Dear Zoo, stop monkeying around ! (Dear Zoo: Lift the Flaps - Rod Campbell)

Member Name: TraceyJayne

Product:	Dear Zoo: Lift the Flaps - Rod Campbell
Date:	25/06/09 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to read, simple text, good vocab uncluttered pictures, nice choice of animals

Disadvantages: Quite short

What's the title ?
Dear Zoo

Who'is the author ?
Rod Campbell

And the plot ?
A child (we assume) wants a pet so they write to the zoo to ask if they will send them one.

The zoo kindly sends a series of animals, which each have to be returned as they are unsuitable (a giraffe is too tall, a lion who is too fierce etc). Until at the end of the book they send a puppy, who is just right. They have now sent the perfect pet and he is kept.

Is that it ?
In a nutshell... yes.

There must be more to it ?
Okay so there is a bit more...

There is a different animal on each page. The pictures are simple and mostly hidden underneath a flap used as a stable door, or a box or a basket. There is a one sentence clue as to which animal is hiding underneath the flap. For example the clue is ' but he is too tall' and you can see a tall box with a head peeping out at the top. hidden underneath is of course a giraffe.
It may all seem very obvious to a grown up but children love this book.
The pictures are uncluttered, the text is large and simple and to the point - no waffle. Children love flaps, and this is a great way to get young children involved in books and stories. The choice of animal too is excellent - fairly easy clues which do make children think but also makes them feel good about themselves when they guess the right animal. (It is very difficult NOT to guess the hidden animal). Excellent use of descriptive vocab too. (fierce lion etc).

So children enjoy this book ?
Oh yes, I have read it to Nursery (3 - 4years), reception (4 - 5 years) and Year 1 (5 - 6 years), and they have all loved it. They howl with laughter at the thought of the zoo sending a monkey or a lion as a pet.
Great for 3 - 6 years old.

Great book to use if you are thinking of getting a pet too, as it's a good starting point to what is suitable as a pet and why ? The children could also think about other unsuitable pets and talk about why they are unsuitable.

Would I recommend this book ?
Yes, it is simple but effective.
It can be enjoyed over and over again.
Excellent pictures and simple text.
Good vocab.
Making use of the flaps can involve the children throughout the story.
Easy clues help the child to predict the hidden animal.

I give this book 9/10

Summary: Great story for 3 - 6 year olds who like animals