Book Description

Good Night, Gorilla won the 1994 Cuffie for "Most Likely to Succeed in Years Ahead" and has more than lived up to that prediction, becoming a modern classic that is a must in every child's library.

This perfect package will give kids the opportunity to cuddle up with an adorable plush gorilla while they are enjoying his secret bedtime antics. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Gracie's Favorite Book
My 10-month-old daughter demands her father and I read only Peggy Rathman books to her before bedtime. Since she was 5 months old, she would choose Goodnight, Gorilla from a pile of books offered to her, even if I hid this book on the bottom of the stack. I have decided that, unlike most baby board books, Peggy Rathman stories have a climax to look forward to -- whether it is yelling "BEDTIME" in Ten Minutes 'Til Bedtime or gasping when the zookeeper's wife realizes there are a bunch of zoo animals in her bedroom in Goodnight, Gorilla. The illustrations keep me interested, night after night. The attention to detail is wonderful. I highly recommend her books, and wish she would write more!

Perfect for toddlers!!
My son loves this book! I think it must be because the illustrations are easy on his eyes. The drawings are very childlike and the colors(mostly primary)are perfect. This is the story of a zookeeper who is closing the zoo for the night, and while he says "goodnight" to each critter, the gorilla, who is first, steals his keys and lets all the animals out. They all follow him home, and he never even notices! His pop eyed wife has to take care of them herself. It's the most adorable little book! There isn't much to read. It's more of a feast for the child's eyes right before he sets off to night nights.
The copy I have is a small board book, and it's small enough for my son's little hands to hold and admire all by himself.
I highly recommend buying this for the child at age 21 month and over.

Great for signing!
If you are using sign language with your child, this is a great book! It is more of a picture book, but there are great opportunities to sign gorilla (monkey, banana and key on every page, as well as some good concepts for kids like "light" and "sleep."

Even if you aren't signing, this book is fabulous. There are opportunities to identify animals and colors on every page, as well as finding the mouse and his banana.

Fun again and again!
I love this book and so does my toddler! We read it over and over. I love that we can think of different stories for every page and the illustrations and wonderful!!!

Not only cute, but really quite good
The creators of children's picture books that seek to enchant the viewer always run the risk of sometimes becoming TOO sweet. A book that's dripping with sweetie-pie sentiments is always in danger of disgusting the discerning (and purchasing) parent. "Good Night, Gorilla", on the other hand, balances deftly between sweet and smart, becoming both at once. In a simple story, a night watchman at a zoo bids goodnight to each of his animals as a sneaky gorilla unlocks them one by one. The unwitting watchman goes home (animals in tow) and it's up to his wife to put them all to bed again. If I was a better writer I'd be able to tell you just how cute this book is. It's SO cute! But not stupid in the least. Rathmann has filled this story with clever little subplots that kids will enjoy following. A small mouse with a banana lugs the heavy object from picture to picture. Rathmann even goes so far as to wrap a picture on the back of the book's cover around and into the inner fold where the tiny mouse stands by, patiently. The book also emotes deadpan beautifully. In one scene the watchman's wife says goodnight to her husband and the page goes black. Next we hear each animal in the room (that crept in unbeknownst to her) saying goodnight back. The two page spread that follows is just a single pair of wide open eyes in the black dark room. The deadpan wit will not be lost on either kids or their adult parents. If you'd like a book that you can read fifty times over without getting nauseated or bored, find yerself a copy of "Good Night, Gorilla", and count yourself lucky for having discovered it. ... Read more

Book Description

It started the summer of 2002, when the Springfield librarian, Molly McGrew, by mistake drove her bookmobile into the zoo.

In this rollicking rhymed story, Molly introduces birds and beasts to this new something called reading. She finds the perfect book for every animal—tall books for giraffes, tiny ones for crickets. "She even found waterproof books for the otter, who never went swimming without Harry Potter." In no time at all, Molly has them "forsaking their niches, their nests, and their nooks," going "wild, simply wild, about wonderful books." Judy Sierra’s funny animal tale coupled with Marc Brown’s lush, fanciful paintings will have the same effect on young Homo sapiens. Altogether, it’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"It's a pretty good zoo," said young Gerald McGrew, "and the fellow who runs it seems proud of it, too." But if Gerald ran the zoo, the New Zoo, McGrew Zoo, he'd see to making a change or two: "So I'd open each cage. I'd unlock every pen, let the animals go, and start over again." And that's just what Gerald imagines, as he travels the world in this playfully illustrated Dr. Seuss classic (first published back in 1950), collecting all sorts of beasts "that you don't see every day." From the mountains of Zomba-ma-Tant to the blistering sands of the Desert of Zind, Gerald hunts down every animal imaginable ("I'll catch 'em in countries no one can spell, like the country of Motta-fa-Potta-fa-Pell"). Whether it's a scraggle-foot Mulligatawny or a wild-haired Iota (from "the far western part of south-east North Dakota"), Gerald amazes the world with his new and improved zoo: "This Zoo Keeper, New Keeper's simply astounding! He travels so far that you think he would drop! When do you suppose this young fellow will stop?"

