If I Were King

Book excerpt: One rainy day in the jungle, unlikely friends—Zebra, Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, Monkey, Elephant, and Chameleon—gather to lament how boring their daily activities are. Zebra, with her imagination and fun-loving nature, convinces the other animals to escape their mundane lives by pretending they are kings. Playing this game teaches them about their many differences and, more important, their own likes and dislikes. Zebra, upon discovering this information, realizes that it’s okay not to always want to play with other zebras as long as she listens to her inner voice and yields when it warns her of dangers or cautions her to maintain clear boundaries. Immediately she learns that Lion can stop being her friend when he’s angry or hungry. Along her quest, she learns about everyone’s likes and dislikes, including her own, and discovers the true meaning of friendship.