Twas the Day Before Zoo Day

June 1, 2008
PreS-Gr 2-The zookeepers are busy getting ready for Zoo Day. They are cleaning cages and bathing and feeding the animals. Some of the creatures, like recalcitrant children, are ill-behaved. The llamas are spitting, the giraffes are slurping. "While out in the dirt, naughty elephants rolled, /not listening at all to what they'd been told./They frolicked in mud to cool down from the sun./Their trunks became sprinklers and soaked everyone." Finally, the sun goes down and the workers go home. The next morning, the animals and their babies prepare themselves for the crowds of children arriving on yellow buses. This silly, slight story ends abruptly with the zookeepers standing at the gates while the children enter the zoo. Large color cartoon illustrations support the text. Back matter has a fill-in matching activity, some "animal fun facts," and a writing exercise about zookeepers. A secondary purchase at best."Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2008
Twas the day before Zoo Day, when all round the park, / the creatures felt restless and wished it were dark. In this playful take on the popular Christmas verse, the zoo animals and their keepers prepare for a schoolkids visit. On each double-page spread, a nonsense rhyme and a bright, colorful, comic illustrationpictures the excitement asthe animals get ready for their visitors. Two zookeepers feed theircharges and encourage them all tobehave: The trainers begged llamas to please be polite / Dont go round spitting. Its just not all right. Along with the nonsense and the action, there areanimal facts, and back matter includesadditional informationfor adults and kids to talk about together.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)