Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book

by Rod Campbell (Illustrator)

Overview

Now in a Classic Board Book edition, "Dear Zoo" long has been a lap-time favorite. The story starts with a letter to the zoo requesting a pet. But as the colorful flaps reveal, most of the animals are inappropriate--until the perfect one arrives. Full color.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780027164404
Publisher:	Little Simon
Publication date:	10/01/1986
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	24
Sales rank:	9,808
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	BR (what's this?)
Age Range:	1 - 4 Years

About the Author

Rod Campbell makes books for babies and toddlers, the best known being Dear Zoo, which has sold over two million copies worldwide. All his books have simple text, often with repeating phrases, ideal for the pre-reader. He uses flaps and touch-and-feel elements when appropriate.

Rod Campbell makes books for babies and toddlers, the best known being Dear Zoo, which has sold over two million copies worldwide. All his books have simple text, often with repeating phrases, ideal for the pre-reader. He uses flaps and touch-and-feel elements when appropriate.

Editorial Reviews

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rod Campbell's delightful lift-the-flap classic with this sturdy board book version for toddlers. The artwork has been updated for a spiffy new look, but the charming story line remains unchanged: A child writes a letter to the zoo, requesting a pet. The zoo sends back a parade of animals, all of them unsuitable for one reason or another. Each colorful spread depicts a container (a basket, a crate, a cage, etc.), revealing just enough of the mysterious contents to encourage fun-filled guessing. But the real enjoyment is watching the delight on children's faces as the last shipment arrives with (ta-da!) the perfect pet. A perennial family favorite, Dear Zoo continues to captivate -- even a quarter century after its original publication!

Campbell's lift-the-flap book, imported from England two decades ago, now has a new, celebratory format as a board book. It's still the same story of a child writing to the zoo to request a pet. A series of animals are sent and rejected as too big, too tall, too fierce¾until at last the perfect pet arrives. It is necessary, of course, to lift the flaps to discover the animals rejected, and the one accepted. It makes for a nice little toddler-level guessing game. As there are new toddlers coming along every few years, Campbell's little book just might remain in print forever. 2002 (orig. 1982), Little Simon,
— Kathleen Karr

Children's Literature

For kids who enjoy repetition and are working on recognizing animals, this lift-the-flap board book will be well received. The young narrator has asked the zoo to send a pet (caregivers may need to explain that a zoo really would not do this). As each crate arrives, kids open the flap to reveal an animal. Then the narrator tells why the animal was sent back. It is interactive, amusing, and has a little surprise at the end. The simple, bright illustrations are set on sturdy white pages, and the shape of the crate and other hints in the picture will have kids quickly guessing which animal has arrived. This is the 25th anniversary edition.

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot