Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book
Novelty Book
For ages 2 to 4
Simon and Schuster, 2007 ISBN: 978-1416947370
A child writes a letter to zoo to ask them to send him or her a pet. Unfortunately the animal they send is somewhat unsuitable. After all, what is a child going to do with an elephant which is, of course, way too big. So the child sends the elephant back. The zoo then sends another animal and I am sorry to say that this creature is just as unsuitable as the first. In fact the poor child is sent a whole series of inappropriate animals, all of whom are too tall, too naughty, too scary, too fierce, too grumpy, and too jumpy. Finally the zoo people ?thought very hard? and they make the right choice, sending the child a pet who is just ?perfect,? one which the child can keep.
With a flap to lift on every page, this interactive board book encourages the reader to try to guess what the zoo has sent to the child in the story. Each animal is concealed behind a flap (it is inside some kind of container) which the reader must open to find out what is behind it. The minimal yet engaging text provides clues as to what the animal behind the flap might be.
Children have been enjoying this book for several decades now and it is wonderful that it is now available in a sturdy lift-the-flap board book format for little children to enjoy.
