rhoda to find Nigel. There are some charmingly random moments during Francis' adventure: a kinkajou expounds on all the fruit available in the jungle, Francis consults his animal manuals, the jaguar gives a tour of his garden and later invites everyone in to hear his collection of Miss Manatee records. Colorful and fun reading. ( )