ZooZical

Title: ZooZical
Author: Judy Sierra
Pictures: Marc Brown
Publisher: Knoff Books
Publication Date: August 9th, 2011
Rating: 5 stars

"Zoo-Zi-cal, n. a song-and-dance extravaganza performed by the denizens of a zoo."

When I opened up the cover of ZooZical and found Dr. Seuss-style poetry filled the pages, I knew I'd found a gem.

Just when the zoo starts to feel  lonely and depressing because of the cold winter weather and lack of visitors, a small hippo and baby kangaroo get an idea.  They can had a hip-hopping and toe-tapping time all over the zoo.  In fact, they can put on a ZooZical!

Positive Elements: The pages are full of humor and references to traditional children's songs. The rhyming words are original and give the poem a more mature sound.  The pictures are bright and very, very detailed; you'll want to stop every page and take in everything that is happening. 

Negative Elements: I did not find anything I felt was negative in this work; three cheers for author Judy Sierra!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Wicked Big Toddlah Goes to New York

I'll bet you've never met a toddler quite like Toddie.  He's a wicked big toddlah!  He's so big in his newest adventure that he's about half as tall as the Statue of Liberty.

Kevin Hawkes' The Wicked Big Toddlah Goes To New York, released on April 5, 2011 by Knopf Books for Young Readers, tells the tale of Toddie's family vacation to the Big Apple.  You wouldn't think that a kid as big as Toddie could get lost, but Toddie is about as unpredictable as New York traffic.  But leave it up to Toddie to find a friend who will help him learn new things about the world and find his folks. 

Although the text for The Wicked Big Toddlah Goes To New York is cute and lively, the pictures (also by Kevin Hawkes) are the best part of this children's story. The detail urges you to keep looking for new meaning within the pages.  Sometimes, there is a hidden object that seems out of place (like the paper bag behind Toddie on the next to last page) until you read a bit further and discover some tidbit of humor. 

The only issue with this book is that Toddie steals the Statue of Liberty.  Although justice does rule over wrongdoing in the end, some parents may wish to address this.

What is your family's favorite vacation memory?