Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-As the zookeeper makes his rounds before opening the gate to visitors, he issues instructions to make sure that the animals look their best. Giraffes need to stand up straight, and Mr. Lion must comb his hair. Once the humans arrive, the rhymed text turns to observations of behavior such as making silly sounds, eating constantly, and primping. Humor lies in the parallel activities of the zoo animals and visitors. Young listeners can look for the similarities in the cartoonlike illustrations and will also enjoy spotting the monkey that shows up on every spread and "helps" the zookeeper while wearing the man's hat. The title might supplement a class or family outing to the zoo but isn't a necessary purchase.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A zookeeper makes the rounds, checking to see that all of his charges are ready to put their best feet, paws, and hooves forward. The text is bland but inoffensive ("Hear the silly sounds they speak, / as they howl, squawk and shriek!"). Same goes for the caricature illustrations of anthropomorphized animals; the pictures are fine but forgettable. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The mustachioed zookeeper is just one of the beasts in this gorgeous trip to the zoo. He makes his morning rounds, trundling along with the food cart that's brimming with tasty morsels for the still-groggy animals' breakfasts.He also offers up morning suggestions. To the yawning lion, mane all crinkly, the zookeeper insists, "Mr. Lion, comb that hair." To the giraffes, whose necks are still crooked from sleep, he suggests, "...please, stand up straight! / That's more like ityou look great!" Then the gates open, and the visitors stream in. The rhyming couplets stroll through the zoo, dropping by all the attractions from the safari animals to the reptiles, peering in fascination at the things the creatures dothe eating, the prancing, the preening. But, wait, who's watching whom? This perspective-shifting tale is lavishly decorated with quirky cartoon illustrations, bright and rich with warmth and humor. The exotic birds burst from the page in brilliant color, and the expressive elephant is rendered in pinkish gray that embodies tenderness. Bostrom enthusiastically explores the links between all the world's creatures, celebrating both diversity and similarities. Like the zoo, this happy romp will be often revisited.(Picture book. 2-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
