Zoo

Rating:
Summary: Not appropriate for young ears
Review: I checked this book out of our library based on the title alone (big mistake) after a family trip to the zoo, to read to my 4 year old twins. I had to immediately start changing the words so as to not freak them out completely. The illustrations did the job anyway. OK, I "get it" that zoos are not the most noble creations of humankind, but do we have to shove that down a preschooler's throat so soon? They have plenty of time to figure out what injustices we have perpetrated on animals, our environment, and ourselves. This book is SO NOT for the age group at which it is aimed. Unless you are one of those people who don't kids to be kids for as long as possible.

Rating:
Summary: This is the worst children¿s book I have read in a long time
Review: The wonderful illustrations are what attracted me to the book at my local library. The characters however, are far from wonderful. What could have been a fun story about a family's trip to the zoo, was instead a story about a miserable family who could not get along. As a mother you are looking for positive stories to read to your children. This story did not provide anything positive. I was embarrassed to read this book to my child. Neither one of us enjoyed it at all. I would not recommend any books by Anthony Browne for families. Most of which I feel are very negative, and should not be marketed to children.

Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best book i have ever read
Review: This book is very good. This book may not be educational but it is very, very, VERY funny. I love this book and I first heard it at a very young age. I don't get how someone can't like this. This book may not have good role models or a happy ending, but I swear if you have a dry sense of humor you will love it!

Rating:
Summary: This is the worst children?s book I have read in a long time
Review: This book should be required reading for Zoo staff and Zoo visitors alike. ZOO is full of the ugly truth that surrounds so many zoo visits. I know. I work at a zoo. This book is appropriatly meloncholy, giving the reader{if they have'nt already] very mixed feelings about these institutions. The characters are real and if just one reader can see themselves in these characters and change for the better,dreams do come true.As always, Anthony Browne's illistrations are haunting and rich. the text is subtle, giving the reader an opportunity to read between the lines as they look between the bars on cages,to find their own perspective. I recommend this book.My three-year-old asked me thoughtful questions about it for days.It was fun to have such meaningfull dialogue with someone so young.

Rating:
Summary: Disfunctional family at the zoo
Review: This is not your average story of a family going to the zoo. Dad is a boor in "one of his moods" and mom is a passive enabler. The animals are kept in small, shabby cages and are nearly as miserable as the human visitors.

This is all very realistic, I suppose, but is it appropriate for a childrens' book? This review thinks not. I'll take my literary zoos idealized and happy, thank you very much.