But Gerald's weird and wonderful globe-trotting safari doesn't end a moment too soon: "young McGrew's made his mark. He's built a zoo better than Noah's whole Ark!" Some of the text and illustrations--imaginative as they are--are obviously dated, such as the following passage: "I'll hunt in the mountains ofZomba-ma-Tant/ With helpers who all wear their eyes at a slant,/ And capture a fine fluffy bird called the Bustard/ Who only eats custard with sauce made of mustard." And your children may be the first to recognize that attitudes have changed since the xenophobic '50s. But that doesn't mean this tale need be discarded; instead, it should be discussed. Ironically, Seuss was trying here--in his wild, explosive, and sometimes careless manner--to celebrate the joys of unconventionality and the bliss of liberation! (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The Best of Dr. Seuss!
"If I Ran the Zoo" is my absolutely favorite book by Dr. Seuss! This book is an instant childhood classic. I cannot remember how many times I begged my grandmother to read it to me. By far one of the Doctor's most imaginative stories.

One of the best..
In "review" of the current online reviews - y'all just don't get it. Dr. Suess' books are about using ones imagination, not just the environment (which y'all seem to take literally), but how we treat, and take life (ALL life) in general on a day to day basis. Relate the "animals" in "If I Ran the Zoo" or "If I Ran the Circus" to someone you know (or read about). Learn from them. Enjoy.

Many negative messages outweight the positives...
Let me start off by saying that I am a huge Dr. Seuss fan. This book does encourage a child's use of his/her imagination, and the fantasy is rich. However, there are elements in the book that disturb me. I understand that it was written in 1950, but I don't know that young children are capable of comprehending the difference. For example, Asians are quite stereotypically depicted, including this line, "With helpers who all wear their eyes at a slant." Africans are depicted in an even sorse way; they look as though they were drawn in blackface, and they have enormous nose rings. The message of hunting down creatures (and taking pleasure in it) so that they can be caged in a zoo for display is also bothersome. I fully recognize that these things are in conflect with our family's values and that other families may disagree. However, I thought families with similar values might appreciate the heads-up.

The book that named the Nerds
Actually this book is the one that introduced for the first time the word NERD. The widly spread use of this word was taken from a curiosly angry character in this book. Only for that, this book deserves to be a classic. But aside that, this book is probably the best work of Dr. Seuss. It is very imaginative, beutifully illustrated and impressively well writen.
A must have for every child. I'm mexican and this book illustrations made me learn english. I truly recommend this title.

Children can See Possibilities That Grownups Dont
A timeless and fun romp of imagination - children are so gifted at seeing beyond how things are to how they could be. If more grown-ups would read books like this with their kids and reconnect with their innate creative self, we could really create a better world of possibilities!
I also recommend: If I Ran the Circus -and- If I Ran the Family ! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Good choice for very young children.
I gave this book to my 1-year-old niece about 6 months ago, and she absolutely loves it! She still has to read it at least once a night. She gets such a kick out of lifting the flaps to see what's hiding underneath. I highly recommend this book.

Never too early to add this title
I've read this book to my daughter since she was four months old. She really likes looking at the pictures and flaps. Other books, even classics like "The Runaway Bunny," have too many words to interest her, but this one has a very short, succinct story and great pictures.

Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo
Tis the ultimate interactive story for the young 'uns. An unseen narrator (who we assume must be a child of some sort) narrates a tale of unprecedented zooish generosity. After asking the zoo for a pet, a series of animals are sent in the hope that the child will want them. Unfortunately (and as the book makes clear) many of animals one finds at the zoo are inappropriate pets. Each animal that arrives is hidden beneath a flap. When you lift the flap the children to whom you are reading this tale are supposed to delightedly cry out the name of that particular animal. In this way, you can teach kids the kinds of animals that live at the zoo. For the narrator, though, elephants are too big, lions too fierce, monkeys to naughty, and frogs too jumpy. In the end, the narrator receives a small hamper with the note, "From all your friends at the zoo" containing the perfect pet.

As an early book, this story and its accompanying illustrations are very very simple. I was a little disappointed at the flimsiness of the flaps children are supposed to lift or turn. The copy I paged through had been scotch taped and re-scotch taped several times to keep the book in any kind of semblance of order. It is also a pity that the animals in this book aren't named ever. I don't doubt that kids will, mostly, be able to name them anyway, but it's nice to learn to read the names along with the pictures of the animals. Still, the book is satisfying to read. No subtext here. Nuh-uh. Just a very basic story about a zoo, some friendly animals, and the reasons (or lack there of) of keeping them. For another interesting and enjoyable zoo book, try "Good Night, Gorilla" by Peggy Rathmann (a personal pet favorite of mine).

Two years to 200 years - A Favorite
I have six little ones from 10 to 2. They have all enjoyed this book and now the older ones read it to the younger one's. I found my two year old reading it to herself from memory. What a treasure!

Dear Zoo
My Daughter loves this book. She started reading it at twelve months and still enjoys the book ten months later. It is simple. The flaps open in different directions. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in color. Spot, a polka-dot leopard who can change colors and even juggle his own spots, tries to convince two children that he is special enough to be exhibited in the zoo. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Excellent and entertaining child's book
This is an excellent little book for children. It is, in the Dr. Seuss tradition, easy to read with clever pictures. The child get's to see why the star of the book wants to be in the zoo and at the end they get to help him in an unexpected way. As he shows off his skills with his "spots" they learn the difference in colors, big & little, etc. Top notch child's book, a favorite at our house.

