One wonderful tale of how distractions will never get you what you want and that sometimes you can win not by being the fastest and more good-looking but by being wise and staying on the task at hand.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Imaara Kids Books for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful tale of wit and endurance. This richly illustrated story brings us the story of being clever and working hard and consistently to accomplish our goals. We read along as we follow Odum the Lion and Mbe the Tortoise compete for Princess Mgbada's hand in marriage. Odum is quick and capable but overly confidant whereas Mbe was slow and clever and consistent. In the end, wit and consistency allowed Mbe the Tortoise to win the competition. This story holds a wonderful lesson to teach children. The idea of holding off to do later can be detrimental to progress. Although intentions may be good, it's best to do things right away when they need to be done or else we lose our chance. This makes a great story for a children's library.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

Rating: 4⭐⭐⭐⭐!!!!!!!!!
Book: The Lion, the Tortoise, and the Princess Gazelle
Release Date: AVAILABLE NOW-Released October 19, 2020
Author: Petra Okeke-Bestman (Author), Rob Foote (Illustrator)
Genre: Children's Fiction | Multicultural Interest

I love fables and folktales and as a teacher they are essential to teaching moral/lesson and character traits. I chose this book because I love the take on The Tortoise and The Hare but the hare is replaced with a lion. The lion is boastful and prideful just like the hare and the tortoise is still humble and clever. Kids and students alike will like this West African Tale and be able to learn the lesson of this story. I will definitely be using this book in my class to teach central message.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @ImaaraKidsBooks for an advanced copy of @TheLionTheTortoiseAndThePrincessGazelle

#OdumAndMbe #ImaaraKidsBooks #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #AmazonReads #childrensfiction #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #teacher #educator #classroomreads #multiculturalinterest #representationmatters

“The Lion, The Tortoise and the Princess Gazelle” is a pretty entertaining story! This book brings an African-inspired flair to the traditional tortoise and hare tale. This story teaches us all a valuable lesson about the importance of hard work and determination.
I think the part where the tortoise paid drummers to distract the lion wasn’t necessary for the story. I would have preferred if the tortoise won 100% honestly.
This is a good addition to any school collection of fairy tales and fables, especially if you are looking to diversify your library. Also great for units about African folklore and culture. Love the colourful and bold illustrations.
Good for 4+, this is a fun story for even the youngest of us.

Thank you to NetGalley, Petra Okeke-Bestman (author) and Rob Foote (illustrator) for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This beautifully illustrated picture book is a newer version of the well known fable of the hare and the tortoise. The lion Odum and the tortoise Mbe set off on a challenge to win the hand of the princess, Mgbada. An appealing story set in the jungles of West Africa, and the illustrations were brilliant and colourful. I would definitely read this book with my niece and nephew, however I may skip the part where the tortoise pays some animal musicians to distract the lion. I don't think I'd like to pass on the message that it's okay to win by any means. I prefer that children learn the rules of the jungle through experience not from a picture book.

A wonderful reimagined story of the tortoise and the hare. It teaches children that arrogance and distractions will get you nowhere. Beautiful illustrations with a backdrop of West Africa.

This is a very cute version of the tortoise and the hare, except with a tortoise and a lion who both want to marry a princess. They have a contest and similar to slow and steady wins the race, there is some foolishness and a clear winner. I will be purchasing this for my classroom.

A well written variation on the tortoise and the hare, with stunning illustrations to back up the story.

Was easy to read, and my son could understand what was going on throughout and enjoyed it.

4☆ A Beautifully illustrated Children's Picture Book


Odum the lion and Mbe the Tortoise live together in a tropical forest of West Africa.

Odum thinks he is better than everyone in the Forest, and always makes fun of Mbe as he is very slow.
Mbe might be slow, but he is also very clever and knows Odum is too cocky and a show-off.

The King of the Forest declares he wants to find his Daughter Princess Mgbada a husband, and both Odum and Mbe were worthy candidates.
Much to the annoyance of Odum as he believes Mbe incompetent of her hand in marriage, bragging he is far more worthy as he is a strong lion.

So the King sets them both a challenge, who can build him a house First can Marry his Daughter.
But Odum thinks he has it in the bag as Mbe is slow, and therefore he has all the time in the world to catch Mbe up!
But never underestimate the power of the brain, as Mbe might be slower but he was clever and calculating!

I'll let you figure out who won!

This sweet and charming Children's Picture book is beautifully illustrated and really reminds me of the story the Tortoise and the Hare.
The Characters are fun and Children will relate to the animals really well.
The story is a nice length which will help keep younger Children's attention.
For me I think the moral of the story is never judge a book by it's cover, don't underestimate people based on ability as we all have different strengths and weaknesses.

The Lion, The Tortoise, and the Princess Gazelle would make a lovely gift or a story time read, for children aged 4-6years.

The illustrations are very pretty but I just did not like the characters or the story very much. It was a little hard to swallow. I see what they were trying.

Lion, pride and laud and tortoise, small and crafty, both want to marry princess Gazelle. She gives them the task of making her a house and whoever finishes first, wins her.

The lion is very sure of himself and doesn't worry too much, so the tortoise makes a plan, to distract Lion and win at the same time.

I like the story but wasn't the biggest fan of conning the tortoise was. In the end, princess Gazelle would be better on her own. :) However, the illustrations are very, very pretty!

I loved the illustrations in this book; they are colourful and very well-made. And the story touches on the important subjects in a likeable way. We need more books like this.

The Lion, the Tortoise, and the Princess Gazelle is a delightful story which is based on The Tortoise and The Hare.
The illustrations are beautiful and really set the scene for the West African backdrop.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy.

This is a beautifully illustrated book based on the hard and the tortoise but in an African setting. It’s bound to appeal to a young audience for its colour and story.

The Lion, the Tortoise, and the Princess Gazelle is a lovely story with a very important message. It has got beautiful illustrations and I really liked the African setting. It´s a nice twist to the well-known Aesop´s Fable The Tortoise and the Hare.

It´s a perfect bedtime story for children.

This story was amazing. It is very reminiscent of the Tortoise and the Hare, but a new take with a bit of a different moral. It’s set in the African safari and i love that the animals are named with African names instead of what might usually be found in a typical kids picture book. So instead of Leo the Lion you get Odum, and the tortoise is Mbe, and our Gazelle is Princess Mgbada. The other thing I am absolutely in love with is the illustrations. They are vibrant and fun, and have a life force to them that the reader can feel. They can feel the lion dancing, and Mbe building. This is an excellent book I would be proud to add to any library collection.

This is the story of a strong, proud lion and a slow but clever tortoise and the competition to win the hand of the princess gazelle.

It shows children that looks and strength aren't everything and that slow and steady can still win the race, especially if you're clever enough. But do you know what I liked best? The illustrations. They are beautiful and absolutely flawless. They almost feel like paintings.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital review copy in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.

Stunning. The Lion, the Tortoise, and the Princess Gazelle is a gorgeous illustrated children’s book.
This book is a new retelling to me of “slow and steady wins the race”. I love all the characters in the book and how they are used in order to create a message to the reader.
Would recommend this to all younger readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in return of an honest review.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The lion, the tortoise and the princess gazelle is a very close, modern version of the hare and the tortoise. I enjoyed this book but it was too predictable as to what would happen at the end although I do like the concept of the story as it teaches children they must work hard for what they want to achieve, use their minds and not take things for granted.

A wonderful story with eye-opening lessons for little ones. It fun to read with hilarious scenes too. Its a whirl-wind of competition and games for the hand of a princess.