If you are doing a storytime that includes primary graders, they will be familiar with habitats like the jungle. And a storytime on jungle animals includes many of their favorites, such as monkeys, chimps, gorillas, parrots, crocodiles, and big cats including leopards, tigers, jaguars, cougars, etc. Jungle story times can include art projects celebrating these animals, from making masks to paperbag puppets to dioramas of the jungle. Check out craft ideas from Artists Helping Children for ideas that include cardboard binoculars and drums made from oatmeal boxes. Of course, there are lots of great jungle animal songs and fingerplays, including Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree, An Elephant Goes, and many more.
Alborough, Jez. WATCH OUT! BIG BRO’S COMIN! The jungle animals pass along the news that a big tough animal is coming!
Alborough, Jez. HUG. In this simple but heartwarming book, Bobo the chimp asks for hugs from various jungle animals, while searching for his parents.
Andreae, Giles. GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE. Gerald feels he is too clumsy to participate in the Jungle Dance, until he finds the right music.
Baker, Keith. WHO IS THE BEAST? Tiger doesn’t understand why the other animals are afraid of him.
Base, Graeme. JUNGLE DRUMS. The smallest warthog in Africa uses magical drums to make wishes.
Beard, Alex. THE JUNGLE GRAPEVINE. As gossip flows from one animal to the next, rumors start and misunderstandings happen.
Beaton, Clare. HOW LOUD IS A LION? Perfect for toddler time, this simple story with repetition introduces African animals and the sounds they make.
Berkes, Marianne C. OVER IN THE JUNGLE: A RAINFOREST RHYME. Based on the folksong “Over in the Meadow,” this cumulative counting story introduces rainforest animals and the sounds they make.
Bornstein, Ruth. LITTLE GORILLA. Everyone in the jungle celebrates Little Gorilla’s birthday.
Butler, John. BEDTIME IN THE JUNGLE. Another rhyming story based on “Over in the Meadow,” involving jungle animals putting their offspring to bed.
Carle, Eric. “SLOWLY, SLOWLY, SLOWLY,” SAID THE SLOTH. Jungle animals tease sloth for being lazy, but he maintains he is just peaceful.
Donaldson, Julia. WHERE’S MY MOM? A butterfly tries to help monkey find his mother.
Edwards, Pamela D. ROAR! A NOISY COUNTING BOOK. In this humorous counting story, a lion cub’s roar scares the other animals.
Ellery, Amanda. IF I WERE A JUNGLE ANIMAL. A boy playing baseball is bored standing in the outfield, so he imagines what it would be like to live in a jungle.
Harter, Debbie. WALKING THROUGH THE JUNGLE. A young explorer finds different animals before going back home for supper.
Jonas, Ann. THE TREK. As children walk to school, they imagine their surroundings are a jungle – with things to look for in the illustrations.
Kroll, Steven. JUNGLE BULLIES. In this cumulative story, larger animals bully smaller ones until Mama Monkey teaches them all how to share. With repetition that involves the audience.
McElligott, Matthew. THE LION’S SHARE. Some basic math is used to solve the problem of greedy guests who eat all the cake.
Mitton, Tony. JUNGLE RUN. In this rhyming story, Cub shows she is not too small to join the race.
Murray, Marjorie D. HIPPO GOES BANANAS! In this cumulative tale, rumor spreads that Hippo is planning to destroy the jungle when all he has is a toothache.
Robinson, Michelle. WHAT TO DO IF AN ELEPHANT STANDS ON YOUR FOOT. In this circular tale, the narrator explains what to do if you encounter certain animals in the jungle.
Rosen, Michael. TINY LITTLE FLY. Elephant, Hippo, and Tiger all deal with a pesky fly.
Rumford, James. TIGER AND TURTLE. The title characters argue over a flower that blooms in the jungle.
Slack, Michael H. MONKEY TRUCK. Monkey Truck races to the rescue of anyone in trouble in the jungle.
Tashiro, Chisato. CHAMELEON’S COLORS. Chameleon discovers that several jungle animals would like to change their looks.
Wild, Margaret. KISS KISS! Perfect for toddlers, this brief story describes what happens when baby hippo forgets to kiss his mother in the morning.
Wilson, Karma. HILDA MUST BE DANCING. Hilda the Hippo loves to dance but it causes a lot of damage and noise. Filled with onomatopoeia.
Also see the previous Jungle Animals storytime ideas page from March 2001.