My Favorite Book as a Child & My Favorite to Read to My Kids
This book was one of my favorite books as a child. It doesn't matter that the critter doesn't have a name or that you don't know what kind of animal it is. It tells you that there is something special about this animal, more special than he even thinks. It is also a great book to help children use their imaginations - what other things could this "dog" possibly do and what makes you special.

I read this book to my children whenever I get the chance.

its one the my favorite books
this is a great book to read and have fun with. Its about a pokedotted bear and his adventrures and its just really funny and fun to read.

Put me in the zoo
The book is about a animal that tries to get into the zoo and ends up being better off going into the circus because of all the talents with his spots he can do.
The book teaches you all the things you can do when you try your hardest.
The age level is 3 to 7

Put Me in the Zoo
"Put Me in the Zoo," is a fantastic story about an animal with spots. This goofy looking animal wants to live in the zoo because it is such a wonderful place, but the zookeepers don't want him in the zoo and so they kick him out. Then he begins to talk to two little children who ask, "Why should they put you in the zoo? What good are you? What can you do?" He then shows them the many amazing tricks he can do with his spots. His spots change colors, size and shape. The children are amazed but tell him that he doesn't belong in the zoo, but somewhere else. To find out where that somewhere is then you'll have to read this wonderful, rhyming poem, put onto the pages of a book.

I would recommend adults read this story to their children or children read it for themselves. It is probably best for kids from ages 3-9. Though, adults would probably enjoy this book too. It is highly inspiring and about finding what is special about you. It has tons of funny stuff that will entertain your kids until the book ends. I highly recommend that you buy this for your children or rent it from the library. It is one of my favorites from when I was young, and I'm almost positive that after your child has read it, it will be one of their favorites too!! ... Read more

Book Description

The chameleon's life was not very exciting until the day it discovered it could change not only its color but its shape and size,too. When it saw the wonderful animals in the zoo, it immediately wanted to be like them -- and ended up like all of them at once -- with hilarious results.

Reviews (6)

The Mixed-Up Chameleon, School Project
I think that "The Mixed-Up Chameleon" by Eric Carle is a really great, fun and interesting, and a great learning experience for children. Personally, I have loved this book since as long as I can remember. In the beginning, it describes a chameleon that is bored of its boring life. He then goes to the zoo and sees all kinds of different and beautiful animals. Astonished by the sight of all of them, he wishes to become them one by one. He must wish to be about ten animals including a person. After all of this excitement, he sees a fly and...... Well, I can't tell you what happens! Buy this book and your child(children) and you can find out together.
This is the type of book that you can read and enjoy for years and years. Although, if I had to lower it down to a certain age group, then, I would have to say it's mostly for children from the ages 5-8. But don't get me wrong, I'm defiantly not telling all of you that are older not to read this book.
For all of you parents out there:
This book is a great choice for children that are in the learning process of reading. It's easy to comprehend and there are not many words that will be stumbled on. Also, it has a great lesson behind all of it. You can wish to be something else, and if that wish comes true, then all it will tell you is that you were perfect the way you were before. Wishing to be something else will just make things difficult in the long run.
So after hearing all that I have to say do you think you'll be interested in buying a book like this? Trust me, it will be worth the money and a great buy.
Also, I just wanted to say that if you enjoy this book, then I believe that you will enjoy every single one of Eric Carle's others. He is an amazing author.

Great Artwork, Strong Message
Eric Carle's "The Mixed-Up Chameleon" tells the story of a little chameleon who hates the fact that he changes color to match his surroundings. He notices a zoo and all the wonderful and distinctive animals there. He begins to wish for (and receives) various elements from the animals ("I wish I was tall, like a giraffe" is one). The chameleon ends up as an assemblage of parts which look great on the original animals, but don't do very well all together. The rub comes when the hungry chameleon cannot reach the fly to eat it. He wishes to be himself again and regains his true form.

My kids love this book, not only for the beautiful artwork, but also because as each page is turned, the new animal whose feature the chameleon takes is shown, so at the end, all the animals are shown at the edge of the page. I like the message that being yourself is always the best, and that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

Wonderful for the Classroom
This is a story of a chameleon who is not happy. He thinks he is not exciting. He sees some beatiful animals at the zoo and wishes he could be like them. The animals he sees are: a white polar bear, a pink flamingo flamigo, a red fox, an orange fish, a brown deer, a yellow giraffe, a green turtle, a blue elephant,and a purple seal. Each time the chamelon sees a new animal he wishes he could be like them. The chamelon's body begins to dipict a part of the other animals. At the end of the story he wishes to be back to normal. This book could be used in the classroom when the students are learning their colors. It could be used to reinforce squencing. The students could retell the order the animals appear. The illustrations are are wonderful in this book. The students could construct torn-paper designs to illustrate the chameleon.

