Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Book Description

What will you hear when you read this book to a preschool child?Lots of noise!Children will chant the rhythmic words. They'll make the sounds the animals make. And they'll pretend to be the zoo animals featured in the book-- look at the last page!Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle are two of the most respected names in children's education and children's illustrations. This collaboration, their first since the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (published more than thirty years ago and still a best-seller) shows two masters at their best.A Redbook Children's Picture Book Award winnerThe rollicking companion to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Customer Reviews:

A fun read.......2007-09-21

My girls and I so enjoy reading the other book in the series, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?". My twin girls are 2 and they would actually sit with the other book and read it to out loud to each other, so it was a great find to have another book in the series for us to read, the illustrations are colorful and a great book to learn new vocabulary words.

Reading to your kids.......2007-09-08

This book is a great one to read to your kids.

I like this one more than his Panda Bear and Brown Bear because I can get the kids more excited about sounds. I've read it to groups of young kids and encourage them to make the sounds with me. I'll "roar" like a lion and "snort" like a hippo and the kids will parrot me. They have a lot of fun with this and you get them to start talking about sounds other animals make. They will remember the sounds after just the first reading and get excited any time they see me pick up the book.

It's really cute to watch one kid "read" this to another after we've read it in groups a few times. The kids will remember the animals and will sometimes ask "what do you hear?" and make the sounds for each animal as they go through. It's a wonderful feeling seeing them learn and remember.

Must-have book for kids!.......2007-08-26

My kids love this book and "Brown Bear Brown Bear." The illustrations are wonderful, and they love the animals!

Terrible.......2007-08-08

As any reader of the Brown Bear knows, these books are really meant to be read out loud. But who the heck knows how a peacock sounds (can YOU yelp?)? Or several of the other animals here. I just tossed it away in frustration.

Fun Book.......2007-07-02

My 18 month old daughter enjoys this book. We have fun looking at all the different zoo animals. The one thing that I don't like is the last page. I wish that it had pictures of the animals instead of children dressed up as animals. When my daughter is older she will like that.

Average customer rating:

Beautifully illustrated...
Don't get the Picture Puffin Books (Sagebrush) edition
A Must For Your Child's Library
My Daughter's (and Our) Favorite
GREAT BOOK

Good Night, Gorilla
Peggy Rathmann
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0399230033

Amazon.com

"Good night, Gorilla," says the weary watchman as he walks by the gorilla cage on his nightly rounds at the zoo. The gorilla answers by quietly pickpocketing the guard's keys, stealthily trailing him, and unlocking the cages of every animal the oblivious fellow bids goodnight to. Looking much like an exhausted father, the uniformed guard traipses home toward his cottage, while the lonely zoo animals softly parade behind him. The animals manage to slip into his bedroom and nestle unnoticed near his sleepy wife--until the bold little gorilla goes so far as to snuggle up beside her as she turns out the light. Author and illustrator Peggy Rathmann (creator of the Caldecott-winning Officer Buckle and Gloria) relies more on the nuances of her jewel-toned pictures than on words to pace this giggly bedtime story, making it perfect for observant preschoolers. In one inky-black spread, Rathmann lets only the shocked, wide-open eyes of the guard's wife tell us that the gorilla has been detected! Tiny details such as the faithful, banana-toting mouse and sky-bound pink balloon that appear in each picture keep this book fresh, magical, and fun--even after countless bedtime readings. (Baby to preschool) --Gail Hudson

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.

Customer Reviews:

Beautifully illustrated..........2007-10-12

This is a great board-book for kids between 1 and 5. The illustrations are beautiful, and get my kids to "think" about all that they can see. This book is one of my daughter's favorites - she'd crack up with laughter when the lights went out and the animals said goodnight. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Don't get the Picture Puffin Books (Sagebrush) edition.......2007-09-29

This is a great story book. The 5 stars is for that.

