Once Upon a Jungle: questions to ask and activities to try
Once upon a time there lived a jungle... Once Upon a Jungle is a strikingly illustrated first look at food chains and how every animal and plant depends on another.
What age is it for? Once Upon a Jungle is best for ages 3–7. Good for: How the jungle food chain works.
Once Upon a Jungle (Laura Knowles and James Boast)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- How the jungle food chain works
Spot the hidden animals on each page first. Then follow the food chain together and ask what would happen if one creature disappeared.
What it helps with
- How animals and plants depend on each other
- Food chains and the circle of life
- Curiosity about the natural world
- Looking closely at pictures
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Which animals did you spot?”
- “What does the caterpillar eat?”
- “Who eats the caterpillar?”
- “What happens at the end of the circle?”
- “What would happen if one animal disappeared?”
- “Which jungle animal would you be?”
5-minute activities to try together
Food chain links
Make a paper chain where each link is a plant or animal that eats the one before.
Garden chain
Find a food chain in your garden or park: leaf, snail, bird...
Free printables: Once Upon a Jungle worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
Because of an Acorn (Lola M. Schaefer, Adam Schaefer and Frann Preston-Gannon)
- Best for
- How everything in nature is connected
- Age
- 3-7
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle)
- Best for
- Growing and changing, and waiting for something good
- Age
- 2-5
Beware of the Crocodile (Martin Jenkins and Satoshi Kitamura)
- Best for
- Curious children who love real animal facts
- Age
- 4-8
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.