Story grows on you
We read this book after Brown Bear and Polar Bear and about the same time as Hungry Caterpillar. While my 2 1/2 year old son, Brian, loves all of his Eric Carle books, he's particularly taken with this mixed-up chameleon. From the first page, there are already new concepts to grasp, such as seeing the chameleon turn "brownish" after it moved onto a "brown" tree, "reddish" on a "red" flower, and "yellowish" on the "yellow" sand. That's just Page 1. Subsequently, Brian would then read out loud, how "I wish I could be HANDSOME like a flamingo,"..."smart like a fox",..."funny like a seal" at which point he'll go "hahahahaha". He's only had the book for 3 weeks and he's already "reading" almost the whole book by himself. The story has a moral to it too, about how the chameleon, after wishing to be all the things it wasn't, ended up so mixed-up that it finally wished "I could be myself." We have great fun reading about the chameleon together, as we do about the other Eric Carle characters: hungry caterpillar, brown bear, polar bear, and little cloud.

A colorful story with a valuable lesson
Eric Carle has a beautiful way of telling stories that touch the heart and teach valuable lessons. The Mixed-up Chameleon tells a story about the importance of being yourself. My 2 year old loves the bright pictures and easy to follow story. Another loved Eric Carle story! ... Read more

Book Description

Little ones love to play peek-a-boo. With its oversize flaps and bright, bold illustrations, this follow-up to the highly successful Peek-a-Moo! is sure to be another hit with young readers. On every page, kids play peek-a-boo with a different animal found at the zoo, guessing what it is, then lifting the flap to find out. Each animal has a different sound that becomes part of the peek-a-boo game: Guess who? "Peek-a-roar!" says the lion. "Peek-a-ooo-ooo-ooo!" says the chimpanzee. The sweet, funny animals will keep kids laughing, while the large trim size and sturdy binding will ensure many hours of lift-the-flap fun! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Giggles galore
My son lights up and laughs when he sees this book. He loves the peekaboo concept, but giggles even harder when mommy gets the sound "wrong." If you are signing with your child, this book provides a great opportunity to reinforce the sign with the animal sound.

One note, my niece was scared of this book when she first got it. We think it was the was the eyes are drawn...but who knows!

Highly recommended.

Strange Animals but Baby Loves It
My daughter is now 9 months old and peek-a-boo is her favorite game. She really likes this book. The flaps are big enough for her to lift by herself. Personally I find it a strange choice of animals for me to mimic their noises. E.g. "snort! goes the rhinocerous". I didn't realise there was a "Peek-a-moo" book which I'd probably prefer. My daughter doesn't seem to care though and loves this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Edward the emu was sick of the zoo,
There was nowhere to go, there was nothing to do,
And compared to the seals that lived right next door,
Well being an emu was frankly a bore.

Tired of his life as an emu, Edward decides to try being something else for a change. He tries swimming with the seals. He spends a day lounging with the lions. He even does a stint slithering with the snakes.

But Edward soon discovers that being an emu may be the best thing after all. And so he returns to his pen, only to find a big surprise awaiting him. . . .

... Read more

Reviews (9)

A wonderful story for children
I read this story to my son after a recent trip to the zoo. We both loved it. The illustrations are wonderful as are the characters.

Darling...
This book is absolutely darling! And funny, and fun. We LOVE Edward! The large print, the rhyming verse, and the PERFECT illustrations combine to make this one of our very favorite books, not to mention the nice little message of "being yourself". We received it as a gift, but have purchased 5 more to give to my son's friends for Christmas. Buy this book - you won't regret it.

One of the funniest books ever written!
"Edward the Emu" is one of the funniest books I have ever read! I use it in storytime with three year olds and I laugh as much as they do! Edward is silly but determined to be a different animal but at the end decides he likes being himself. What a wonderful way to show kids that everyone is unique and special in their own way!

An emu in the zoo for you
This delightful rhyming story takes the reader on the adventure of Edward the Emu, who decides being an Emu is boring, and travels around the zoo, trying to be other animals, only to discover that perhaps being an Emu is the best thing there is. With its fantastic illustrations, and rollicking rhymes, this would make a great bedtime story (and it isn't too long for parents who start dropping off to sleep when pressed into reading for ages each night).

Kids love it!
I am a school teacher and over the years I have read this book to hundreds of children of primary age. They have all loved it. The story line is amusing and the illustrations are fantastic. It is good to use with younger children and get them to predict what the next part of the story is going to be. I was very pleased to see that this book is still in print as I have had over 10 years of fun out of it already. ... Read more

Book Description

A seal at school!

What happens when Sammy, the adventurous seal, leaves the zoo for the day? He goes to the city, finds a school full of kids and new things to do--and he even learns to read!

Reviews (8)

Sammy the Seal
One day, Sammy the seal decides that he wants to go outside of the zoo to see what life is like in the outside world. During his adventures he walks along a busy street, swims in a man's bathtub, and goes to school. I think it is really cute how people don't even notice there is a seal walking down the street, or if they do they don't act like it is any thing out of the ordinary.

The pictures in the original 1959 version are very cute, full of expression and well colored. In the original the colors are shaded in, and almost look as if they were colored in by some very artistic kid with crayons.

The story flows wonderfully, even if some parts don't quite make sense. It is a very cute, if rather nonsensical, story.

Loggie-log-log-log

Classic story for children
Basically the same story as "Danny and the Dinosaur" and not as ingenious. However, Hoff's illustrations are always a joy to look at. And the scoolteacher is definitely hot. I had a crush on her as a child, and still do.