I bought three editions for different kids: Good Night, Gorilla (Picture Puffin Books (Sagebrush)), Good Night, Gorilla, and Good Night, Gorilla (oversized board book). The Puffin edition is bound in a way that makes it difficult to open flat. The paper is thinner than most good hardcover children's books. The two board book editions are very nice. You also might want to try the regular hardcover edition.

A Must For Your Child's Library.......2007-09-17

Goodnight, Gorilla is a delightful book, filled with fun, secrets and anticipation. We started reading it at age 2 and my now 6 year old son still enjoys it! We especially love the dark page with eyes....you will too! It is the perfect companion to '10 Minutes Till Bedtime', also by Peggy Rathmann, because this cast of characters appear in that book as next door neighbors! Together they make a perfect child/baby gift. Thanks Peggy Rathmann!

My Daughter's (and Our) Favorite.......2007-07-23

We received this book as a gift after our daughter's birth, and now that she's ten months old, it's her absolute favorite. She actually goes to her book basket, digs through the all of the books to find this one, and then brings it to us to read to her. The best part is that because the narrative is told through the pictures instead of through words, it's a different book when I read it to her than when her father, grandmother, etc. does. I'm sure that as she gets older, we'll be able to modify our reading of Good Night, Gorilla to suit her age, pointing out different things about the story than interest her now. This book is destined to be a classic!

GREAT BOOK.......2007-07-21

My 2 and 3 y/o daughters LOVE this book. It's a fun book and teaching about many animals and the zoo. It's a wonderful gift for your child or a gift to another child. Highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

wonderful book to introduce children to different definitions of family
Jesus preached Love
Homo = Man not Penguin
And Tango Makes Three
Very gentle, sweet story

And Tango Makes Three
Peter Parnell , and Justin Richardson
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689878451

Book Description

In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango's family is not like any of the others.

Customer Reviews:

wonderful book to introduce children to different definitions of family.......2007-09-27

Based on the true story of some penguins at the New York Zoo, this book is a moving and delightful introduction to the idea of alternative families. The wonderful illustrations and straight-forward approach to the story make this book an excellent choice for story-time at home or in school. The current popularity of penguins and their gosh-darned cuteness make them an excellent choice to introduce young children to the idea that not every family is the same. I was delighted to learn that the story is true, and know children will want to learn more about Tango and her family; I hope a sequel is in the works!

Jesus preached Love.......2007-09-23

Love is a wonderful, many splendored thing. This story is beautiful, and my 4 year old and 2 year old love it. Same sex couples are normal and fine, and though I have a heterosexual lifestyle, the bigotry and hate from so called Christian's, makes me sick. Jesus would have been ashamed of you. Love is a blessing, wherever one finds it.

Homo = Man not Penguin.......2007-09-03

There is no such thing as a homosexual penguin. Penquins are birds not people and according to the dictionary homosexuals are people of the same sex who engage in joint sexual activities. I repeat, penguins are birds not people and animals should not be held to human standards or a lack of human standards. In fact some animals appear to live by a higher standard and charity than many humans.

This story is about family love and the nurturing of children, something we should all aim for.

And Tango Makes Three.......2007-08-01

And Tango Makes Three is an excellent children's book that lovingly shows two male adults raising a baby. It helps parents and teachers ease into a discussion of what makes a family. The illustrations are sweet. Children, all of whom depend on adults for their survival, can relate to this book and be glad that Tango found a loving family.

Very gentle, sweet story.......2007-07-26

This book is WONDERFUL! It is a darling story and does not push any agenda on kids about homosexuality; only about a different type of family. Yes, it IS about two male penguins becoming a family, but the idea of homosexuality is not blatantly force-fed to children. In a very gentle way, it shows us how love can make a family, regardless of genders. Very age-appropriate, and actually, an excellent way to deal with issues that will eventually come down the road in parenting. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all raise prejudice-free families??

