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Mother giraffe Alezia has just given birth to a baby. After a tough day for the new parent, she is immediately smitten. She teaches her baby boy how to straighten out his legs and slowly stand. Then, she decides to give her child a name. “Tarzome,” she says, is a perfect name—and the baby giraffe agrees. Alezia teaches Tarzome about the adventures they will have living on the savanna, also stressing the dangers he must learn about. “We share it with many other friendly animals who are busy leading happy lives,” she explains, pointing out that lions, in particular, can be dangerous. Tarzome meets elephants, rhinoceroses, zebra, antelope, and other giraffe friends. Eventually, Tarzome wanders off and finds himself stuck in a muddy hole beside a hungry lion. A huge elephant comes to the rescue, scaring the lion away. As the animals celebrate, the elephant lifts his trunk into the air, trumpeting.
Forbes and Love have written a delightful children’s picture book introducing young readers to the lives of various animals who call the savanna home. Some are small and some large. Some are friendly, while others are dangerous. Beginning their story with the baby giraffe’s birth, a beautifully sweet moment is shared as Alezia brings new life into the world. The writing is clear, concise, and simple—perfect for a beginning reader or for a parent spending time sharing this engaging, non-complicated story with a baby, infant, or young child. The accompanying artwork consists entirely of colorful photographs, serving well to illustrate the colorful, realistic world of the various animals in their natural habitat. Grassy lands with trees, bodies of water, and bright blue skies complement close-up photographs of mother and baby giraffe, sure to delight any young child with whom this book is shared.