Sammy The Seal
Sammy the Seal lives in a zoo in the city. One day, as Mr Johnson was feeding the seal, he asked Sammy waht was the matter; as Sammy was looking very sad indeed. He told Mr Johnson that he wanted to get out of the zoo, and have a look around the city. He looked at everything, but soon it was too hot for him, and he ended up taking a swim in a man's bath tub. He then found a liune of children waiting to go to school. Sammy learned to read and write, and he was very good at vollyball. After school was out, Sammy went home to the zoo. He was glad to be home--it was supper time.

Excellent
This was the first book my mother read to me, i memorized it because i asked her to read it to me every night. That's how i learned to read by the time I was 3.5 years old or so, which got me ahead in classes. Now, ending my junior year in high school, i pop out the book when i get stressed out and read it to myself...even though i know the words without opening the book. Buy it! you'll love it!

I loved this book!
I couldn't believe I still had the original Sammy The Seal book I had when I was a child! (This just proves how much I cherished it!) I am so delighted that I can pass it on to my 6 year old son as he learns to read. I highly recommend this book and others by Syd Hoff. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The silliest books !
Does any one know that Sue Denim is the ONE AND ONLY DAVE PILKEY!He writes the book under the girls name Sue Denim(pseudonym). Funny huh!!I have to say that my kids can't get enough of these books.
No one needs to look into the detail of the book to see that kids read it and laugh. It's funny, and my kids have had a good laugh for the past years that they have owned these books. They never fail to crack up.

3 1/2* Not Completely Bunny
...but it is fairly funny. Sue Denim's "Dumb Bunnies" series is full of verbal (and visual) puns and other language-based humor, much of it clever, some of it puerile. The humor can be at a fairly low level, and the adjective "dumb" is not used in any redeeming way. Unlike the similarly confused "Amelia Bedelia" character, the bunnies are neither particularly sweet nor well-meaning; unlike "Curious George," there isn't a tradeoff between mischief and heroics; unlike Homer Simpson, the questionable IQ is not balanced by other personal qualities.

Despite these minor objections, Denim does knows humor for the young set. In this story, the "dumb bunnies" confuse themselves and others during a zoo trip, and generally cause trouble for all. A lot of the humor is in the background zoo signs:"Free Admission. Free Ice Cream. Free Popcorn. All For One Low Price," and "Hot Dogs. Chilly Dogs. Room-Temperature Dogs." Dave Pilkey's illustrations are bright and colorful without overwhelming. A good book for around ages 4 to 7. Note: Although for older readers/listeners, Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" books deliver even more bathroom humor (for those who like that--and I know that many kids do), but they are more cleverly designed and plotted than this book.

My favorite Bunnies book
As much as I love the original Dumb Bunnies book, I think I like this one the tiniest bit more. The first time I read it I was literally rolling on the floor of a bookstore laughing. The storyline is so wacky, and the pictures are the best. Be sure to catch all the visual jokes - some of the signs in the zoo are priceless! I've heard it called "potty humor", but I also know that my younger cousin who hates reading adores these books. When it comes down to it, it's just a fun book and always good for a laugh!

It's hilarious!
I am almost seven years old. I'm learning to read. This is my favorite book. Because the dumb bunnies do funny things. The pictures are funny too. Read this book if you like silly books.

Hilarious story with hidden signs
I am seven years old and my name is Sam. I love all the Dumb Bunny books in general, and I even watch the TV show. I just got Dumb Bunnies Go To the Zoo for Easter from my Grandma. I have read it four times and still find it funny. The story is funny but the pictures are EVEN FUNNIER. I hope that Dav continues to write MORE books so I can buy them all and put them in my bookcase in my room. Thanks Dav and Sue for making me laugh! ... Read more

Book Description

When Billy left his pet spider, Helen, at the Zoo, the animals suddenly became happy and contented. The lions snoozed all day long, the elephants enjoyed their baths, and the zebras ate their hay in peace -- all because Helen was spinning webs and catching flies.

But one day Helen's webs were swept away. The Keeper had the cages cleaned for the Mayor's inspection tour. Soon the flies were back again and the animals were miserable once more. But not for long...

Children will be fascinated and amused by the way Helen solved the problem and won a permanent place of honor for herself in the Zoo.

Margaret Bloy Graham's pictures match the wit and charm of her delightful story.

Reviews (5)

Super book!
A cute story about a spider named Helen who goes to live at the zoo. I loved this book because it shows how the creatures that some people tend not to like - spiders for instance - are often very helpful! We are big bug lovers here (we have many species as pets) and this was a story that touched our hearts. You'll want to get this for anyone who loves bugs. Even better, get it for someone who wants to stomp on them to give them a better perspective!

A Lifelong Lesson
I remember reading this book to my daughters who are now in their late 20's and early 30's! I've enjoy remembering how helpful Helen and her children were to those around them. I see myself now, even, trying not to harm a spider or their magnificent webs on the front porch or a bedding plant in the garden. My grandson enjoyed watching the web grow and grow last summer on our front porch and was disappointed when a storm destroyed it. :^(

Very useful book
I really liked this book because it really helps people understand what most people do not understand, the spider. It shows people that spiders can be useful and should not be harmed. I thought it was really great when the people in the zoo and the zookeeper found out that it was Helen that were keeping the animals healthy and made the rule to be nice to spiders.