Dear Zoo: A Lift The Flap Book (Dear Zoo)

Average customer rating:

Curiosity & Surprise
Cute, but for me it's MOTS
Fun with Adjectives
Little girl loves it
caution with adopted children

Dear Zoo: A Lift The Flap Book (Dear Zoo)

Manufacturer: Little Simon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0689825498

Customer Reviews:

Curiosity & Surprise.......2007-09-04

My son, almost two, loves lift/flap books. He was able to learn and say each animal quickly; In fact, he has almost memorized each animal before we lift the flap. He also has learned to associate the animals in the book with animals at the "real" zoo. One of my son's favorite books.

Cute, but for me it's MOTS.......2007-07-20

More of the Same: My 14 month old likes Peek-A-Boo Zoo better (the La Maze book) and also Goodnight Gorilla. But she likes this one as well. It guess we just have too many books on her shelves that involve recognizing and naming the zoo animals. And, there is ALWAYS an elephant and a giraffe involved.

Fun with Adjectives.......2007-07-04

This book is a fantastic and fun way to teach young children early adjectives and literacy skills. Discover a different animal under each flap! The repetitive script will encourage sentence completion and sight reading.

Little girl loves it.......2007-06-30

This is one of our favorite books. We can't read it enough and she has learned all of the animals names from the book. I would highly recomend this book to anyone with toddlers.

caution with adopted children.......2007-06-29

As a mother of an adopted child and a psychologist, I am concerned about the message this book sends. The child in the book wants a pet, but because they are unacceptable, he repeatedly sends them back. I want my daughter to know that nothing about her is unacceptable, and nothing could ever make me want to "send her back." The book may be great for children in other situations, but I think it sends the wrong message to adopted children.

Wild About Books (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards))

Average customer rating:

Great Book
Our favorite kids book ever
a must for your child's library and/or school , public library
Wild About Animals
Possibly ONE OF THE GREATEST RHYMING BOOKS I've read yet.

Wild About Books (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards))
Judy Sierra
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 037582538X
Release Date: 2004-08-10

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!

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-02-01

I just love reading this book! I think it is fun and appreciate all the references in it. We first found it at the library and I had to own it! Also love all the pictures of so many different animals. My daughter really enjoys naming all the animals.

Our favorite kids book ever.......2006-12-29

Wild about books is funny, well written and beautifully illustrated. It's clever and has a very smart story. Our son loves this book and can recite it from memory. Get this book -- it's a gem.

a must for your child's library and/or school , public library.......2006-11-12

excellent text, nice pictures; great idea. cleverly written. my 2 1/2 yr old daughter adores this book.

Wild About Animals.......2006-10-12

The book Wild About Books is a fiction book by Judy Sierra. The main characters are Molly McGrew and animals at the zoo.
First, by mistake Molly McGrew took her bookmobile to the zoo! Then, when she began to read a book, all the animals loved it. They wanted to learn how to read too! Soon the animals learned how to read and loved it. They borrowed their own books! They liked to read so much that the books got worn and lost. Later, the animals decided to write their own books to read. The problem was there was nowhere to keep them. Finally, the animals built their own library out of the wood in their own habitats to keep their own written books and some of Molly McGrew's which were very overdue!
This is a very exciting book and I enjoyed reading it. The book Wild About Animals is also funny. I recommend this book to young children who like animals and also like funny books like this one!

Possibly ONE OF THE GREATEST RHYMING BOOKS I've read yet........2006-10-12

This book has a dedication at the end to the author's favorite doctor, Dr. Seuss. The style of this book is quite similar to his famous rhyming stories but in its own style. Judy Sierra, author, really shines in this book with her choice of words and importance of really truly being wild about books. Through one of the main characters, Judy teaches animals to be nice to their books and to read all types of books. She explains haikus and zoolitzer prizes with terrific descriptive words. The paintings, done by Marc Brown, accompany the story perfectly. Marc painted such detail, variety, precision and just plain old fun-looking animals. One of my favorite parts/rhymes from 'Wild About Books' is, "In a flash, every beast in the zoo was stampeding To learn all about this new something called reading." or one of the more clever pages, "Raccoons read alone and baboons read in bunches And llamas read dramas while eating their llunches." I think this story will truly inspire children to read and enjoy it. Definetly great to use in a classroom or be read by a librarian with lots of enthusiasm.

