FICTION

The View at the Zoo

by Kathleen BOSTROM LONG
978-0-82495-629-5.
COPY ISBN
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
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.
Reviewed by Kathy Piehl , May 01, 2011

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