Zed the Zebra

by An Vrombaut

Lucy has some very strange neighbors with horns, humps, tails, and trunks. That's because Lucy lives next door to the zoo! Every night, she climbs down the long neck of Georgina the Giraffe and listens to one of them tell her a story. Tonight it's the story of Zed the Zebra. Zed is faster than any other animal in the jungle—and he's always pointing it out. He is very proud of his go-faster stripes and claims he is the fastest runner in all Africa. But one day the animals plan an obstacle race and prove they can all do something well. Suddenly Zed isn't the best at everything!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 16, 2001

Reviews

[Ravisha Bhardwaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all the illustrations are brilliant. They connect with you. Every child can watch and learn to draw these.
Second the story is also good. The moral of the story is important. In this winning world you forget about the sportsmanship. Winning and losing all go together.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book

[bookingmental · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my faves when I was little and I'm pleased to report it STILL slaps !!

[Amandeep Daffu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zed the Zebra is a competitive and fun book about a group of animal friends, including a zebra, giraffe, rhino, elephant and warthog. Zed the Zebra boasts about how he is the fastest runner in the whole of Africa, when one day his friends challenge him to a race. The story takes you through the journey of the race and all the obstacles that Zed comes across. In the end Zed loses the race as he stops to admire his reflection in the water. His friends win the race.

Throughout the story, the author describes each animal by highlighting distinct features of that animal, e.g. the rhino has a ‘boulder bashing horn’ and the giraffe has a ‘special stripy neck’. It is a wonderful storybook to use to teach children features of animals. Along with this, it can be used to teach children how boasting is not beneficial and how this portrays Zed’s personality. Children can expand on the book and build on a discussion about how the animals were feeling, how they would have felt if Zed won the race and a different ending to the story. It can really build on their imagination.

[Kevin Cannon (Monty's Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I’ve read this book once then I’ve read it a hundred times. When my son was little it was one of his favourite bedtime stories (along with The Gingerbread Man which, to this day, I can recite word for word. If fact it could be my specialist subject on Mastermind)

This entire series of books are beautifully illustrated and have entertaining stories featuring memorable characters

Sadly my son has grown out of these and is now working his way through the adventures of Harry Potter.

There is something magical about sharing a book with your child at bedtime and I have very fond memories of Zed the Zebra

[Verena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self-acceptance - know who you are, your talents and weaknesses. Be humble, and be aware that everyone has their own talents.