“Let’s begin!” declared King Lion. “The animal who earns the most ribbons is named the Top Banana, and wins the whole batch of bananas!”“BANANAS?” asked Mobi, trying to get a better look.

Each racer approached the starting line.The crowd buzzed, “Who will be the fastest?”Mobi stood on the track, eyeing the bananas. “I could never win,” he muttered.“You there!” Lion called. “Get behind the line.”“Me? But I’m not racing—“ Surprised, but hopeful, Mobi joined the others.“Ready? Set? GO!”

Poom-Poom stomped. Gita strided... And Chal bolted.

King Lion announced, “Poom-Poom is fast.
Gita is faster, but Chal is the fastest.”

Mobi tried to race, but accidentally tripped Gita.
“No fair!” she complained, “We got all tangled.”

Faster than the others, Chal crossed the finish line first. Poom-Poom, who was slower, took second.

King Lion gave Mobi an encouraging smile. “Next, who can grab the highest leaf?”
Mobi brushed himself off. “I can climb,” he mumbled. “I might be ok.”
“Ready? Set? Go!”

Gita stretched.
Poom-Poom reached.
And Chal scaled the tree.

The king reported, “Chal is mid-way up the tree, but Gita seems to be reaching higher than the others.”

Mobi tried to climb, but misjudged a vine.
Chal yowled, “He grabbed my tail!”
Mobi and Chal dropped to the ground.

Taller than the others, Gita used her long, black tongue to snag the highest leaf.
Poom-Poom, who was shorter, grabbed the lowest leaf.

“Try again,” said the king. Mobi stood up, still hopeful. “Who can move a log the farthest? Ready? Set? Go!”

Chal tugged. Gita pulled.
And Poom-Poom pushed.

Mobi tried to roll the log, but accidentally rolled it backwards—into the crowd. “Hey! Look out!” they called.

King Lion declared, “Poom-Poom wins! She is strong. She pushed the log twice as far as Chal and Gita. Poom-Poom moved the log the farthest.”

Mobi slumped. “I’m not having much success yet.” Lion patted his shoulder. “The next event is perfect for you. Who can throw the most coconuts into their basket? Ready? Set. Go!”

Poom-Poom flung two, then started eating. Chal tossed a few, then started playing. And Gita rolled several, until she toppled. Having opposable thumbs, Mobi hurled many coconuts. “Time’s up!” roared King Lion.

Poom-Poom had none left. She had eaten them all! “Oh well,” she munched. Chal was proud of his pile, that is, until he realized Gita had more. King Lion announced, “Mobi has thrown the most coconuts.”“Maybe, I am a competitor after all!” said Mobi, dancing... until he realized...

“Hey! We have an equal number of ribbons. No animal has the most! Who should win the bananas?”

Poom-poom burped.
Chal shrugged.
And Gita waved to the crowd.

“Hmmm,” sighed King Lion.
“I know!” said Mobi. “We could share the bananas!”

Mobi handed them out...
The King clapped.
The competitors bowed.

The crowd ate.
And Mobi danced the funky monkey!