Average customer rating:

This quirky classic is more than meets the eye
A good self esteem story.
Highly recommended and there is absolutely nothing objectionable about the book (so rare nowadays)
Great story!
Put Me in the Zoo

Put Me in the Zoo (Beginner Books(R))

Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0394800176
Release Date: 1960-08-12

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.

Customer Reviews:

This quirky classic is more than meets the eye.......2007-10-03

This classic is a whimsical tale about a leopard who can change his spots. Despite this talent, the zoo doesn't want him. The story is guaranteed to get some smiles, and yes, it introduces kids to colors. The best thing about the book, however, is its subtle lesson that when one door closes, another opens. It encourages kids to consider new possibilities when a chosen path isn't working out.

-Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

A good self esteem story........2007-07-14

A nice Suess style story, that explores special skills and demonstrates that there is a place for everyone. Good self esteem story, as well as exploring other basic concepts such as colours.
Recommend.

Highly recommended and there is absolutely nothing objectionable about the book (so rare nowadays).......2007-05-31

This is a delightful book that serves many purposes.

First, for toddlers, this is a wonderful book for teaching primary colors (blue, green orange violet) and simple word ("zoo" "too" "you" "spots" "small" "tall" "wall", etc.).

Second, the rhyming scheme is simple, direct, and scans correctly. Unlike "Dr. Suess" books there are no made-up nonsense words here. This is Standard Written English through and through.

The story is accessible, and has a "magical realism" element to it, so beloved of imaginative youngsters.

The drawings are wonderful, simple, direct, with just enough detail to engage the eye but not so much it overwhelms or over stimulates as the story unfolds. The text and drawing match perfectly (this is important for children learning reading of symbol systems from visual clues).

But best of all, this story is simple enough that your older children will soon adopt it to read to your younger children. This is a crowd pleaser and a heartwarming selection for family story time. The first time your oldest reads it to your youngest is guaranteed to make your heart soar with praise and thanksgiving for His wonderful blessings of family life.

Highly recommended and there is absolutely nothing objectionable about the book (so rare nowadays).

Great story!.......2007-05-15

I remember this story from my childhood and just had to get it for my kids. It is a fun story and oh so cute!

Put Me in the Zoo.......2007-03-30

Robert Lopshire made the best children's book that I have ever read and made me want to read more when I was smaller. This book is creative and very unique in my view compared to many other wonderful childrens books. The first book I ever read was Put Me in the Zoo and I still enjoy reading it. When I was smaller I would never let go of this funny, excellent, and very unique book.

Average customer rating:

The Mixed-Up Chameleon Board Book
Mixed-Up Chameleon
Fun Story with a Message
Delightful
EXCELLENT BUY

The Mixed-Up Chameleon

Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064431622

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 likeall of them at once -- with hilarious results.

Customer Reviews:

The Mixed-Up Chameleon Board Book.......2007-08-01

I enjoy reading this book not only to my 18 month old son but for myself.
At the moment he doesn't always sit for the whole book as it is a little long sometimes for a board book.
I feel this book encourages imagine and is simple enough for a toddler to understand!

Mixed-Up Chameleon.......2007-05-15

This product was a wonderful addition to my teaching arsenal for animal adaptions. I gave the students an humerous start to thinking about the real life adaptions organism have that helps them survive.

Fun Story with a Message.......2007-04-17

I think this is a fun story with a good message at the end. It's funny to see the creature the chameleon winds up being toward the end - before he decides to be himself. I'd put this on the list of recommended Carle books.

Delightful.......2007-01-12

My granddaughter loves this book. Like all of Eric Carle's books, it's a great story and the pictures are wonderful.