Childhood Favorite
This book was a childhood favorite, after 30 years the story of the spider and all the good he did for the zoo has stuck with me. It has all the elements to keep a child interested and to teach good valuable lessons. It is easy reading for a child, I think both boys and girls will enjoy it.

My favorite children's book ever!!!!!!!
This book taught me to not be afraid of spiders and it is such a good book for kids. A little boy gives his spider to the zoo because the apartment he is moving to doesn't allow pets. Next you will read about all the things that happen to his spider in the zoo. All in all, a great children's book. ... Read more

Book Description

Curious George and the man with the yellow hat visit the zoo. A hungry Curious George snatches a pail of bananas from the zoo keeper. Though he shouldn't have taken the bananas, George soon changes the zookeeper's shouts to praise with his clever, helpful ways. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is a great book for pre-schoolers and early readers!!!
This series by Margaret Rey is a wonderful introduction for preschoolers to stories with a simple plot line. In Curious George Visits the Zoo, George gets into mischief (which children can always relate to....) but redeems himself in the end by saving a young boy's balloon. In Curious George Visits the Fire Station, George is naughty when he rings the fire alarm, but again shows his better side when he rescues one of the firehouse puppies by climbing UP the firepole. In Curious George and the Pizza, he makes a mess trying his hand at tossing pizza dough into the air, but saves the day when he alone can make a crucial pizza delivery by climbing over a locked gate. Young children enjoy comparing the plots in this series. George is told not to get into trouble, he gets into trouble, then he exonerates himself. Parents, grandparents, teachers and child-care providers will all enjoy this series along with their youngsters!

I LIKE THE BOOK ALOT.
THE BOOK WAS A ABOUT GOERGE WHEN HE WENT TO THE ZOO AND THE MONKEY TOOK A BALOON FROM A LITTE BOY AND GEROGE GOT SOME BANANAS FROM A ZOO KEEPER. THEN HE GAVE THE BANANAS TO THE MONKEYS. ... Read more

Book Description

Renowned for their bold graphics, simple clean design, engaging rhyming text, and large stunning pop-ups on each spread, Snappy books are a favorite among youngsters ages three to five. Brightly illustrated by Derek Matthews, the Snappies have been a children's literary phenomenon for more than four years. Snappy Little Zoo takes kids on a trip to the zoo, where they encounter a fantastic collection of ten amazing pop-up animals -- from zany zebras to playful pandas and gawky giraffes. It's an adventure that's full of fun from beginning to end! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun!
The colors and pictures are superb. The pictures literally "pop" out of the book. There is a whole series. My son particularly likes the Halloween one. ... Read more

Book Description

Take a trip to the zoo with The Wiggles! Children will love the full-color photographs ofThe Wiggles and their fascinating animal friends that they visit at the zoo. ... Read more

Book Description

Lift the flaps to see what the zoo has sent: the perfect pet - in the end! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

One of our favorites!
My 12 month old twin boys love this book. They know how to lift the flaps already! It will be great for teaching them animal names and making predicitons. I used to use this book a lot when I taught kindergarten, also. We would read the text and then think of animals that matched that description. Then we would look at hte picture and teh kids would all want to guess what was in each cage. A great book!!

A fun book for parents and kids
We all love this book. It's about the only one that I have to read again and again and don't get bored with it.... Our baby loves lifting the flaps (and she's only 13 months), and smiles when we make animal noises that go along with the picture (the monkey page is the funniest!) A great buy.

Great lift-the-flap book!
This book is not only interesting for my toddler daughter, it is very sturdy as well. The flaps are very well constructed and have withheld the test of time from when she was only 6 months old. This book was also a great book for her to learn the names of animals through anticipation. We both love this book!

Great for toddlers
My 21 month old loves this - it's got great animals & nice pictures. Highly recommend

A great book to bring to church!
My son loved this book from the start -- loves it so much, that I typically back it my "church pack" to keep him quietly entertained during church. My 7 year old neice and 4 year old nephew also love the book, they love to read it to him and make the animal sounds as they are revealed. A MUST HAVE book for your toddler! ... Read more

Book Description

Nine animals, nine shapes, and sixteen shades of color'everyone can have fun discovering them all by turning Color Zoo's full-color pages and watching a lion turn into a goat, an ox into a monkey, a tiger into a mouse. . . .

1990 Caldecott Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1989 (ALA)
1990 Fanfare Honor List (H) ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Delight!
My 2 year old just discovered this darling book. He enjoys running his fingers over the cut out areas and talks to the animals as they appear. We haven't had any problem with the quality of the book. The pages are nice and thick and have held up to being drag around by my little guy- And I'll admit he can be tough on books! Color zoo has become a night time favorite. This one is a keeper!

Beautiful, Fun, & Educational
I loved this book (1) because it uses primary colors which my daughter adores (2) the animals are very imaginative (3) it teaches so many things (4) it's cardboard, almost impossible for my one year old to destroy.
The excerpts this site gives you doesn't do it any justice. It's very hard to see what it's really like. I suggest going to a bookstore and picking it up to flip through it so you really understand. I think it's brillant!

