"Fast-paced and funny, humorously focusing on the (correct) assessment that lions simply don’t roam South America. Pleasing alliteration ('growly growls,' 'terrifying tails') and repeating phrases make for a lively read-aloud. Accompanying illustrations are cartoonish and colorful, capturing an impressive range of emotions. Back matter introduces the range of unusual forest critters in more detail, along with a call for conservation. A merry mystery for a boisterous bedtime read." —Booklist

"A speedy tempo and patterned text punctuated by the repeated refrain of 'There’s a lion in the forest' will ensure a lively storytime, and the animals’ growing collective alarm gives ample opportunity for performative drama. . . . The watercolor and pen art pops off the page with dynamic compositions that focus on the friends during key action scenes then zoom out for their race through the forest in lush, full spreads. End matter includes thumbnail sketches of each of the animals and a lengthier note on the golden lion tamarin’s status as an endangered species. This would pair well with Barnett’s Count the Monkeys for a breezy rainforest-themed storytime, and it might also inspire a lesson of compare and contrast in animal features." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Featuring animals of the rainforest (capybaras, toucans, and coati to name a few) the lesson in the dangers of jumping to conclusions is delivered with good humor and a very appealing cast of animal characters. Back matter adds further details to all the animals, especially the endangered golden lion tamarin. Pencil and watercolor illustrations capture the details of the animals and all of the fun of the building hysteria. Fun and informational at the same time, this has a solid message for the intended audience: Take the time to gather all the evidence before leaping to conclusions." —School Library Journal

“The suspense of (possibly) meeting a lion turns into the pleasure of an introduction to several uniquely South American creatures. . . . Silly, light, and lighthearted, this is nevertheless a fine mix of story and fact, an amusing combination of anticipation and information with a cartoonlike, funny cast of characters. Fact-filled, young reader–friendly paragraphs on each of the characters in the backmatter expand the story for the inquisitive. Entertaining and edifying.”—Kirkus Reviews