Dear Zoo [Hardcover]

Rod Campbell (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Each animal arriving from the zoo as a possible pet fails to suit its prospective owner, until just the right one is found. Movable flaps reveal the contents of each package.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rod Campbell has been writing and illustrating books for babies for over twenty years. Best known for his classic lift-the-flap title, DEAR ZOO, which has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, he is also the creator of the much-loved character, Buster. Ingeniously simple, with touches of gentle humour, Rod Campbell's books continue to be enjoyed by children, parents and teachers alike. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Little Simon (October 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027164403
• ISBN-13: 978-0027164404
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (128 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rod Campbell is the creator of many brilliant novelty books for babies and toddlers including ABC Zoo, Farm Babies, Farm Chase, Farm 123 and Noisy Farm as well as Dear Zoo, regarded as a classic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great first book, January 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Dear Zoo: A Lift The Flap Book (Classic Board Book) (Board book)

My daughter has loved this book from the very beginning. She was fascinated by the animals revealed when I lifted the flaps, and then had a great time learning how to lift the flaps herself as she grew older. She's a year old now and brings it to me to read to her more than any other book that we have. She gets a kick out of the animal sounds we make when we lift the flaps, too. It's the only lift-the-flap book we have that she hasn't managed to tear off any flaps. I think this book has been instrumental in showing her how much fun books can be - I highly recommend it.

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A favorite with my two year old, July 6, 2002

By 

Julia Flyte - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dear Zoo: A Lift The Flap Book (Classic Board Book) (Board book)

This is a great early book. The zoo sends various animals as a pet but they are all unsuitable for some reason (the giraffe is too tall, the monkey is too naughty etc). Finally they send the perfect present: a puppy! The language is simple (in fact, this book was recommended to me by a speech pathologist) and the humor is perfect for the 2-4 age group. My son loves lifting up the flaps and making noises for all the different animals hidden below. The flaps are also cleverly illustrated so that enough of the animal is visible to allow the child to guess which one is being sent. I must have read it to my son more than 100 times but neither of us are tired of it yet!

33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo, April 21, 2004

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dear Zoo: A Lift The Flap Book (Classic Board Book) (Board book)

Tis the ultimate interactive story for the young `uns. An unseen narrator (who we assume must be a child of some sort) narrates a tale of unprecedented zooish generosity. After asking the zoo for a pet, a series of animals are sent in the hope that the child will want them. Unfortunately (and as the book makes clear) many of animals one finds at the zoo are inappropriate pets. Each animal that arrives is hidden beneath a flap. When you lift the flap the children to whom you are reading this tale are supposed to delightedly cry out the name of that particular animal. In this way, you can teach kids the kinds of animals that live at the zoo. For the narrator, though, elephants are too big, lions too fierce, monkeys to naughty, and frogs too jumpy. In the end, the narrator receives a small hamper with the note, "From all your friends at the zoo" containing the perfect pet.

As an early book, this story and its accompanying illustrations are very very simple. I was a little disappointed at the flimsiness of the flaps children are supposed to lift or turn. The copy I paged through had been scotch taped and re-scotch taped several times to keep the book in any kind of semblance of order. It is also a pity that the animals in this book aren't named ever. I don't doubt that kids will, mostly, be able to name them anyway, but it's nice to learn to read the names along with the pictures of the animals. Still, the book is satisfying to read. No subtext here. Nuh-uh. Just a very basic story about a zoo, some friendly animals, and the reasons (or lack there of) of keeping them. For another interesting and enjoyable zoo book, try "Good Night, Gorilla" by Peggy Rathmann (a personal pet favorite of mine).