My daughter loves this book and I hate it!
I bought this book for my two year old daughter because she was learning her colors and shapes. I had bought other books from this author before and have been pleased. The concept of this book is excellent. As you flip each page the cut out shapes form a different (sometimes hard to recognize)animal. My daughter loved to call out the shapes and colors of each page. What I want to know is why they made this book out of such flimsy paper. This book lasted one week before it started losing pages. First the shapes started ripping at the edges and then we lost whole pages. This book is geared for small children but they made it so that it will stand up to only the most delicate adult. My daughter is not very aggressive, this is just a poorly made book. Usually I don't mind if a book becomes tattered through a lot of love but for a book to last one week is just ridiculous. The publishers should be ashamed of themselves! Save your money and aggravation and buy shape books made of sturdy paper or coardboard.

Colorful book that uses shapes in an ingenious way
My daughter (who is only one) loves to flip through this book and look at the different colors and shapes. Because each page has a shape cut out of it, this makes the pages easy for her to grasp and flip. Out of all of her board books, I find myself reaching for his one time and time again because it occupies her the longest. In contrast to some books that she will barely look at and others she will look at only with my direction, this book is one that she will find all on her own and quietly flip through the pages.

Even for me, I find the concept simple but mesmerizing. There is something fascinating about looking at the shape and seeing how the animal changes into a different animal as you flip the page. It makes you think about shapes and colors in a very abstract way.

I would definitely recommend this book as a foundational block in any young child's library. The book itself is sturdy and the colors are bold and vivid. It's a great concept that's been executed effectively.

high quality book
I like this book because the animals are simplified, almost abstract and at first my daughter(2)couldn't recognize them (she was used of more or less realistic illustrations). I think this is very important in recognazing and understanding the basic characterizations of all subjects. Each animal has on the opposite side the geometric shape that the animal is composed of. At first this is very difficult for a two year old (specially octagon and hexagon) but I must say she recognize almost all of them now (2 weeks later). For me english books with almost no text are interesting also because I can teach her foreign language. I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to experience more than just reading stories to children. ... Read more

Book Description

What could be more poignant than a porcupine pining for a companion?With pun-filled prose and pleasing pictures, this passionate tale of love and friendship between two prickly creatures in a petting zoo makes a perfect read aloud (and a sublime Valentine). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The story is delightful and the concept sharp
Funny, punny author Lisa Wheeler is at it again in this follow up to her pun-filled "Sailor Moo" and " Wool Gathering" picture books. This time, a love-struck porcupine is (porcu)pining for a wife in this comic recasting of the "Froggy Went A'Courting" folk song. First Cushion (yes, as in pin cushion) has to suffer the indignity of being the least popular resident of a petting zoo, for obviously ouchy reasons. Then his lonesomeness is compounded each time he serenades a potential bride. The rabbits get hopping mad, the pigs grunt their disapproval, and the buck-toothed beaver gives him the brush off. But when a mysterious creature compliments Cushion 's beautiful singing and, though "DO NOT TOUCH" signs warn him to stay away, he is intrigued, particularly when she says her name is Barb, and she's got quills too. "You don't look like a pork or a pine!" says Barb. "You don't look like a hedge or a hog!" says Cushion. Of course the mismatched loners fall in love, otherwise -- as Wheeler writes, unable to resist one last pun -- "what would be the point of this whole story?" Although "Porcupining"'s simple prose text isn't as snappy or rich as the perfectly perfect satirical rhymes of "Sailor Moo," the story is delightful and the concept sharp, exhibiting plenty of prickly wit.

Porcupine Love.....
Poor Cushion. Who ever thought of putting a little porcupine in a petting zoo? All day long he sits alone surrounded by DO NOT TOUCH, KEEP OUT, and NO PETTING signs, watching all the other animals get pats and pets and hugs. "All the other animals had someone to love. Poor Cushion had no one." So on one especially lonely night Cushion writes a sad little ditty, takes his banjo, and goes out looking for a wife. "I've been so lonesome all my life./No one will get near./I'm porcupining for a wife,/Someone to hold me dear." He looks all over the petting zoo, the rabbit hutch, pigsty, even the beavers' lodge, but none of the animals are the least bit interested in making a little prickly friend. But Cushion is not discouraged. "I know I'll find the perfect wife if I just stick with it." And that's when he hears a sweet voice whisper to him in the dark. He couldn't see who was speaking, but he could see the signs...DO NOT TOUCH, KEEP OUT, and NO PETTING. "He felt a prickle run down his spine." Had he finally found the love of his life..... Lisa Wheeler, author of Sailor Moo: Cow At Sea, Wool Gathering: A Sheep Family Reunion, and Sixteen Cows, is back with another marvelous preschool crowd pleaser. Her clever and captivating story, starring an endearing quilled hero, just begs to be read aloud and shared and is filled with humor, wordplay, and silly puns that will delight both children and adults alike. Janie Bynum's bold, bright, and expressive illustrations complement this sweet tale beautfully, and are rich is vibrant color and playful, eye-catching details. With its happily-ever-after ending, Porcupining is a heartwarming, fun-filled read that's perfect for story time, and is sure to be a often asked for favorite at your house. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Great imaginative children's book
My two and four year old both love this book. One of my favorites. They can really relate to the story and imagine the animals we have seen at the zoo coming to OUR house. The pictures are beautiful.

