"The Talking Mango Tree receives gorgeous, full-color tropical pictures by Daniel J. O'Brien and ... tells of the dilemma faced by forest creatures when the mango tree with the tastiest mangos begins to make demands of its would-be harvesters. Kids with rudimentary reading skills will find this story thoroughly absorbing, unpredictable, and fun, powered by the illustrator's unique knack for capturing both colorful tropical settings and the whimsical responses of each animal to impossible demands. More so than most picture book stories, The Talking Mango Tree is a keepsake that will not 'age', but is certain to receive repeat attention and enjoyment from a wide audience of young readers (and even read-aloud adults working with them). It is very, very highly recommended reading." - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
LoveReading4Kids-UK:
- Absolutely beautiful! First of all, the illustrations are superb. They are bright, colourful and draw the eye wonderfully. They help to tell the story well and I adored them. The animals all came to life through the vibrancy and lines of the illustrations.
- I read this book with three hats on. First, my mum hat, second my primary school teacher hat and finally my bibliophile hat. This book ticked every single box.
- A great story for younger children with colourful pictures and plenty to talk about with them. New readers will also learn - using some repetitive phrases and the pictures to help them work out some of the words if they don't recognise them.
- A.H.Benjamin has written around 50 picture books for young children over the past 35 years and in his latest, 'The Talking Mango Tree', he shows no sign of running out of ideas for them. He uses a classic format to introduce his readers to a succession of animals trying to solve a riddle and there is a happy ending for all. This book is a joy to read and very beautifully illustrated on every page by Daniel J.O'Brien.
It's rare that a children's book enchants you from page 1 and holds you captive until the last word. Author A H Benjamin's The Talking Mango Tree with wonderful artwork by Daniel J O'Brien will keep early readers and listeners guessing from start to finish. Robin Stuart-Clark, author/illustrator, Cape Town.
This is a delightful story with a hilarious twist I didn't see coming. The illustrations are colourful and amusing. The artist captures the bemused, comical looks on the animals faces very well as they are instructed to do absurd things such as dance ballet and perform acrobatics. Overall, a light-hearted tale of mischief that children will love. Daya Subramanian, author and editor.