EXCELLENT BUY.......2006-07-16

This text is an invaluable picture book for children learning how to read, how to enjoy reading and to learn about the joys and absurdities that life can bring. It is a humerous text that utilises excellent illustrations to represent the plot. The plot itself humerously intertwines fantasy with reality, ofcoarse it depends upon the child's imagination. A must for any child that enjoys playing with words and surreal ideas. The book's design is additionally unique in that is in an organisational folder style whereby children may select various imaginary creatures as they choose. I hope that others can share this wonderful picture book with all children they read to and/or with.

Average customer rating:

What an adorable book.
very cute!
a must for bulldog lovers
Thinking Outside the Box
nice graphics, wierd story

Chowder
Peter Brown
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316011800

Book Description

Chowder isn't like other dogs. For one thing, he likes peopletoys better than dog toys. He liked to read newspapers rather than fetchthem, and he would rather surf the internet and look through his telescopethan bury a bone. He just doesn't fit in with the neighborhood dogs, andthat makes Chowder lonely. When a petting zoo opens nearby, Chowder isdetermined to make friends with the zoo animals. And with a strong kick anda flying leap, Chowder finally finds a place where he can be comfortablebeing his silly, slobbery self, and makes friends by being true to hisquirks. Chowder is a hilarious and heartwarming story that introduces an endearingnew character to the picture book market.

Customer Reviews:

What an adorable book........2007-07-05

We originally checked this book out of the library and my daughter enjoyed it so much that we purchased it. We also purchased it for my mom who has an English bulldog. A sweet funny book.

very cute!.......2007-06-09

This book is relate-able for a lot of kids who are trying to fit in and make friends. It's a cute and funny story.

a must for bulldog lovers.......2007-04-20

Picked this up at the library because I love bulldogs, and now am buying it because my kids, 2 and 5, laugh at every funny moment, every time we read it. The illustrations are right-on and remind me of all the bulldogs I've ever loved...especially the one of Chowder riding in the shopping cart. I can't wait until my dad, another bulldog lover, has a chance to read it to the grandchildren!

Thinking Outside the Box.......2007-03-29

Chowder is a book that appeals to all age levels. If you are a dog-lover,this book is for you. If you like books with great humor, this book is for you. I like the way bulldog is portrayed as an individualist. Chowder shows us that being an individual is fun. Thinking outside the box, as Chowder certainly does, brings fun into life.

The illustrations are brilliant. Brown's excellent training is certainly evident throughout the book.

Chowder is a dog not afraid of being himself. This is a great book for teaching young people about being proud of who you are. Go beyond the surface of the story and dig for some life's lessons in this marvelous book!

nice graphics, wierd story.......2007-01-09

I know I'm not a kid anymore, but this story is rather out there. The graphics pulled me in though - nice to see something different. I did purchase this for my son - but he hasn't responded to it much yet.

1, 2, 3 to the Zoo (The World of Eric Carle)

Average customer rating:

19 Month Old Loves It, Getting Interested in Numbers
My daughter likes it.
Average
A Pleasant Surprise
1,2,3 To The Zoo

1, 2, 3 to the Zoo (The World of Eric Carle)
Eric Carle
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0448444933

Book Description

All of the animals in the train are going to the zoo—one elephant, two hippos, three giraffes, all the way up to ten birds! Eric Carle's classic counting book has never been so much fun. Kids will love to color their favorite animals and complete the activities on every page. They can unfold the back cover to see the animals play at the zoo and to practice their counting.

Customer Reviews:

19 Month Old Loves It, Getting Interested in Numbers.......2007-03-19

1, 2,3 TO THE ZOO has been a big hit at our house. The board book editions of Eric Carle's books that we have tried have all been excellent.