Wonderful Beautiful Children's Story Book!!
I just loved this book and so did my children. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful, the story is imaginative and fanciful (which is lacking in so many other children's books these days).

This book is a must have for any young child!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Ellen Streater received the perfect birthday present-an overnight camp-out at the zoo. Too bad she had to invite her little brother Corey along. But as night falls in the zoo, her brother becomes the least of her worries, as they discover they're locked in the zoo with an escaped convict who's stalking their every move. Unable to run, and with no help in sight, their last chance for survival is Ellen's crazy science project on animal communication. But can they get the animals to help them in time, or will it be too late?

"A compelling and fast-paced mystery with characters that are believable and well drawn." (The Horn Book)

"Plausible incidents and believable characters combine in a fast-moving and well-constucted tale."(Booklist) ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Reviewing An Interesting And Capturing Book
What if you were locked in a zoo without your parents? Sound cool? Now what if you were locked in a zoo with an escaped criminal with a knife and no adults around to help? That's what Ellen and her little brother Cory have to deal with in Terror at the Zoo by author Peg Kehret.

A prize of an overnight sleep-over for four is auctioned off and Ellen and Cory's grandparents find it a fine idea as a gift for their granddaughter's birthday. But when Ellen and Corey's mom and dad's flight home gets delayed, and their grandmother is in the hospital because of an illness, there is no one to take care of the kids. Still, they decide they are not going to miss out on a great adventure and decide to go to the zoo sleep-over by themselves.

Meanwhile, an escaped fugitive looking for money goes to the zoo to kidnap a baby monkey and hold it for ransom. When Ellen and Cory find the escaped criminal in the middle of the night, the chaos really starts.

The children look for the zoo security guard, but he is no where to be found. To make things even worse, the only phone available is outside the locked zoo. With no way to reach a phone or find help, can Cory and Ellen escape from this hostile criminal, or are they,like the zoo animals themselves, trapped inside a fenced, barb-wired prison?

Will Ellen's science project of communicating with animals telepathically help her while she's locked in the zoo? Will Ellen and Corey be able to hide from the escaped criminal? Will their parents arrive it time to rescue them? This really is a night of terror at the zoo!

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time just waiting to find out what will happen next. If you like suspense, action, and fiction, I would highly recommend this book!

I really enjoyed it and I hope you will too.

Awsome Book, A.W.
I think this book is a awsome book. If you are reading this book dont forget to read the whole thing then it will be more exciting. This book as a lot of action in it. It is about this girl and this boy. there names are Ellen and Cory. Ellen can communicate with animals in her mine. Corey is a young boy thats is always a happy boy and he likes to go to the zoo. There birthdays are close together. There grandparents gave them a present together. The birthday present was a camp out at the zoo. At the same time this is happening this man had escape from prison and was running somewhere. The next day they went to the zoo in was going to spend the night. Well during the night Corey was gone and Ellen went to find him.

Terror at the zoo
I liked this book because of many reasons, and their was only one reason I didnt like it. The one reason I didnt enjoy the book is because the ending cut off before explaining how it ended for all of the characters. Overall though I thought that this book was very good. One of the reasons I chose this book and a reason I liked it is because it is an adventure and it is excitig because they are always trying to escape. Another reason that I liked the book is that I like the author and I think that she did a good job writing the book, that is one of the things that made it interesting.

I think that the best part of the book is when the elephant saved the children from the criminal and they were able to capture him. If the elephant wouldnt have helped them then they might not have lived. After they escaped they were able to get the police who then put the man back in jail.

I think that the best story element was the setting. The author did an excellent job of picking a setting and she described it very clearly, she explained about everything at the zoo. She also did a good job with the conflict because it is something that could actually happen in real life with kids.

A Great Book!!!!
Peg Kehret is a great author, NOT! You should read this book if your into action books. What happened at Terror at the Zoo is a girl gets a gift to sleep over at the zoo with her little brother.Peg Kehret is a great author, NOT! You should read this book if your into action books. What happened at Terror at the Zoo is a girl gets a gift to sleep over at the zoo with her little brother. Then during the night ah... While, well, is in the zoo, he steals a, whoops I almost gave it away.
The book starts with a little excitement. It contains a real lot of action. The main character has a lot of courage. The ending is not a big surprise.
I think Peg Kehret meant the moral to be Murphy's rule. What ever can go wrong, will go wrong. You should really read this book.
Then during the night ah... While, well, is in the zoo, he steals a, whoops I almost gave it away.
The book starts with a little excitement. It contains a real lot of action. The main character has a lot of courage. The ending is not a big surprise.
I think Peg Kehret meant the moral to be Murphy's rule. What ever can go wrong, will go wrong. Yea, that's about it.Okay.

This book blows
Terror at the Zoo is a story set in Seattle about two kids who decide to sleep over at a zoo. Unfortunately, they soon discover that they have company; a burglar is also there. The book basically consists on that premise and setup leading to that. Besides being about one little episode, Terror at the Zoo is horribly written and amazed me with its corniness: at the end, the two kids escape by telepathically talking to an animal.
So, let's sum it up: one episode, badly written, stupidly corny. A great read if you have Down syndrome! ... Read more