This was a cute and clear story for young ones about valuing caution in dangerous situations. I read this with my 4 year old son and he really enjoyed the story. It had fun pictures and was filled with animals for the animal loving kiddos like my son. He really enjoyed the crocodile! The message of this story was clearly written and the book was well structured for young ones to understand.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kateryna Dronova for the ARC!

The Cheeky Capybara is a story about not getting too big for your britches. The capabyra gets itself into a bad situation, but luckily for it, an animal friend comes to its rescue. The story teaches the lesson of being cautious when the situation warrants. I loved the illustrations in this book. They are whimsical and show the feelings of the animals well.

Thanks to Kateryna Dronova and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Capybaras, the world’s largest rodents, live near rivers, lakes, swamps, and marshes, a fact readers learn in the animal profile at the end of the story. In The Cheeky Capybara, we meet Tito, an overly confident capybara who crowns himself king of the swamp. He struts about, admires his reflection, and pushes the other animals aside, ignoring Beto the heron’s warning that his behavior could get him into trouble. When a crocodile arrives at their watering hole, the other animals wisely hurry away, but Tito’s pride leads him to make a dangerous choice that nearly costs him his life and teaches him that caution is far wiser than unchecked confidence.

Tito’s humorous encounters with the crocodile are brought to life through bright, lively illustrations, including a laugh-out-loud moment when the capybara ends up riding on the reptile’s back. Young readers will quickly recognize that Tito’s choices are not the best ones and will enjoy pointing them out.

With its mix of suspense, humor, and heart, The Cheeky Capybara gently explores themes of humility, safety, smart decision-making, and even bullying, opening the door for meaningful conversations. While little ones will be drawn to the colorful artwork, children ages 3–9 will understand the message and its memorable takeaway: caution is wiser than too much confidence. Tito’s journey encourages kids to think carefully and make positive choices.

My 4 year old loved this book! It was humorous, sweet, and taught a great lesson. The illustrations are precious, and the main character is so memorable! The last page even included facts about capybaras, which took this from 4 to 5 stars for me.

The Cheeky Cabybara is pure storytime gold.
Tito, the cheeky capybara with chubby cheeks and big king-of-the-swamp energy, instantly steals the show. His bold personality and playful confidence make him hilarious and lovable… right up until a giant green crocodile slides in and shakes up his world.
The dynamic between Tito and the wise heron, Beto, is sweet and meaningful without ever feeling heavy-handed. The lesson about listening, humility, and friendship is woven in so naturally that kids will absorb it without even realizing it.
With lively dialogue, gentle humor, and a message that actually sticks, this book is perfect for bedtime and a wonderful addition to any classroom shelf. Tito may think he rules the swamp—but he absolutely rules storytime.

What a brilliant story! Pitched at just the right level to deliver an important message without the 'told you so' vibe. The story is to the point and fast paced, keeping your interest all the way through. My daughter loved the cute characters (I think the choice of capybara was genuis given the cirrent hype for them). I liked the extra facts at the end, a nice touch to add. I'd definitely recommend this book.

The Cheeky Capybara is a sweet story with an important lesson: being cautious and humble, rather than overconfident. The writing by Kateryna Dronova is simple and engaging, sticking to the point while also introducing the different characters effectively. The illustrations by Dara Karei are bright, colorful with so many textures! The animals and birds look so beautiful and expressive. I think the writing and art go so beautifully together!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We really enjoyed the little capybara — the illustrations, name, and personality made the character especially endearing. We also liked the heron and the role it played in the story. The moral was clear and delivered quickly and efficiently, which works well for younger readers. The font style feels lighthearted and fits the tone nicely. At times, the white-on-white presentation made me curious how it might appear in the final printed edition.

I thought that this was a fun book to read and I loved the cheeky personality of Tito!

The story was well written and it was easy to read and understand.

The illustrations in the book were great, they were nice, bright and colourful and they brought the story to life too.
My daughter enjoyed the book and I loved the message from the author in the story.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!