My kids love showing me where all the animals are ( )

The animals in a zoo get up to all kinds of shenanigans at night in this sweet counting book from British picture-book author and artist Judith Kerr, creator of such titles as Mog the Forgetful Cat and The Tiger Came to Tea. From the one elephant who jumped into the sky and flew, to the ten cocks crowing "cockadoodledoo," the denizens of this zoo know how to have fun, although they make sure they're back in place by dawn, so no one (save the reader) is the wiser...

With rhyming text and her signature watercolor illustrations, Judith Kerr presents a charming counting book in One Night at the Zoo, full of quirky animal characters and unusual and unexpected activities. I think my favorite scene, from a visual perspective, was the one in which the seven tigers sneezed so loudly they blew the feathers off the cockatoos. Full of humor and fun, this is a counting book I'd recommend to all fans of this author/artist, as well as to anyone looking for picture-books in rhyme. ( )

One night in the zoo by Judith Kerr. I first read Judith Kerr's When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit as a child and was blown away. Somehow, though, I never thought of her writing anything else. Well, a month or two ago I discovered The Tiger Who Came to Tea and was blown away all over again by the delightful story and art - why had I never discovered this classic? Happily, it is being reprinted and I have ordered our library a copy. And then, it happened again...here's another book by Judith Kerr! At first, I was doubtful. Coming from The Tiger the colors seemed too muted, the text too short and simplistic. So I read it again....and again...and again....and I was blown away once more. The colors are the perfect hues for a nighttime adventure, drawn in colored pencils and glowing softly with life and gentle humor. The simple rhyming text is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers and easily adapted for interactive storytime, as children count the animals and guess each new crazy antic. Add this to your concept picturebook collection (you do have one, right?) and pull it out for storytimes about the zoo, counting, bedtime, animals, or just for fun!

ISBN: 978-1935279372; Published March 2010 by Kane Miller; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates

One Night in the Zoo is an imaginative picture book that allows the reader to learn about the secret life of zoo animals once the zoo is closed and all the visitors have gone. Children are able to count from 1 to 10 as they learn about the tricks the animals play late at night. With rhyming verse, catchy refrain, and imaginative story line, young readers will have a joyous time practicing their counting. Kerr’s illustrations, however, are opposite to what the story needs. Her pale pastel colored artwork washes out the details and characters on every page, which does not do the story justice. This book, although not my top pick counting book, would be a nice asset to have an a preschool or kindergarten classroom, and a great starting point for students to get excited about counting and learning numbers. ( )