1, 2,3 TO THE ZOO gives us a number of things to talk about as we flip through the pages:
- 10 different zoo animals: introduced one by one, and then you can look for them on the last page, which shows all in the zoo
- Numbers: introduced one by one, so that you can acount the number of animals on each page. There are also many beautiful numbers on the inside cover pages, which my toddler loves to look at.
- A train: the first page shows an engine, and you see the boxcars with animals getting added at the bottom of each page, until the last page when all the cars are empty
- The little mouse that appears on each page: a totally inspired addition by Carle, as our baby loves to look for the mouse on each page

Our toddler seems increasingly interested in numbers, and this book seems like a great way to feed that interest. We have had the book for three weeks, so it is not brand new, and he currently asks to read 1, 2,3 TO THE ZOO three to four times a day.

My daughter likes it........2006-11-03

My daughter really likes this book. She likes all the books that we have by Eric Carle. My only complaint is, I wish it had more words. There isn't any story to it at all. It's just counting. But maybe it's that simplicity that my 2 1/2 yr old likes. Overall, I have to say good book because it is something she will sit and listen to.

Average.......2006-10-31

This book is average. My daughter doesn't really like it...nothing in the book catches her attention.

A Pleasant Surprise.......2005-10-24

When we got this book, wasn't sure it was going to be much, but loved Eric Carle. Was pleasantly surprised how much my son (18 months) loved it. He enjoys all of the different animals and counting them - and the little mouse. He especially loves the big fold out drawing at the end and pointing to everything we saw on the train.

I love the simplicity of it because I can suppliment additional info on the animals based on his experience!

1,2,3 To The Zoo.......2001-10-31

Teach your children how to "count 1,2.3" while using common animals found at your local zoo. The pictures are very creative and will help the listener have fun grasping the basic numbers 1 through 10.

Average customer rating:

Good Not Great
Sadly Disappointed :(
If I Ran the Zoo
Dr. Seuss at the Zoo
I remember this from my childhood.

If I Ran the Zoo (Classic Seuss)
Dr. Seuss
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0394800818
Release Date: 1950-10-12

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 of Zomba-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)

Book Description

Illus. in color. "Young Gerald McGrew thinks of all sorts of unusual animals he'd have in a zoo. Dr. Seuss at his best."--Horn Book.

Customer Reviews:

Good Not Great.......2007-09-11

This book is very good with the exception of one thing. The book has at least one euphemism with God's name. I try to teach my children not to use God's name in vain, even when done euphemistically. Abstain from the appearance of evil. I generally admire Seuss books greatly but was a bit disappointed in this.

Sadly Disappointed :(.......2007-08-15

Let me first say that my daughter and I LOVE Dr. Seuss books. I cannot even tell you how many times I have read "If I Ran the Circus," "The Sneetches," the Horton books, plus MANY others. I can even read them with my eyes closed because I know them all so well.

I have to say that I found myself very disappointed with this book. It was partly the storyline (capturing and hunting down the animals), but it is mostly the pictures. I am not someone who is easily offended at all, but the pictures in the book of Asians and Africans were so stereotypically horrible. I realize this was written in a different time, but I just don't feel it is truly appropriate to the children of today. When we finished the book, my daughter even said, "Mommy, I didn't really like that book." I guess that was that.

If I Ran the Zoo.......2007-05-24

This is a fabulous Seuss book. I used it during Read Across America week for my Pre-K 4 class. They were enthralled by it. We did several activities - such as creating our own animals for our classroom zoo. It became a fast favorite.

Dr. Seuss at the Zoo.......2007-01-07

This is a great book. The girls of my girlfriend love the book. As soon as I sit down, they grab a book and jump in my lap.

I remember this from my childhood........2006-12-12

This was a favorite when I was a kid. For some reason I always remembered the 10 legged lion, the elephant cat, and the family of What-do-you-know!

My little girl likes this book as a companion to "If I ran a circus"

I am surprised at the claims of racism. Some people read in things that are not there. A child won't become a racist from reading this book. The drawings and the writing are fanciful. Leave it as such and you don't have anything to fear.

After all "It's the gol-darndest zoo On the face of the earth!"

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