On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! The First All-Animal Olympics

by Leonard Kessler

A scraggy, scrappy assortment of animals find a newspaper account of the Olympics (in-joke fanciers will do well to read the fine print thereof) and decide to organize their own games. The arrangements and "getting in shape" proceed amicably (the ants even volunteer to form a starting line) and -- with worm, whose talent for wiggling seems unsuited to any of the scheduled events, acting as cheerleader -- the races themselves become a kind of loosely satisfying mutual admiration celebration. In the end even worm finds a niche in the competition, substituting for a missing baton in the relay race and inching over the finishing line when the duck who is carrying him falls while waving to the crowd. The playfulness extends even to the naming of the animals' teams (the Yankees, the Tigers and the Pirates) and makes this effort competitive with any of the humor on the easy reader shelf.

Genres: Picture Books

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Leonard Kessler was an American children’s book author and illustrator and centenarian.
Kessler was born in Akron, Ohio and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army during World War II and was stationed in Europe. Kessler received his bachelor's degree in fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University in 1949. Kessler moved with his wife and family to New York City, New York and then they moved to New City, New York. Kessler wrote and illustrated books for young readers.

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading an article in the newspaper about the Olympic Games, some woodland creatures decide to have the First All-Animal Olympics. After selecting teams, training and getting in shape the big day finally came. Fun was had, winners were chosen, and valuable life lessons were learned.

[Jerry Blaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid. It's definitely one of my faves.

Thepictures are simple but paint the picture. The story is captivating. Can animals have a successful Olympics? They sure can and learn valuable lessons along the way!

Five stars!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy and fun book for children headed into chapter books. A lot of lessons, fun characters, entertaining story.