Category: animals

Author: Evelyn Beilenson
Illustrator: Anne Kennedy
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4413-1526-7
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

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Sue and John decide to visit the Kalama Zoo on a warm sunny day. But when they arrive, they find a sign letting them know the zoo is closed today. Puzzled, they ask the zookeeper, Pete, what’s wrong. Pete explains that the animals are all sick, and then he details their illnesses to the kids.

As Pete explains each of their problems, cute illustrations demonstrate the animals in sad but humorous condition. The elephant has a cold in his nose, the floppy-eared bunny has an earache, and the monkey’s tail is broken. These and other ailments have put the animals out of commission, forcing the zoo to close. Finally, Sue and John return home, vowing to visit the animals when they’re feeling better. But maybe the animals have another idea in mind!

Told in rhyming verse, The Zoo is Closed Today! is a really fun and cute read. Kids will love it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author & Illustrator: Jonathan Allen
Publisher: Boxer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-907967-97-9
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

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Baby Owl doesn’t want everyone to think he’s cute. Instead, he believes he’s a “huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine.” But as he makes his way through the woods, Rabbit, Fox and Squirrel all tell him he’s cute and give him a hug. By the time he reaches his mother, he’s angry and frustrated.

His mom reassures him that he’s absolutely right, and also gives him a big hug. But Baby Owl is still not satisfied. Finally, his mother tucks him into bed, saying the right words that will make him smile.

I’m Not Cute! is charmingly illustrated with soft images of a fluffy baby owl and sweet forest animals. Kids will relate to the frustration of feeling that adults only see them as “cute” when they have so much more potential. I highly recommend this adorable book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author & Illustrator: Simon Abbott
Publisher: Ticktock Books
Genre: Children / Animals
ISBN: 978-1-78325-077-6
Pages: 24
Price: $8.99

Author’s website
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There are many kinds of habitats, and each supports certain animal populations. Animals Everywhere! is an illustrated guide which provides some interesting information about them.

Habitats such as the rain forest, mountains, desert, and ocean are each presented in a two-page spread. In these pages, various animals that live in the habitat are illustrated in cartoon style, along with fun facts about them.

Kids will be fascinated to learn about the goliath bird-eating spider, which is as big as a pizza, or the male narwhal, which is also called the “unicorn of the sea” because it has a long, spiral tusk. These and other fascinating creatures fill the pages of this fun and colorful book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author & Illustrator: S.E. Flynn
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-43896-699-1
Pages: 24
Price: $11.95

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That night, up on the roof, one old calico cat spotted three furry heads poking out of the chimney, and three wet noses sniffing the sweet midnight air. As they creep through the neighborhood, intent on mischief and fun, only the calico cat sees their antics.

That Night shares the adventures of three nocturnal animals as they play hide and seek, romp in the playground, and chase grasshoppers. Adorable watercolor illustrations show them in partial silhouette, adding to the enjoyment of the story, as children can try to guess what they are. They are are finally revealed to be raccoons at the end.

Any child who has wondered what goes on at night will smile at the antics of these cute critters. And maybe they will even dream of a nighttime adventure of their own. That Night would be a wonderful addition to any child’s book collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Publisher: Zonderkidz
Genre: Children / Animals
ISBN: 978-0-310-73125-2
Pages: 128
Price: $9.99

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God created everything and made it all good. In Animals All Around, kids get four books in one: forest creatures; feathered friends; cats, dogs, hamsters, and horses; and barnyard critters. Each animal is presented in photos along with several interesting facts. Kids are reminded throughout the book that God made all these unique animals.

This simple book presents basic facts about the featured animals but does not go into any depth. Kids will find it a good introduction at reading level 2, but I would have liked to see some more unusual facts about these animals.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author & Illustrator: Craig Shuttlewood
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4549-1193-7
Pages: 24
Price: $12.95

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Who’s in the tree? A penguin! And an octopus is in the grass, and an elephant in the sky! What’s happening, and how did these animals end up in these unusual situations? In this rhyming lift-the flap book, each scene shows us an out-of-place animal. Kids can try to guess the animal before lifting the flap, based on the description provided.

Life-the-flap books are always great fun, and this one will provide lots of laughs as kids see these animals in all the wrong places. I highly recommend Who’s In the Tree?

Reviewer: Alice Berger