Product Description
Brimming with charm and whimsy, this exquisite novel set in the Tower of London has the transportive qualities and delightful magic of the contemporary classics Chocolat and Amélie.

Balthazar Jones has lived in the Tower of London with his loving wife, Hebe, and his 120-year-old pet tortoise for the past eight years. That’s right, he is a Beefeater (they really do live there). It’s no easy job living and working in the tourist attraction in present-day London.

Among the eccentric characters who call the Tower’s maze of ancient buildings and spiral staircases home are the Tower’s Rack & Ruin barmaid, Ruby Dore, who just found out she’s pregnant; portly Valerie Jennings, who is falling for ticket inspector Arthur Catnip; the lifelong bachelor Reverend Septimus Drew, who secretly pens a series of principled erot­ica; and the philandering Ravenmaster, aiming to avenge the death of one of his insufferable ravens.

When Balthazar is tasked with setting up an elaborate menagerie within the Tower walls to house the many exotic animals gifted to the Queen, life at the Tower gets all the more interest­ing. Penguins escape, giraffes are stolen, and the Komodo dragon sends innocent people running for their lives. Balthazar is in charge and things are not exactly running smoothly. Then Hebe decides to leave him and his beloved tortoise “runs” away.

Filled with the humor and heart that calls to mind the delight­ful novels of Alexander McCall Smith, and the charm and beauty of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise is a magical, wholly origi­nal novel whose irresistible characters will stay with you long after you turn the stunning last page. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

Quirky and Amusing
This was a very quirky odd book.It was very imaginative with a great setting -- The Tower of London.I liked the book b/c I thought it was different and amusing at times but other times I think I got bored with the descriptions of the menagerie and random happenings and the jumping around, which I guess is sort of a contradiction b/c what made it quirky also annoyed me at times.I think the most compelling part of the book were the characters the beefeater and his wife and how they handle their loss and life.I would recommend it to someone looking for something different.

Cute and unique book
This book is very imaginative. I love the setting of the Tower of London and the history that is included, as well as the imagined (I assume) tale of what it's like living in the tower.I thought the writing was good - very easy and enjoyable to read, but the writing was not suspenseful in the way that if I put the book down, I couldn't wait to pick it up again.I thought all of the characters were very unique and fun to get to know. My only complaint is that I thought there were some loose ends that were not wrapped up in the ending (the rain samples??).

The Talent, The Idea, and the Unforgivable Editing
I've never read a book so poorly edited and constructed.The writing is good, and the idea of creating a story that takes place in the Beefeater community of London tower is great, but, unfortunately, they didn't come together very well at all.It's as if they thought the power of the idea and the talent of the writer would be enough to make the book good, but it clearly was not, and what we, the readers, end up getting is a patched up, stitched together, unrelated, and uninteresting barrage of quasi-random happenings (events would be too strong a word here).And, I'm sorry to say, you could clearly tell that she was trying to write the movie as well as the book, what with the ridiculous outfits of Valerie Jennings (who acts like no adult would ever act), and the Reverend Septimus Drew's stepping out on the town in such an 'odd' way.It had a cheesy Bridget Jones's Diary feel to it, and not even the first one, but that atrocious sequel.

I was not expecting anything deep.The title and the jacket blurb clearly prepared me for some light hearted humor and just a fun, interesting story, but what I got was so shallow that I had trouble hanging on to it.Reading this book was like jumping into a pool and landing in a sandbox-confusing, painful, and unfortunate.

Mrs. Stuart, if you are reading this, kick it up a notch, and the next time out try for something closer to Major Pettigrew's Last Stand.Your prose is outstanding.

Loved every minute of my time with this book
This is one of the most delightful books I've read in a long time. I especially loved the visual aspects of the descriptive writing. I feel like I've been in London at the Tower for the past few days meeting all of these unique characters and following them around London. My heart broke for Balthazar as he struggled to continue going day after day. Hebe also was so touching. I could picture every character clearly. I loved the book, and I highly recommend it.

Between 3 and 4 stars --
Words that come to mind after reading this novel:quirky, unusual, odd, melancholy, humorous. That is an interesting assortment of words and some contradict each other, but they all fit this most recent effort by Julia Stuart.

Set in the Tower of London, the main character is Balthazar Jones, a Beefeater living in the Tower with his wife of many years, Hebe (side note - I had no idea the Beefeaters, and others, actually live in the Tower).A true love story, their marriage is suffering due to the death of their only child Milo and they have moved apart rather than coming together.The Beefeater ends up being put in charge of the menagerie of animals which are to be moved from the London Zoo and to take up residence at the Tower.Hebe Jones is employed at the London Underground Lost and Found and leaves the Tower each day to try to reunite objects with the owners who lost them.Between all the activities at the Tower -- including ghosts, animals, other Beefeaters, and other Tower residents- and the characters Hebe encounters in her daily work, there is a vast amount of material (some quite humorous) for the author to explore and story lines that intertwine.

All the ingredients are here for a story that could have become a favorite of mine but something was missing or, perhaps the phrase should be a "bit off".I love London and have walked the grounds described which make it more interesting and I liked reading about the history of the Tower.I truly enjoy quirky characters and storylines that twist and turn but something still just didn't quite click.For one thing, I think the focus on the animals was too much and took up too much time - they were humorous but overdone in my opinion.Also, the story jumped around so much that I couldn't really get into the flow of the narrative.When I put the book down, I wasn't eager to pick it back up which usually is an indication that it isn't capturing my interest.Maybe that is it - I felt like I was outside the story looking in versus being "in" the story with the characters.I felt like an observer rather than a participant.

Overall, I would give this a 3.5 star if I could.Individual ingredients that are not more than the sum of the parts, but still much better than many other books being currently published.
... Read more

Product Description
This delightful pop-up edition of the classic storybook about a youngster loooking for a perfect pet is available for the first time. Lift the flaps and see each three-dimensional animal the ZOO has sent -- and the special touch-and-feel surprise at the end. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (95)

Great SSouvenir
Found this book in the gift shop at the Biose Zoo, "Zoo Boise", and gave it to my granddaughter as a keepsake. We had lots of fun reading it togeather. She loved opening the flaps. Great story, loved the ending.

Fun read
My 18 month old loves this book. He delights in revealing the animals and the characteristics attributed to them.The quality of the book is also excellent.

Loved for a long time
Books pass in and out of favor with my toddler, but this has been favorite for a long time. She will listen to it over and over again. Loves to lift the flaps and language is short and simple. Great for babies and young toddlers.

Exciting for all ages, but slightly flawed
My son is only five months old, but already loves to 'help' lift the flaps in this adorable book. The text is nice & large, & the pictures are bright & simple for little ones. The flaps are interesting & varied, but are not as durable as they should be. Also, I felt that the name of the animals should be included somewhere, so there's a connection between revealing them & saying their names.

Charming interactive book
My daughter adores this book.She will sit in our lap and "read" it over and over, and she has mastered the flip up pages.She waits long enough for me to make the sound of the animal before she turns the page, so it's really fun to read together.I've also found her "reading" it herself, babbling as she opens each animal cage.The story is very cute and the book has handled wear and tear very well so far.Our daughter started getting into this book around 9 months, and she is almost 14 months now.I highly recommend it and just bought it as a present for her 11 month old nephew. ... Read more

Product Description
Welcome to the savage and surprising world of Zoo Story, an unprecedented account of the secret life of a zoo and its inhabitants, both animal and human. Based on six years of research, the book follows a handful of unforgettable characters at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo: an alpha chimp with a weakness for blondes, a ferocious tiger who revels in Obsession perfume, and a brilliant but tyrannical CEO known as El Diablo Blanco.

Zoo Story crackles with issues of global urgency: the shadow of extinction, humanity's role in the destruction or survival of other species. More than anything else, though, it's a dramatic and moving true story of seduction and betrayal, exile and loss, and the limits of freedom on an overcrowded planet--all framed inside one zoo reinventing itself for the twenty-first century.

Thomas French, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, chronicles the action with vivid power: Wild elephants soaring above the Atlantic on their way to captivity. Predators circling each other in a lethal mating dance. Primates plotting the overthrow of their king. The sweeping narrative takes the reader from the African savannah to the forests of Panama and deep into the inner workings of a place some describe as a sanctuary and others condemn as a prison. All of it comes to life in the book's four-legged characters. Even animal lovers will be startled by the emotional charge of these creatures' histories, which read as though they were co-written by Dickens and Darwin.

Zoo Story shows us how these remarkable individuals live, how some die, and what their experiences reveal about the human desire to both exalt and control nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Very Good but.....
Thomas French, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for the St. Petersburg Times has written an eye opening book about zoos, well at least one zoo in particular. In Zoo Story,French focuses his attention on the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida.Not only does the author reveal what life is like for the animals in captivity, but he also focuses of the politic and, power plays involved in zoo operations, which were not always in the best interest of the animals. The former CEO, Lex Salisbury, AKA El Diablo Blanco (White Devil), was forced to resign in 2008. This particular zoo in Tampa,was shut down in the 1980s due to horrific conditions. It was reopened and transformed years later, but one must ask the question -- at what cost to both the animals and the staff?

The story begins with (11) elephants from a herd in Swaziland, South Africa being air lifted in a Boeing 747. Traveling from South Africa to Tampa, Florida, the new home for the majority of this group, at a cost of $12,000 per elephant. Tranquillized and traveling in cages on this long journey alone stirred up much controversy from animal rights advocates, debating the merits of living in one's natural habitat, despite overpopulation, versus the new contained environment created at the zoo. Elephants from the herd are often slaughtered to contain overpopulation, andbecause of a shortage of food.

This book was very informative, and the six year's of research conducted by the author shows. I liked the fact that he told it as he saw it, and it is clear that he did not sugar coat anything.The book held my attention throughout, however, I felt the story was too focused on zoo operations and management for my taste. I did not realize this would be the case when I began the book. I was hoping to learn a lot more about the lives of the animals in captivity there, than I did.Despite this, the book is solid, and would probably appeal to most people with a genuine interest in animal welfare. RECOMMENDED

Phenomenal
There's not much to say other than this book is incredible. Tom French is a truly gifted writer, and he does a stunning job. The work he put into this story in apparent, and by the end, I fell in love with everyone involved -- including French. Read this if you have ever owned an animal, been to a zoo or wondered about either.

Top-notch research into a behind-the-scenes view of zoo life
There's no witty prose here or even any use of vocabulary that a reader would need to look up the meaning. What you do get, however, is top-notch research. I recall learning about how the book focused on the Lowry Park zoo in Tampa, Florida. However, author Thomas French really did his research here as the book spans several years and references events far beyond the Lowry Park zoo.

Some descriptions of the book have made it sound riveting, and yes, there are definitely some very exciting parts but the book as a whole is not necessarily a thriller. What it is, however, is a great study in the life cycle of zoo animals and the trials and tribulations of a zoo. Nothing is spared here, which includes the deaths of animals as well as keepers. French starts his tale by picking out a particular type of animal and following their journey from wild to captivity. By doing so, he helps the reader form an emotional attachment to animals while at the same time he provides enough neutrality in his writing to help the reader make sense of the idea of captivity.

While there are character portrayals of the head of the zoo as well as of a few keepers, the real stars of this book are the animals. French picks out the king and queen of the zoo to follow throughout the book. In this case, the queen is a tiger who is picky about a mate and a chimp raised initially by humans who has a thing for blondes who flash a bit of shoulder. It's hard not to get attached to these animals, and it's especially evident in the audio version of the book. During a particularly upsetting passage regarding one of the animals, the narrator's voice could be heard choking up. I'm glad that they didn't choose to re-record as it merely added to the weight of the story.

There's plenty of humor and excitement here as well, especially when it comes to stories of humans breaking into exhibits to be with the animals, animals too smart to be contained in their exhibit (or animals coaxed out of their exhibits), and a flood that inadvertently frees some of the animals who just happen to be particularly peckish. You'll be surprised at what their first choice of a meal is.

As someone into animal welfare who no longer visits zoos, it is at least refreshing to get the viewpoint of those who have chosen a career out of looking after the welfare of the animals in the zoos. If this book intrigues you, I highly recommend Karen Dawn's "Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals", one of my favorite books of all time and available on Amazon.

Still on the fence about Zoos.
Really interesting to learn how zoos work. The author doesn't really takes sides for or against them, but makes compelling arguments for both sides.I know I'll never walk into a zoo again without thinking about this book and the lives of the animals, which are forever changed.I never elephants were so much like humans, and it makes me sick to think of how many I've seen caged, at circuses, and in zoos.In the end there are no perfect answers, but I'm happy to have had a closer look.

Not only for animal lovers
Zoo Story is wonderfully written, very balanced, moves along as intensly as the best "thrillers." Very well researched. ... Read more

Product Description
Illus. in color. Spot, a polka-dot leopard who can change colors and even juggle his own spots, tries to convince two children that he is special enough to be exhibited in the zoo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Loved this as a kid!
I loved this book as a child and is one of my earliest memories of reading. We had a table in the back of the room covered in books for us to read. We had to read a number of books a month to get a reading star. I remember putting down that I read this book twenty times which I really did! I found out that reading the same book 20 times did not count for my reading quota but now 45 years later, I still remember loving this book!

One of MY favorites!
My 4 and 6 year old kids like this book a lot. But I think I enjoy reading it to them even more! It's clever and funny. I love the bright line art punctuated by bright colors. This is a book I can read over and over and never tire of!

Fun, fanciful
A classic for the family reading shelf. Excellent for reading aloud to babies and pre-schoolers, and great for a beginning reader, too.

My wife and I read this book to our kids many, many times. There are several reasons for its appeal. It has a pleasant rhythm when read aloud. The story is simple and easy to follow. The pictures are bright, colorful and fanciful.

Very good
I bought this for sentimental reasons because it reminded me of my childhood.I had this book 40 years ago!It's a good story and the drawings are cute and expressive.

loved it as a child...
this was one of my very favorite children's books - just looking at the illustrations again makes me smile! one reviewer noted the issue with teaching that zoos and circuses are nice places for animals to live - i wouldn't worry too much about that. i read this book many, many, many times but still grew up to become a vegetarian at age 13, a member of the ASPCA and the WWF, and an animal rights advocate. My opinions on zoos and circuses (some zoos are okay and unfortunately necessary, circuses are awful) are based on experience, not this very likable children's book! ... Read more

Product Description
This award-winning book capturing the glittering light show of the constellations is now available in paperback.

Take an illuminating ride through the starry night sky with National Geographic's Zoo in the Sky! Little Bear and the Great Bear in the Northern Sky; the scaly dragon winding his long tail; the Great Dog chasing the Hare in the Southern Sky; all are beautifully rendered in Christina Balit's vibrant art, studded with shiny stars, which perfectly illustrates Jacqueline Mitton's rich text.

Awards include: Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award Parent Council AwardREVIEW(S): "A visually dynamic introduction to the animal constellations." —Booklist

"Mitton offers poetic, abbreviated legends of the nighttime sky, while Balit's paintings, highlighted by shimmering silver stars, give visual meaning to the text."—Kirkus Reviews

"This is an attractive introduction to astronomy... [T]he simple poetic descriptions will capture the attention of preschoolers and early elementary-age children alike. A brief explanation of stars and constellations rounds out this lovely and unusual offering." —School Library JournalAmazon.com Review
People have always looked up at the stars in wonder, seeking patterns inthe sky. This gorgeous picture book, published by theNational Geographic Society, introduces children to the constellations thatare named for animals--Leo the Lion, the Great Bear and Little Bear, andmany more. Christina Balit's strikingpaintings showcase each constellation against a deep bluebackground--animals or fantastical beasts positioned in the dark night sky,with the individual stars, metallic and iridescent, superimposed upon them.Each image is accompanied by a short, engaging, often dramatizeddescription of the group of stars and the legends surrounding it, writtenby distinguished astronomer and writer Dr. Jacqueline Mitton: "Chargingthrough the zodiac, here comes the Bull. Head down, horns thrust forward,Taurus is ready to toss the twins. But they are safe, always on the otherside of the Milky Way." The front and endpapers are star maps that show theactual constellations of both the southern and northern skies. Mitton alsooffers a brief introduction to the constellations and two pages of relateddiscussion on astronomy at the book's end. A lovely choice for anyoneinterested in the mysteries of the night sky. (Click to see a samplespread. Text © 1998 Jacqueline Mitton. Illustrations © 1998 Christina Balit.) (Ages 6 to 10) --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Cool book
We borrowed thhis from the library and my daughter liked it so much, I later purchased it on Amazon.

Our constellations in the Sky
I looked over the book after I received it and was so satisfied that children of any age could learn so much about the star constellations. I gave the book as a gift to my five year old granddaughter who loves to look up into a dark night with me to view the stars and Jupiter too. It is complex enough for older children and as an adult, I learn from it too.

GREAT BOOK for your little sky explorer!
Bought this for my 5 and 8 year old daughters who are both interested in the night sky and just got a telescope....my wife and I thought this book was well done!

Best Book to Teach Children about the Stars!
The older civilizations had it right, have stories and animals to describe the sky and you will remember so much better!Great Book for Children!

AMAZING!
This is a gorgeous book from one of my favorite illustrators. I bought it for my son's 6 year bithday and we had such a great time finding the 'Zoo in the Sky'! ... Read more

Product Description
Illus. in color. "Young Gerald McGrew thinks of all sorts of unusual animals he'd have in a zoo. Dr. Seuss at his best."--Horn Book. Amazon.com Review
"It's a pretty good zoo," said young Gerald McGrew, "and thefellow who runs it seems proud of it, too." But if Gerald ranthe zoo, the New Zoo, McGrew Zoo, he'd see to making a change or two:"So I'd open each cage. I'd unlock every pen, let the animals go, andstart over again." And that's just what Gerald imagines, as he travelsthe world in this playfully illustrated Dr. Seuss classic (firstpublished back in 1950), collecting all sorts of beasts "that youdon't see every day." From the mountains of Zomba-ma-Tant to theblistering sands of the Desert of Zind, Gerald hunts down every animalimaginable ("I'll catch 'em in countries no one can spell, like thecountry of Motta-fa-Potta-fa-Pell"). Whether it's a scraggle-footMulligatawny or a wild-haired Iota (from "the far western part ofsouth-east North Dakota"), Gerald amazes the world with his new andimproved zoo: "This Zoo Keeper, New Keeper's simply astounding! Hetravels so far that you think he would drop! When do yousuppose this young fellow will stop?"

But Gerald's weird and wonderful globe-trotting safari doesn't end amoment too soon: "young McGrew's made his mark. He's built a zoobetter than Noah's whole Ark!" Some of the text andillustrations--imaginative as they are--are obviously dated, such asthe following passage: "I'll hunt in the mountains of Zomba-ma-Tant/ With helpers who all wear their eyes at a slant,/ And capture a finefluffy bird called the Bustard/ Who only eats custard with sauce madeof mustard." And your children may be the first to recognize thatattitudes have changed since the xenophobic '50s. But that doesn'tmean this tale need be discarded; instead, it should bediscussed. Ironically, Seuss was trying here--in his wild, explosive,and sometimes careless manner--to celebrate the joys ofunconventionality and the bliss of liberation! (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

makes you want to run a zoo
Dr. Seuss at his best, wants you to be a child again and as you grow wants you to run a zoo. Great fun to read even if you are a bit older then 6.

If I Ran The Zoo
I read this book to our daughter all the way to Florida and back and thousands of times after that.I have now purchased it for my grandsons and it is by far the best of the Dr. Suess books.I recommend it to every parent and grandparent.

A Little Girl Will Be Very Happy
This book came in excellent shape and within a reasonable period of time. The description was LIKE NEW, but looked like it had never been opened. Pristine. Thank you.

Dr. Seuss is So Stinking Creative!
I have to remember that this book was written back before political corectness went haywire.I had a little giggle to myself about the "helpers who wear their eyes at a slant," and "...from the blistering sands of the Desert of Zind. This beast is the beast that the brave chieftans ride...A Mulligatawny is fine for my zoo, and so is a chieftan. I'll bring back one too."and "I'll go to the African island of Yerka" which isn't bad, but the illustration, of two black men looking more like monkey than men is quite bad by todays standard.

There are a few more P.R. things your wouldn't see nowdays, but you have to date it to the time when it was written.It is still a great, creative story.The first words out of my daughter's mouth were, "Hey mommy, if ~I~ ran the zoo, I would..."

Good `Ol Dr. Seuss.Even though the rhyming got to be tricky reading aloud for my tried at 8pm brain, everyone enjoyed it.

This book actually recieved a Caldecott Honor in 1951.The brain of Dr. Seuss...to come up with so many original and off-the-wall animals and characters in his books.Not my favorite Dr. Seuss book by a long shot but still worth a read!

Love it!
I had never heard of this Dr. Seuss book until someone bought it for my son. He loves it, of course. Dr. Seuss always has great books! We loved it so much so that I bought it for one of my nephews since he is also a big Dr. Seuss fan. The crazy animals are so fun and just get more and more extravagant as the book goes on. It is fun for me and my son to read. ... Read more

Product Description

A heart can be hopeful, or silly, or happy. A heart can be rugged, or snappy, or lonely. A heart holds every different feeling, and debut author-artist Michael Hall captures each one with a delicate touch.

Customer Reviews (13)

My Heart Is Like a Zoo
A perfect book! Colorful pictures, rhyming text, a built in counting activity, not to mention art ideas with geometric shapes...plus, a sweet child in the end.

Great book
I bought this book as a gift for my 16 month old grandson.He and his 3 year old sister both really like it.It is very cute, colorful, and fun for both kiddos!

So creative!
This book not only has a cute little story about animals, but the illustrations of the animals are almost entirely made out of brightly-colored hearts! My son and I loved this book. I think I may need to buy this one...

Early readers will learn about animals, learn how to find shapes, and practice counting.
//My Heart is Like a Zoo// bursts with vivid colors, fresh rhymes and twenty-one zoo animals cleverly illustrated with hearts - more than three hundred hearts in the book! Fresh metaphorical rhymes act as directional signs in a zoo, enticing a reader deeper and deeper into the animal menagerie. Each rhyme depicts an aspect of the heart, such as "eager", "hopeful", and "rugged". Early readers learn affirmations of the heart; they learn about animals, and how to find shapes, and they practice counting. The book finishes with the "zookeeper" happily tuckered out while his zoo animals wait on the shelf for the next day of play.

Author/illustrator Michael Hall uses sixteen hearts to illustrate, "quiet as a caterpillar wearing knitted socks." He uses another sixteen hearts to illustrate "bothered as a bull with a hornet in its hair." Hall is a professional graphic designer, and it shows in his work. His images are simple, yet compelling. Each one comes to life on the page. Children with an artistic or engineering sense will study each animal to see how heart-shapes can be transformed into animal-shapes. This is Hall's first book for children. We're sure to see many more books from this talented writer and illustrator.

Reviewed by Susan Roberts

great books for little ones
The bold block colors and shapes give this wonderful book a kindergarten-y feel. It's really fun for kids to find all the heart shapes and guess how many are on a page before finding them. If only I were this creative with construction paper when I was in kindergarten! ... Read more

Product Description

Shapes and colors in your zoo, lots of things that you can do. Heads and ears, beaks and snouts, that's what animals are all about. I know animals and you do too; make some new ones for your zoo.

Customer Reviews (18)

Nice book but NOT for younger toddlers
The design and content of this book is very well-done. However, the problem (a big one) is the construction. The paper used for the pages is quite flimsy. My 18-month old daughter was able to rip the pages with ease due to the cut-out design of the pages.

I would have easily given this a 5-star rating if not for the poor choice in paper. Definitely consider this carefully if buying for younger children.

clever & educational
I like this book and the Color Farm by the same author.
Both are clever & educational.

Color Farm Board Book

Great for teaching shapes and colors
My son adores this book.He started looking at the colorful pictures/shapes when he was about 1 and his interest in the book has not waned, but only evolved.At some point, he liked the book so much, I bought several of the author's other books (Planting a Rainbow, Fish Eyes, Color Farm, etc.) and he was on a Lois Ehlert kick for a while where he'd only want to read and flip through her colorful and innovative illustrations.This book is ingenious in the way the author uses cut-outs to form shapes of different animals and then builds upon those primary shapes (starts out with circles, square, triangle) by using more complex shapes (hexagon, rectangle, etc.) to form images of other animals, while reinforcing the shapes used to form the animal image from the previous page.

I highly recommend this book and this author...also get "Planting a Rainbow."

The great Color zoo!
Its a good book that teaches the basic things of learning. It teaches about colors, geometric figures, and about animals. I recomend this book for kids agea 6-4 that a bearly learning english ,or little guys that do know.

The great Color zoo!
Its a good book that teaches the basic things of learning. It teaches about colors, geometric figures, and about animals. I recomend this book for kids agea 6-4 that a bearly learning english ,or little guys that do know. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (31)

Well Written, but slightly cynical and dull
This is a well-written novel which unfortunately lacks a compelling plot, a summary of which you've no doubt read in previous reviews, so I'll omit it here.

I've always been fascinated about pre-war life in Nazi Germany - just how insanity of Nazism slowly crept into the average German's daily existence, etc.However, such details in this book seems scant.

The protagonist, a journalist and former communist, is the stereotypical world-weary cynic, with a heart of gold.

I can't help feeling that the world the author tried to recreate was a bit more complex and shaded.Not a bad airplane read, but ultimately uninteresting.

Worth Reading
I never quite understand why so many reviewers on these Amazon book pages are so harshly negative when posting a review. That especially seems to be the case with a number of the reviews of this book, and frankly, I really don't understand why? Does no one actually read anymore just for the pure sake of entertainment? I'm beginning to feel like I am the last one who does.

With that said, I enjoyed this book tremendously. It was very engaging, very descriptive, and quite suspenseful. I found the characters to be believable and actually found myself enjoying them. I've enjoyed them so much so that I ended up purchasing the two sequels to the book (both of which I read in quick sucession, and enjoyed equally as much) and have just acquired from Amazon UK the fourth installment because I couldn't wait for it to come out in the US. And in all honesty, some of the other books of this genre and period that other readers rave about, I found entirely lackluster... enjoyable reading for entertainment's sake, but nowhere near as engaging as these books. If you liked this book, give Rebecca Cantrell's "A Trace of Smoke" a try too.

Disappointing mistakes
I enjoyed this book except for obvious errors with regard to Berlin, geography and some scenes.An author writing in this genre should get such annoying details correct.At least the editor should have recognized the errors and corrected them.Much as I'd like to read another of his books, I am hesitant to do so.Maybe I'll stick to places that I do not know as well as Germany.

Thriller on training wheels
This novel fits into the fiction category I call Casablanca Lite - the emphasis on Lite. The protagonist in this type of story finds himself surrounded by the evils of Nazi Germany and at first reluctantly and then finally whole-heartedly picks up his sword and fights the good fight.

In Zoo Station, our hero John Russell, is a British journalist - not a cynical and jaded café proprietor - based in pre-WWII Germany who wields a pen and a press pass rather than the above mentioned sword. He has a beautiful German girlfriend - an actress of course - and a son in the Fatherland - and hence he just can't leave Germany - even as things begin to turn Nazi ugly.

In 1939 Russell is hired on the sly by the Soviets to snoop around and write "articles" about Nazi armament plans which Russell also shares with British intelligence. There are train trips, nights in hotels, elegant dinners and some pillow talk - and before the reader can say "letters of transit", our hero is a full-fledged "undercover agent".

The plot here is minimal, the historical context superficial and the characters are one dimensional and wooden. If World War II espionage novels are your cup of tea, you'll be much better served by reading Alan Furst, Philip Kerr and several of the Inspector Troy books by John Lawton.

Pass on this one.

A good start to a new series set in Nazi Germany
In my quest to find new authors to enjoy, I've found one in author David Downing, who has written a series of tales set in the Germany of the Third Reich. Filled with plenty of details about the day-to-day lives of ordinary people, it's one that caught me at the opening pages and didn't let go until I was finished with the novel. And that, well, it usually doesn't happen with the usual espionage thriller.

Anglo-American journalist John Russell has a very unenviable life. He's surviving in a rather hand-to-mouth fashion doing freelance articles in Berlin, and as the year 1938 draws to a close, he's with other journalists in a seedy bar in Danzig, celebrating well, with not much cheer. Indeed, there isn't much cheer anywhere in Germany it seems.

He's there to wind up a story, and there comes a knock at his hotel room door, to a stranger named Shchepkin. And Shchepkin has a very lucrative offer for Russell -- all he has to do is spy on the Germans for the Russians, for which he will be compensated handsomely. Russell isn't too eager to take on the job, despite being a member of the Communist party in the past.

For one, he doesn't want to attract much notice in Germany, especially from the dreaded police forces. He has a young son, Paul, in the country, the only good thing to ever come out of his failed marriage. And despite Shchepkin's assurances, the offer sounds fishy indeed, but the money is too much of a lure to turn down.

So Russell starts his series of articles, looking at the lives of ordinary Germans, and quickly the money starts to come in, along with praise from his agent in London, who says that the stories are selling well. Unfortunately, they also attract the attention of the German officials. And when the English start to get involved in the mix, John Russell finds himself up to his neck in trouble.

Especially when a bright young American journalist named McKinley asks for Russell's help in translating a source. And this source is hiding a terrible, tragic secret about what is happening to the disabled in Germany...

I'm not going to reveal any more of the plot here, it's just too tight and too good to miss. This novel is full of little details, plenty of action, trains and trams hurtling through the night, and a sly, despairing humour that fits in perfectly in the time and place. As well as Shchepkin, there are other interesting characters to get to know and like, among them John's son Paul, a lively and smart ten-year-old, Effie, John's actress friend and mistress who's just as clever off the stage as well as on it, and a Jewish family that is trying desperately to get out of Germany, as well as the setting of the place.

Germany isn't at war -- yet -- but the streets are full of uniforms, there are already shortages and bodies keep turning up, usually clad in the story of a suicide or two. Downing keeps plenty of balls in the air and the story moving briskly along here, and gives plenty of little details and historical events to keep it interesting.

What made this different from every other WWII espionage novel is that the wit in here is blistering and sarcastic, along with some real tragedy to keep everything in balance. Russell is far from being the usual sort of hero; he's refreshingly ordinary and has to work to find his solutions, which kept this story from being too over the top. The book itself isn't very long, not much more than two hundred pages, and it makes for a quick evening read, which was nice after taking in some stories that are the size of bricks. Another aspect that saved this one for me is that the story is free of a great deal of jargon and technobabble which also helped.

Summing up, this is a novel that I heartily recommend to anyone interested in a good spy thriller, with plenty of fast-paced action and a hero that you can cheer for. Four stars overall, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

... Read more

Product Description

Something strange is happening at the Clarksville City Zoo. Late at night, monkeys are scaling the walls and searching the neighborhood— but what are they looking for?

Customer Reviews (10)

review of the secret zoo
Hi my name is Sydney. I'm going into 4th grade and my dad got me this book over the summer. This book is definetly an adventure.This would be a good book for you if you like action,animals and freaky monkeys. :)
I can't wait until Bryan Chick comes out with his next book!

The Secret Zoo
I ordered this for a friend's child as a birthday present but never heard any comment about it.I read a little bit about this book before ordering it and I thought it's a great book to get.Thank you.

The Secret Zoo
This was a fun book! I am an teacher and bought this book to add to my library. I read it myself and really enjoyed it as an adventurous, unique animal story.

Kids with love it - even boys!
I lead a book club with my son's class each year. He is in 4th grade. Our group read The Secret Zoo this winter. All 7 kids loved it! I assigned pages each week and they complained every week about having to wait to read on. They stopped me in the halls to discuss what they thought was going to happen next.

They story is unique and very well told. While some parents may be put off by the "missing child" in the beginning of the story, we must remember that adult imagination is far more dark than a child's imagination when it comes to that topic - it never occurred to my group that she wouldn't be found, safe and sound. They were more excited about how she would be found. The vivid descriptions get the kids started in the right direction, but then let imagination take over.

The 4 heroes of book have traits with which every kid can identify. The characters bring a lot of humor to the books, especially Ella and Richie. My son was laughing out loud at times. The resolution is intense, but the humor and quick pace keeps it from getting too frightening.

The concept of the story really intrigued my group. I know when I took my son to the zoo a couple weeks after reading it, he found all sorts of potentials "secret zoo" entrances.

So, I have 7 kids anxiously awaiting the start of book club next year so they can find out what the Adventure Scouts are up to next. They've passed the book on to friends so my book club may be a little larger next year! Kids excited about reading - isn't that every parents dream?!

FYI - I also read The Secret Zoo aloud to my 1st grader and she loved it, too!

THIS IS SURE TO BE A HIT!
I am a third grade teacher who is still reading this book to my class...and we are ADDICTED to it!It is one of the best books I have read to my class in a long time. The book is filled with descriptive language, suspense, and a lot of action and adventure.My students beg me to read more and more each day.We have had a lot of great discussions and have applied the story to many of our literacy lessons...especially with vocabulary.I can only imagine that with more exposure, this book is going to be a hit.I can even see it becoming a successful movie!We are looking forward to the next book in the series! ... Read more

Product Description
The remarkable true story of a family who move into a rundown zoo– already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in The Guardian.

In the market for a house and an adventure, Benjamin Mee moved his family to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside. Mee had a dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. His friends and colleagues thought he was crazy.

But in 2006, Mee and his wife with their two children, his brother, and his 76-year-old mother moved into the Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Their extended family now included: Solomon, an African lion and scourge of the local golf course; Zak, the rickety Alpha wolf, a broadly benevolent dictator clinging to power; Ronnie, a Brazilian tapir, easily capable of killing a man, but hopelessly soppy; and Sovereign, a jaguar and would-be ninja, who has devised a long term escape plan and implemented it.

Nothing was easy, given the family’s lack of experience as zookeepers, and what follows is a magical exploration of the mysteries of the animal kingdom, the power of family, and the triumph of hope over tragedy. We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Wonderful tru story
This is a wonderful book.It is heart warming and at times heart wrenching. It was a little hard to keep track of who all the people are.I would recommend making a list of who's who.I think it is a wonderful book that all zookeepers or those interested in zoos or animals should read.I got a better understanding of what it takes to run a small zoo and even more, the hardships of getting a rundown zoo back up and running. Mee's experience was documented for animal planet and I wish I had seen it.

A little Dry
When I first saw this book I was extremely intrigued.I love animals and I enjoy memoirs.I have already read Terri Irwin's book and Jack Hanna's latest and enjoyed them immensely.My problem with this book was it was not about the animals in the zoo as much as I would have liked. This zoo they bought was full of interesting and endangered animals that could be a story in themselves, but besides escapes and other problems with them, I felt they were not a main character.The book is enjoyable but sometimes the author jumps around too much from past to present. If you really enjoy animals it is a decent read but there are others I would recommend before this book.

Ok book
This book was disappointing I guess I expected to read more about the animalsand the starting of the zoo rather than all the finanical aspects.
Too many stories about banks and inspections. Sorry about his wife dying.

The true story of a young family who bought a broken down zoo with 200 wild animals
This true story of a young family who bought a broken down zoo with 200 wild animals and how they managed to revive their family and the zoo makes for a powerful memoir to fascinate any interested in wildlife management. The zoo was located in the English countryside and author Mee, who specializes in animal behavior, had a dream to run it as a family business. His family efforts and the engaging stories of zoo residents who sometimes proved a challenge makes for fascinating reading. General-interest lending libraries will love it.

Powerful memoir
This was a pretty powerful memoir. It combines a family, a dream, hard work, and tragedy. I think for the most part all the elements are pretty well balanced. I was rooting for this family and the success of their zoo and dream. They worked tirelessly to make improvements for the animals and zoo while trying to remain a close-knit family as the author's wife passes away.

I loved reading about the author's wife and children, especially his love for his wife. I would have loved to learn a bit more about his other family members as well. The author's mother is mentioned several times but I would have liked to learn more about his siblings.

All the stories related to the zoo were pretty amazing. Multiple animal escapes, staff spats, and animal personalities. There was a great deal going on. And I loved it all! At times when the author was talking about the animal enclosers I had a hard time picturing exactly what he meant. I don't know if it was just me or if it's hard for a zoo outsider to understand these things. It was very rewarding to see the zoo's makeover from start to finish and see the staff form and come together to get the zoo ready for inspection.

This was a very original true story and I would like to learn more about this family and their zoo since this book was completed! ... Read more

Product Description
f you shout in the zoo, anything might happen. You might scare a bear, and the apes, and the hippos, and the lions...and then they might break loose and chase after you! In this uproarious cause-and-effect story, one innocent, little shout from a young girl creates chaos among the zoo animals. Lively, detailed illustrations bring the friendly stampede of animals to life and will have readers laughing out loud! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Never Ever Shout in a Zoo
This is a fun and great book to share with any child who enjoys going to the zoo.Another parent told me about the book after my 3 year old daughter dropped her ice cream at the zoo and began to cry.We read the story and it has helped when we have been out in public settings to share what happens when we yell and how it affects other people around us.The pictures are great and my 2 year old is also a fan of the book.A great addition to any library for young children.

Odd illustrations, fun text
I feel like I'm writing two reviews here because my views on the illustrations and the text are so different!

The illustrations are painfully odd in some ways. They're pretty, yes, and they feel alive in a way, and you can really see the animals moving and all that - great. But the zoo itself alternates wildly between an extremely old-fashioned zoo of steel bars and barren cages (grr!) and one with basically no enclosures whatsoever such that the animals could hop out of their slightly raised platform and onto the paths at any old time! Either one of those zoo models would be strange to me, but both in one zoo seems... odd. (Why do the apes even NEED to get the keys when none of the animals are "locked" anywhere, anyway?)

As for the text, it's funny and bouncy, and has a few opportunities to build your kid's vocabulary. Yes, I'm talking about the words "malicious" and "conniving". I don't know about YOU, but I would describe a plan by apes to free the animals and lock up the people as, yes, malicious. And I would say sneaking around to do it is conniving. I'm not... I'm not really sure when it became a crime to call a spade a spade unless the spade was light and fluffy.

As far as warning the kids... well! If all these bad things might happen because you shout in a zoo, I'd like to be warned too! And if I shouted anyway, I wouldn't be surprised to get a few friendly "I told you so's" when all was said and done.

But don't ask me, ask my nieces (in pre-k and the first grade). Did they feel upset at the language in this book? Did it scare them? Was it, in fact, horrific?

No. Actually, they laughed and asked me to read it again. I get that not all children are the same, but this is a pretty light-hearted book. Some people need to get a grip.

Love this book! Great linguistic imagery!
This book captures the imagination of a child... I can't tell you how many conversations I have had with my own children that remind me of the narrator in this book. The author applies descriptive wording to paint a vivid image of what might happen. The words like "mischievous, dreadful, grouchy, etc" enlighten a child's vocabulary. Of course I don't want my children acting "malicious" but I do want them to know what it means when they hear or read it. It is a great way to introduce new words and talk about positive behavior. My 6 year old son loves the pictures and re-examines them each time we read this.There is a wonderful energy about this book. I can imagine reading this book to a classroom of kindergarteners with wide eyes. It is perfect for that setting! Love it!

I WARNED You! You can't say I didn't!
This is my son's (18 months) FAVORITE book and has been for some time. And we read A LOT of books!!He constantly brings it to me to read and as soon as he hears the first sentence, his whole face lights up.My daughter (age 3 going on 16) loves it as well and she is VERY curious to know what all the big words mean? (which I for one like!) They both love the repetition and beautiful artwork.They especially love the phrase "Don't say I didn't warn you," which is repeated quite often.This is a home run for Karma Wilson!Her best yet in my opinion!!

LOVE THOSE WORDS!
I really loved this book.I am not a teacher just a mom that likes to read to her kids.The concept of the story is cute.I would shout if I dropped my ice cream too!!But it shows you can't just shout anywhere...especially the zoo.My boys like the "describing words".In fact I think on more than one occasion I have used..."Your a BIG BULL MOOSE WITH A BAD ATTITUDE!"Thanks Ms. Wilson for helping me find a way to get my kids out of a bad mood! ... Read more

Product Description
Pulled from the pages of the wildly popular ZooBorns blog, this picture book presents the most charming critters ever: baby animals, ranging from the adorable to the zany! Featuring full-color photographs on every page and a cozy text perfect for reading aloud, this book is bound to become a must-have for animal lovers of all ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Teacher Recommended
I recently bought this book to add to my classroom library. The pictures are vivid and colorful. The story makes a great read aloud. My students loved the cute baby animals and wanted to know more about these animals. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves animals!

Fantastic book for kids and adults
I'm not really a fuzzy, cute, baby animal kind of guy.Or so I thought.We bought this book to read for our first child, who is not due until December.But I can tell you that comparing it with all the other kids books we've received, I would MUCH rather read this book 10 times each week than anything else.The pictures are fantastic, the text is witty and educational, and I'm sure our baby is going to love it.There is a blog too ([...]) with lots of other great stuff, and an adult book - ZooBorns - that we just ordered.

Great to stimulate a baby's senses, teach everyone a little about animals, and give parents an enjoyable read!

Adorable and Educational!
This book is filled with adorable baby animals and cleaver rhymes describing each of them.I bought several books to give as Christmas gifts this year for my nephews and niece.It will be a fun way for the kids to learn different animal names and I know the adults will love all of the great photos.If you are looking for a gift for a young child or animal lover (of any age) this is a great choice.You can't go wrong with these baby animals!

A Special book that little kids can relate to
My nephew is only 18 months old but he sure to identify with the animal-babies and I know his Mother (My sister) will love it!It's a Christmas gift. I love the book! ... Read more

Product Description
KC and Marshall are helping out with the baby tigers at the National Zoo when they meet a new friend, Sunwoo from China. Sunwoo’s father is lending the zoo a precious jewel called the Tiger’s Eye to raise money for endangered tigers. But during the zoo’s big party, the lights suddenly go out. And when they’re turned back on, the jewel is missing! Who stole the Tiger’s Eye? And how did someone sneak it out of a room with no windows and a guarded door? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Another great read
My 9 year old loves to read mysteries.Ron Roy does another great job.

good for second grader
We have several in this series. It is a good mystery book,my 8 year old loves these. ... Read more

Product Description
From one of the greatest money managers Canada has ever known, The Investment Zoo is an incisive work in which history, culture, politics and finance are intermingled.

Stephen A. Jarislowsky has had a single goal throughout his career: the defence of the shareholder. He has been outspoken in his criticism of breaches in ethics: overpaid bosses, directors who close their eyes to questionable practices, grossly over-compensated lawyers, and brokers who inflate their commissions by encouraging unnecessary trading.

In The Investment Zoo, Stephen A. Jarislowsky reveals his approach to investment – the approach that has assured his extraordinary success in business – and discusses a host of subjects that touch him personally: his own path from childhood to adult life, his vision as an administrator, and his involvement in responsible philanthropy. At age 79, the incorruptible billionaire has lost none of the spirit that has so often aroused controversy.

The Investment Zoo was published in Quebec to great acclaim. Since January 2005, it has sold over 15,000 copies, and has pushed the French edition of The Da Vinci Code out of the number one position on the bestseller list. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Interesting observations of investment thinking but not sure if practical for most people
I enjoyed many of the author's observations about investing, but I am not sure if it would be of practical use to most people in some of its recommendations. I am thinking particularly of recommendations that about talking to senior executives of the company to get a feel for whether this is a company one wants to invest in.How many people would have such access unless perhaps they are life long professional investors like the author? The author also makes involved comments about scrutinizing the balance sheet, etc. of the companies on a level that one might have a lot of trouble following---as I did--unless they had a lot of business experience or perhaps an MBA.

BUY IT, STUDY IT, THEN READ IT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS
In this relatively short book, Mr Jarislowsky manages to deliver not only a lot of wisdom but a good investment system which an investor can put in practice provided he or she is willing to put in some serious effort.

Mr Jarislowsky describes a stock picking system which focuses on finding companies which are likely to be able to deliver stable growth.One still needs to diversify, mind you, but by picking "better than even" stocks (and avoiding cyclical, technology, fashion, airline and other risky stocks) one is getting rid of a lot of attrition.

Being a professional investment manager, I read many books on investment and I think that if someone is starting to save and wants a good way to put his money to work, this book is the best primer there is.

Professional investment analysts, too, would find much to learn in the latter chapters of the book.There is also a helpful chapter on those involved in philanthropy.

This is distilled knowledge from a highly successful investment manager with years of experience who was good enough to put it all down in book form.

This is one of those rare books from which both novices and experienced investors can profit handsomely.

Finally a no-nonsense book
This is a straightforward no nonsense book on investment. Well written. A pleasure to read. Very useful. Finally some order that I can understand in a messy environment.
I will buy again without hesitation from this author if he publishes again.

Very useful!
Mister Jarislowsky is one of the great gourou of the stock market.Known for his integrity and straigth talk, he isn't affraid of telling the truth.His stock market approach is clear and simple: buy super quality enterprises who sell products and services than you will consume every day no matter the economical context.Whether in recession or inflation, people still buy grocery, drinks coca-cola, and smokes.They still find the money necessary for their "basic" needs.

This is THE classical approach taked by everyone who has achieved financial wealth in stock market.

Time and patience are two essentials keys to succeed in investment! ... Read more

Product Description
Bruno Munari was an internationally acclaimed artist, designer, and children's book creator. Acontemporary of Leo Leonni, his books have been hailed as "among the most original, inventive and beautiful ever created." Zoo is among his most graphically stunning works. Meet the kangaroo, who is all legs but doesn't know it, the zebra in his striped pajamas, and the humpy camel, who has a seat for you. Young readers will enjoy Munari's bright, bold illustrations; older readers will appreciate his wry humor. From children to collectors, Bruno Munari's Zoo is certain to enchant a whole new generation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent zoo book for young children.
After taking our twin 2 1/2 year old grandson's to the zoo, we unsuccessfully look at the zoo gift shop for a book that would highlight animals that we had seen on that visit.Hard to imagine, but there were non.Many of the books dealt with one animal not a cross range.Therefore, returning home, I searched out this book by Bruno Munari.It is excellent and my daughter and thetwins are very happy with my choice.

My kids love it
The best part is the line about the zebra's striped pajamas.Really great illustrations.

High brow text for a low brow audience
There are a lot of animal books out there.There are a lot of zoo books out there.There are very few of said books that do it with this kind of ingenuity.The first time you read the lines "Flamingos know they are strange and beautiful and play at symmetry" to your 3 year old, you know you have stumbled on to a rare gem.

Will they know what symmetry is?Probably not, but you do -- and that is what is so great about this simple book.Everyone gets to enjoy the book, on whatever level they can appreciate it for. ... Read more

Product Description
All of the animals in the train are going to the zoo—one elephant, twohippos, three giraffes, all the way up to ten birds! Eric Carle’s classiccounting book has never been so much fun. Kids will love to colortheir favorite animals and complete the activities on every page. Theycan unfold the back cover to see the animals play at the zoo and topractice their counting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Wonderful Learning Tool!( a review of 1,2,3 to the Zoo)
1,2,3 To The Zoo is a delightful Eric Carle book for toddlers and preschoolers who are ready to learn their numbers.Carle combines two elements - Animals and Trains!-- to keep their interest.And most children love his artwork.

The book begins with a two-page spread of a lovely blue steam engine.The next two pages show 1 elephant on a flat-bed shipping car;the following pages, 2 hippos on their own flatbed, and so forth.The concept is that the engine is picking up the shipping-cars, making for a longer train.

What I like about this book is that there is lots to talk about.Adults can use it to teach the names of colors, as well as the names of animals, in addition to how many there are of them.

The notion of 'addition' is shown at the bottom of each page where Carle shows the train getting longer as we go along.The last pages shows an overview of the zoo with every animal where it should be.

Talking Points :::
oThe artwork in this one is typical of Eric Carle.

oThe big pictures done in bright colors as well as thetrain and animal motif ought to keep a small fry's attention.

oAll the primary colors are shown.Along with numbers 1 through 10.(You "can" use this book to talk about "0" as well.The train with no animals is shown.)

oAnimals mentioned are:elephant, hippos, giraffes, lions, bears, alligators or crocodiles, seals, mouse, monkeys, snakes, and a variety of birds.

For Toddlers and Preschoolers.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksForKids-reviews

a little disappointed
I didn't realize this was a coloring book when I ordered it.I was exepcting a colorful animal story for my kids.We will get use of it

not a real book, false advertising
this was advertised as a counting book, it is in fact a colouring book.what a rip off.

Educational and fun
My 13 months old daughter loves this book; I have borrowed it from a library and it became such an indispensable favorite of our bedtime routine that I had to buy it. My daughter and I enjoy the beautiful watercolors - vivid, crisp and not too busy to distract a very young reader, and she has an especially great fun in finding a little brown mouse hidden among the zoo animals on each picture. She does not count yet, but for an older child this book can provide a lot of additional fun with counting animals on each of the 10 train-cars and seeing them all safely unloaded in the zoo.

Not much in this one
This is one of Carle's books that are suited more for toddlers than older kids.

There aren't many words, just a count of the various animals on their way to the zoo.

Because of this, and because the book is oversized and hard to read/shelve, it may be better to buy this in board book format - or, given the minimal content, to skip it altogether. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Great source of inspiration
After this book you can't really complain about nothing, it is a feast for the eyes with great art and insides from the artist while he goes through all the medical and health process.

A really good book, you won't regret the purchase.

amazing, hilarious, inspirational!
one of the best books i ever buy, this book is really amazing!
reading this inspire you to live and enjoy the best of life in a creative way.
the drawings of Chris are great and hilarious

great, inspirational book
this is a great book, very inspirational, and positive, can not wait for the second book

Art journal written from the heart
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1A76MWDBT3TM0 The Daily Zoo is a charming little art book drawn by Chris Ayers, an animal a day.

This book was started one year after he was diagnosed with leukemia, which he has since recovered from after a long period of treatment. In the introduction, he says it's to give him an opportunity to celebrate the gift of each healthy day.

The caricatured animals are just fun to look at. Sometimes it will be a portrait, sometimes the animals will be in strange settings, such as the sick flamingo in scrubs on the book cover. Chris Ayers captions each day on his inspiration and thoughts.

At the start of each month, he also talks about his recovery journey battling leukemia. It's a journal written from the heart.

This book is creative, inspirational and beautiful. I am definitely getting Volume 2 when it comes out in November 2009.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

Laughter is the best medicine
Abrams' sheer genius in creating a living, breathing character out of every cartoon animal he draws shines through on every page of this book. How anyone can retain thier sense of humour, as well as their artistic energy throughout a battle with cancer to produce such an uplifting work of art is mind-boggling.

Any cartoonist who needs a source of inspiration on character design, anyone who loves cartoons or, indeed, anyone who just wants a good laugh, would be well-advised to get a copy of this book or (better yet) get it for someone else you know who may be feeling "down". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Two Solid Plays
The Zoo Story and The American Dream are among Edward Albee's earliest, the former being his first performed, and better-known plays. Though not on par with his masterpiece Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, they are quite worthy. They are also very different from it and each other, showcasing Albee's remarkable diversity and ensuring appeal both to fans of his other work and anyone who likes well-done plays.

Zoo defines simplicity - one act, one setting, two characters, very little action - but in the best sense. Albee has the great dramatist's talent of making us feel strong suspense, even urgency, even when almost nothing actually happens. Zoo draws us in very quickly and does not let go until the last line; it is immensely engrossing. That Albee manages to hold attention so well with so few trappings testifies to his artistry. The play's content can be very quickly summarized, but its significant implications are many and varied. Part realism, part black comedy, part absurdist theater, Zoo is all interesting. Without giving away the plot, since suspense and the central mystery are so integral, Zoo deals with several important themes central to the twentieth century human condition:alienation, interpersonal communication difficulties, class, and humanity's inhumanity. Few playwrights have had such a notable debut.

The American Dream is more ambitious and probably at least as good. A whirlwind satire of the ubiquitous title subject, it satirically attacks many sacred cows. It is indirect but no less biting for that, showing Albee's early deft hand with absurdism. The play is bleak but not without humor, though the humor is quite dark, combining Greek tragedy elements with the most modern techniques. The content was near-shocking and caused quite a stir; it is important to remember that Albee's Preface says the play is meant to offend. It now seems superficially tame, but anyone alive to the real issues sees that it is as provoking and penetrating as ever. The play gives much to think about - especially if we realize our laughter is in self-defense.

All told, though Who's Afraid is the Albee play of choice, anyone interested in him should look into these.

Good Book
The shipping was good. Well timed and the book's condition was good shape. The actual book was great, especially Grandma in "The American Dream."

The American Dream
Edward Albee's Play, "The American Dream" uses absurdist elements to mock the American society, exposing its most controversial topics into normal conversation. By doing so, Albee gives us an inside look at the ugly truth; which may allow one to question their morals and motives while reading. Albee is successful in twisting ones sense of consciousness. By breaking things down into simple and casual dialogue, Albee is able to get away with the most remarkably crude humor; something that may be at first startling to the reader allows for a chaotic plot line and suspenseful story.

not into plays neither am i
well at least i thought i wasnt.but these two plays are very easy to read and i think theyd also be brilliant to see if only i got the chance.edward albee, pretty much the only playwright i like so far.but he makes me give the area a chance.these two are a great way to get into him and into plays in general.

A theatre MASTER piece
These plays are modern classics. Albee has an interesting view of our modern word (especially the american way of life) and expresses it really good in his theatre plays. Zoo story specially is a 'must do it' play for all the actors
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

the Daily Zoo year 2
I love the drawings and think of the courage it took to daily create a new figure with humor and a sense living.

Must have book!
This book is full of inspiration and creativity.Chris has a special gift that you don't find often.I would recommend this book to anyone.Make sure to get "The Daily Zoo" year 1 too.I am reading them to my daughter and she loves the drawings!Let's find a cure for cancer.

Daily Zoo 2
This is an excellent book just as enjoyable as the first. Chris Ayers did this for his own encouragement but encourages others with such wonderful characters and animals that just lift your spirits.

Incredibly fun and inspiring
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1BH83HGYW3D43 Daily Zoo Year 2 continues where the first has left off. Chris Ayers provides us with yet another year of wonderful characters and reflects on his treatment from leukemia with interesting and inspiring stories.

The Daily Zoo is incredibly fun with its humorous and oftentimes whimsical illustrations. It is in many ways better than a real zoo. Where else can you see stuff like Bridezilla, Unicycling Uakari, Saggy Bunnies, a few dinosaurs, aliens or even a carnivorous Christmas tree? There is no lack of surprises from cover to cover.

Chris Ayers gives his animals so much character you'll feel you know them from somewhere. The drawings are beautiful and detailed, especially the textures on the animals. He also shares lots of tips on character design.

This book is filled with creativity and it's such an inspiring read. It also comes with a bookmark and postcard.

Very highly recommended. I hope there another year coming.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.) ... Read more