What do you think?
Rate this book
Who Would Win? #18
Ultimate Jungle Rumble
Sixteen different jungle animals battle it out in an epic fight! Who will be the champion? This nonfiction reader compares and contrasts 16 ferocious jungle creatures. Readers will learn about each animal's anatomy, behavior, and more. Then compare and contrast the battling animals before finally discovering the winner!This nonfiction series is full of facts, photos, and realistic illustrations, and it includes a range of mammals, sea creatures, insects, and dinosaurs to satisfy all kinds of animal fans.
32 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2020
93 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pallotta
234 books111 followersMy full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta but my mom always called me "Jerry". I was born on March 26, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. My mom's name is Mary, and she came from a family of ten children. My dad's name is Joe, and he came from a family of five children. My grandparents were immigrants of Italian descent. I have the nicest parents in the world. They have always been unselfish and ready to help me, even today. I have four brothers and two sisters: Joey, David, Andrew, Danny, Cindy and Mickey. I have seventy-two first cousins. When I was growing up, there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 13, 2022
These are pretty fun books aimed at new solo readers who need a bit of oomph to keep their attention.
I typically enjoy guessing which animal would win in a fight and while I'm not always convinced the research backs up the results, I appreciate the idea that such disbelief could be a good jumping point for further reading.
HOWEVER.
This one seems to have been cobbled together with much less thought than usual.
Here are the jungle animals who will be fighting one another in this book:
Hyena
Monitor lizard
Gorilla (the first picture is of a silverback so we'll go with silverback)
Black mamba
Capybara
Poison dart frog
Peacock
Bongo
Red panda
Warthog
Green anaconda
Mandrill
Leopard
Okapi
Anteater
Sun bear
Either the definition of "jungle" has changed drastically in the past year or else animals who live on the same continent as jungles can now be considered jungle animals, regardless of the mountains, forests, grasslands, or savannahs in which they actually reside.
Also, I really want to run over to the local zoo to ask a herpetologist if they think an anaconda would be able to win a fight against a healthy adult mandrill.
I typically enjoy guessing which animal would win in a fight and while I'm not always convinced the research backs up the results, I appreciate the idea that such disbelief could be a good jumping point for further reading.
HOWEVER.
This one seems to have been cobbled together with much less thought than usual.
Here are the jungle animals who will be fighting one another in this book:
Hyena
Monitor lizard
Gorilla (the first picture is of a silverback so we'll go with silverback)
Black mamba
Capybara
Poison dart frog
Peacock
Bongo
Red panda
Warthog
Green anaconda
Mandrill
Leopard
Okapi
Anteater
Sun bear
Either the definition of "jungle" has changed drastically in the past year or else animals who live on the same continent as jungles can now be considered jungle animals, regardless of the mountains, forests, grasslands, or savannahs in which they actually reside.
Also, I really want to run over to the local zoo to ask a herpetologist if they think an anaconda would be able to win a fight against a healthy adult mandrill.
July 24, 2025
Solid matchups, though many of them were one sided. 🥊 I got the winner correct though 😎🏆
September 8, 2025
What a ride… an adventure of a lifetime. A revelation.
November 2, 2024
A change up from the usual setup of one animal versus another animal. With rounds and matches, there is a definite WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) 🤼♂️ theme contained within many of the matches (or would it be WWF (World Wildlife Foundation) 🐗? There is some great humor in this one, especially with the capybara versus poison dart frog! Good but not great illustrations. Let's get ready to rumble!
July 23, 2022
You’re never too old to learn, or to enjoy reading to your kids only to find out you’re just as fascinated as they are. I mean, I’ve watched enough National Geographic over the years to be aware of some of the facts in this story/picture book, but there were quite a few I had no idea about. My eyes bugged a few times, as in, “I didn’t know that!!!”, throw in a couple of “Whoa!” and “Yikes” and I can safely say that I am impressed with Ultimate Jungle Rumble.
Once again there are 16 unlikely combatants that are thrown together to see which of their natural protections and instinctual behaviors put them on the top of the jungle kingdom. My favorite was during round one with a gorilla. I’m not sure how 7-yr. olds would respond, it’s been a while, but mentally, I totally cheered and gave a thumbs up to a very effective strategy. Yeah, I could get behind that one. Then there was the defense technique of a capybara. Okay, that one got a snort and a chortle out of me. The illustration from Mr. Bolster that accompanied that battle ending might prod a giggle or two from the younger reading set for sure. I mean, I’m looking at it as I type this and I’m snickering. I showed the illustration to my eldest and my husband and they both gave it a chuckle and grin.
The green anaconda was a creepy contender. I don’t know what age Ophidiophobia starts in humans or why, but just in case – parents – there be snakes.
Accompanying the great illustrations are many amazing facts and trivia provided by Mr. Pallotta. From how many types of bears there are in the whole world – I didn’t know that – to the difference between horns and antlers, which I seem to remember but am admittedly foggy on, well, that was until I read this book, and why a sun bear is called a sun bear. I remember seeing a documentary about the sun bears and they and humans don’t get along so well. This little book gave me information about sun bears that the ‘adult’ show did not. Very cool.
