ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

A headstrong little rhino bellows "I'm in charge!" as he charges through the savanna, doing things like tossing a warthog out of his way, squashing a baboon's banana, even butting the butt of an elephant at a watering hole. Part of the gentle humor of this is seeing how appalled the other animals are at the rhino's bossy behavior. When the rhino usurps a mango tree as his own, a little pygmy mouse dares to assert that the rhino's not in charge, and then warns him that a stampede is coming. The stampede is first seen as tiny, Lascaux cave like paintings at the very bottom of one page, but then it dramatically overtakes the next two-page spread d little rhino. The little tyke makes it to safety, but once the stampede passes, he finally learns he's definitely not in charge. The book's double-page spreads feature cheerful digital illustrations with sunrise tones and watercolor effects that effectively convey the heat and expanse of the savanna. A nice lesson couched in absorbing illustrations and simple rhymes.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Insisting "I'm in charge!", a defiant, naughty rhino learns about the importance of kindness in this rhyming Aesop-like parable. When a herd of wildebeests teach Rhino what it's like to be on the receiving end of someone else's thoughtlessness, the message to be considerate toward others is hammered home. Jarvis's candy-colored digital illustrations have an energy equal to Rhino's mischief.

Kirkus Reviews

A little rhino gets his comeuppance after gleefully disrupting everyone else's day."There was once a little rhino / (who was really rather large) / and from the day that he was born, / he bellowed, ‘I'm in charge!' " The big-but-little rhino leans fetchingly against a rock, backgrounded by a gold-and-blue African veldt. A meerkat perches nearby, staring at the rhino. The art is a striking mixed-media collage that holds readers' attention with bright palette changes at every page turn. Each of the stylized animals is comical yet also clearly represents its species. Clever, singsong rhymes emphasize the little rhino's naughty behavior and use plenty of humorous, descriptive alliteration; for example, Rhino has a "darling daddy," a "muddy mother," and "feisty feet." After Rhino has plagued everyone—his parents, Warthog, Giraffe, all the meerkats, Baboon, and Elephant—his final act of disobedience is denying Pygmy Mouse a bite of mango. Rhino's use of "la la la" to ignore the mouse's warnings about impending disaster is especially funny. He continues to shout about being in charge until a stampede of wildebeests—beautifully resembling French cave art—almost causes his demise. The familiarity of Rhino's self-absorbed, controlling behavior and the predictable, satisfying end make this a good choice for the youngest listeners. The "terrible twos" come alive at the savanna watering hole. (Picture book. 2-5)

School Library Journal (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Toddler-PreS Delightful, bright digital illustrations and a flawless rhyming text tell the story of a small rhinoceros that learns a lesson. When his parents tell him to do anything, such as go to bed, the feisty young bully refuses, then states his signature comeback: "I'm in charge!" The other inhabitants of the savanna are flummoxed as to what to do with the temperamental toddler when he declares that the mango tree and its fruit are all his. Action verbs appear in a big bold font and highlight potentially new vocabulary words for youngsters. "He scattered all the meerkats, and he startled poor Giraffe. He squashed Baboon's banana when he would not give him half." Colorful spreads are suitable for one-on-one sharing and large enough for storytimes. The stylized illustrations contain backgrounds in radiant shades of pink, yellow, green and blue while the coloring of the African animals, including a warthog, elephants, a pygmy mouse, and wildebeests are more realistic. VERDICT A charming read-aloud for most collections about a little rascal's comeuppance that will be enjoyed by young children. Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI