Color Zoo [Hardcover]

Lois Ehlert (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-- This uniquely designed book features a series of cutouts stacked so that with each page turn, a layer is removed to reveal yet another picture. Each configuration is an animal: a tiger's face (a circle shape) and two ears disappear with a page turn to leave viewers with a square within which is a mouse. The mouse's square frame, removed, reveals a fox. There are three such series, and each ends with a small round-up of the shapes used so far. That's not all. On the reverse of the turned page is the shape cutout previously removed with the shape's printed name. While the tiger and lion are not easy to identify in their geometrically shaped components, children will readily name the seven others and will delight in identifying both animals and shapes. Boldly designed pages easily carry to the rear of the room during story hours, and brilliant juxtapositions of vibrant primary colors will make children's eyes tingle. --Susan Hepler, formerly at Windsor Public Library, Conn.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A masterpiece of graphic design." -- -- ALA 1990 Caldecott Committee.

"A masterpiece of graphic design." -- ALA 1990 Caldecott Committee.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (April 4, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0397322593
• ISBN-13: 978-0397322596
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Zoos

More About the Author

LOIS EHLERT has created many picture books, including Leaf Man, Pie in the Sky, In My World, Growing Vegetable Soup, Planting a Rainbow, and the bestselling Waiting for Wings. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colorful book that uses shapes in an ingenious way, August 22, 2000

By 

bethlovesbooks (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Color Zoo Board Book (Board book)

My daughter (who is only one) loves to flip through this book and look at the different colors and shapes. Because each page has a shape cut out of it, this makes the pages easy for her to grasp and flip. Out of all of her board books, I find myself reaching for his one time and time again because it occupies her the longest. In contrast to some books that she will barely look at and others she will look at only with my direction, this book is one that she will find all on her own and quietly flip through the pages.

Even for me, I find the concept simple but mesmerizing. There is something fascinating about looking at the shape and seeing how the animal changes into a different animal as you flip the page. It makes you think about shapes and colors in a very abstract way.

I would definitely recommend this book as a foundational block in any young child's library. The book itself is sturdy and the colors are bold and vivid. It's a great concept that's been executed effectively.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars high quality book, June 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Color Zoo Board Book (Board book)

I like this book because the animals are simplified, almost abstract and at first my daughter(2)couldn't recognize them (she was used of more or less realistic illustrations). I think this is very important in recognazing and understanding the basic characterizations of all subjects. Each animal has on the opposite side the geometric shape that the animal is composed of. At first this is very difficult for a two year old (specially octagon and hexagon) but I must say she recognize almost all of them now (2 weeks later). For me english books with almost no text are interesting also because I can teach her foreign language. I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to experience more than just reading stories to children.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different shapes result in different animals., May 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Color Zoo Board Book (Board book)

This small children's book uses colors and shapes made from die-cut pages to show animal faces. Pre-schoolers can learn about geometrical shapes, about colors, and about animals. And, they all love this book. The book was a 1990 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a children's book.