How it ends and which jungle animal ends up being king was what I hoped for, but it was a close one! Then again, I watch a lot of those sci-fi monster movies so you might say I’m a bit biased. I can see why this series is so beloved and popular. It’s fun while learning cool facts about the animals we share the planet with, and if parents haven’t tried this book or this series with their kids, I recommend giving it a look-see. My youngest gave it a thumbs-up, I suspect yours will too.
Once again there are 16 unlikely combatants that are thrown together to see which of their natural protections and instinctual behaviors put them on the top of the jungle kingdom. My favorite was during round one with a gorilla. I’m not sure how 7-yr. olds would respond, it’s been a while, but mentally, I totally cheered and gave a thumbs up to a very effective strategy. Yeah, I could get behind that one. Then there was the defense technique of a capybara. Okay, that one got a snort and a chortle out of me. The illustration from Mr. Bolster that accompanied that battle ending might prod a giggle or two from the younger reading set for sure. I mean, I’m looking at it as I type this and I’m snickering. I showed the illustration to my eldest and my husband and they both gave it a chuckle and grin.
The green anaconda was a creepy contender. I don’t know what age Ophidiophobia starts in humans or why, but just in case – parents – there be snakes.
Accompanying the great illustrations are many amazing facts and trivia provided by Mr. Pallotta. From how many types of bears there are in the whole world – I didn’t know that – to the difference between horns and antlers, which I seem to remember but am admittedly foggy on, well, that was until I read this book, and why a sun bear is called a sun bear. I remember seeing a documentary about the sun bears and they and humans don’t get along so well. This little book gave me information about sun bears that the ‘adult’ show did not. Very cool.
How it ends and which jungle animal ends up being king was what I hoped for, but it was a close one! Then again, I watch a lot of those sci-fi monster movies so you might say I’m a bit biased. I can see why this series is so beloved and popular. It’s fun while learning cool facts about the animals we share the planet with, and if parents haven’t tried this book or this series with their kids, I recommend giving it a look-see. My youngest gave it a thumbs-up, I suspect yours will too.
January 17, 2022
Uhm, I am not really sorry to say this right there but that is messed up. It is a glorification of unjustified violence - shown to elementary school kids?! I do not want to criticize any reader and/or parent who is responsible for a child reading these books, although I do not think these are appropriate. Not only hides the language the falseness in the practiced violence but there are also pictures shown which show e.g. a gorilla smashing a bongo's head to the ground while holding it by its horns (-> pg. 28)
I do not see why we should introduce violence in this way to our children and raise them to support violence not only in wildlife but also in our everyday life.
I do not see why we should introduce violence in this way to our children and raise them to support violence not only in wildlife but also in our everyday life.
October 24, 2025
This book matches up 16 jungle creatures - a hyena, monitor lizard, gorilla, black mamba, capybara, poison dart frog, peacock, bongo, red panda, warthog, green anaconda, mandrill, leopard, okapi, anteater and sun bear in rounds to see who would win in fights. I do not know if these animals have actually fought in real life in the wild or not, and the author does not say. (I wish the book did say!)
But there are a few facts about each animal - making this a good book for kids who like animal facts.
But there are a few facts about each animal - making this a good book for kids who like animal facts.
November 12, 2018
S is very impressed with this book series. If he were rating it I know he'd give it 5 stars. I'm giving it 4, but only because it's not the easiest book to read aloud since it's basically just a collection of facts about the dueling animals. I will say, I learned some things about the featured animals that I never knew, and my son and I are both sometimes surprised by which animal wins the battle. This is a fun one to discuss.
November 29, 2020
The only thing that slightly disappointed me was how this book had one page as an intro for both competitors and one page to pick the one who advanced. The other books in the series give a better comparison between the two.
The format of this book reminded me of the 72 Dangerous Animals series on Netflix.
The format of this book reminded me of the 72 Dangerous Animals series on Netflix.
December 27, 2021
Sixteen different jungle animals battle it out to be the champion. Compare and contrast 16 ferocious jungle creatures, before finally discovering the winner!. Learn about each animal's anatomy, behavior, and more. This book is full of facts, photos, and realistic illustrations, and it includes a range of mammals, sea creatures, insects, and dinosaurs to satisfy all kinds of animal fans.
January 16, 2019
Cool
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2021
My boys devour these boys. I like the rumble ones as they get to learn about many different animals, instead of just two. These make great car books as they read the different battles.
May 26, 2021
Gorilla wins!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2021
The ultimate rumble books are the best in the series. They cover many different animals and it is fun to guess who will win. My kids love these books and this one was no exception.
August 2, 2021
The kids LOVED this one!
January 28, 2022
Coooooooooool!!
May 25, 2023
Gorilla wins!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2024
This is a cool book because it tells fun facts about the animals.
This book makes me want to read more Who Would Win books.
This book makes me want to read more Who Would Win books.
November 20, 2024
Read the e-book copy with my little one and it was a fun time.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews