Zoo Do's and Don'ts [Hardcover]

Todd Parr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000 | Grade Level: P and up

What should you do when you go to the zoo? Do brush your hair with a lion / Don't braid his mane. Do take a nap with a hippo / Don't let him steal all the covers.

What makes a best friend? Best friends will say you look good even if you have a bad haircut. Best friends will let you make dinner for them even if you serve spaghetti and worms.

Here are two colorful, bold, quirky books to add to Todd Parr's bestselling series. Readers of all ages will want to add these two new titles to their collection.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In author-illustrator Todd Parr's world, there are a few important rules one must always follow when visiting the zoo. "Do feed an elephant peanuts. Don't feed her peanut butter. Do take dancing lessons with a porcupine. Don't slow dance with him. Do wash your clothes with a rhino. Don't hang them on his horns to dry." Civilization would be much more civil if we could all abide by these simple behavior guidelines.

Brilliant colors and boldly outlined kid-style drawings of animals set Parr's books apart from the pack, not to mention his thoroughly nutty views on social decorum. Every one of his outrageously goofy (yet somehow earnest) life primers, including The Okay Book, The Best Friends Book, and Do's and Don'ts, will keep readers from 2 to 102 giggling and sputtering with delight. Parents might want to keep a close eye on their young ones during their next visit to the zoo, on the off chance Junior might forget his etiquette and try to use a snake as a bookmark or connect the dots with a leopard's spots. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-In Friends, children read about both human and animal pals. The text and illustrations are equally funny: "Best friends will forgive you even if you step on their paw" faces an illustration of a yowling dog with a bandaged foot. In Zoo, "Do go to the movies with a skunk" is accompanied by a picture of a skunk in a theater with three friends. "Don't make her mad" features the malodorous skunk seated all alone. Children will laugh out loud at these tongue-in-cheek efforts. The bold colors and silly stick figures outlined in black will capture their attention and clarify the texts. The books' small size may make them difficult to share with large audiences, but consider them for more intimate storytimes.
Olga R. Barnes, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Megan Tingley; 1st edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316692123
• ISBN-13: 978-0316692120
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,480,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I like the fog
I like sea lions
I like to paint
My favorite color is Blue
My favorite food is macaroni and cheese


I spent my childhood in a small town in Wyoming. It was a great place to grow up but I knew the world was out there waiting for me.

In high school, art was a passion of mine, but I failed art class. Because of that failure, I lacked the self-confidence to pursue it further. But it wasn't all my teachers fault.

I worked at many things before finally coming back to my original dream of painting, but again I faced rejection. Despite the rejection, I continued on with my work because I knew being an artist was what I wanted to do with my life.

After not having success with galleries, I was able to show my work at one of Wolfgang Puck's restaurants, Postrio, in San Francisco, where I have lived for the past 13 years. With a little luck and persistence, this exhibit led to many other things, like creating merchandise for Macys, and then on to my own line of clothing for kids.

I first got into children's publishing in 1998. I was able to take the messages that are part of my art and put them in a simple reading about acceptance, differences and empowerment for kids to feel better about themselves in a simple, fun way.

I have a lot of fun creating my books and I'm proud to know they are helping someone feel better about themselves in a silly, fun way.

Here are some of the fun, cool things that have happened to me and my books:

My work was displayed in the windows of FAO Schwarz in NYC and San Francisco, with interior displays of some of my product, including my first four books.

Todd Parr Shops within Toys R Us Japan were launched at all 101 stores with products exclusively available in Japan.

My Books have won several awards and have been featured on The Rosie O'Donnell show. Currently I have written and illustrated 28 books with two more for 2007 and 2008.

In 2004, I appeared in a Panasonic commercial and print ad.

I have partnered with Target, Reach Out and Read, People Magazine and several other organizations to promote reading.

In November 2005, my children's preschool show, ToddWorld premiered on TLC and Discovery Kids. The show has since been nominated for an Emmy and has won several other awards including the iParenting Media Award and the 2005 Humanitas Award for the episode entitled "Who's Your Best Friend"?. The Bronze medal in the New York Film Festival and an award for "Pizza on Earth" in the Chicago International Children's Film Festival. ToddWorld is now airing in almost every country around the world with a second season is in the works.

With the support of my family, especially my Dad and Grandma, I have been very successful but I do have another passion. I'd like to own my own restaurant!

As my Grandma used to say:
"You're a little lost now but I know you'll find your way".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I should have known better, June 22, 2005

By 

Alice M. Harrison (Thornton, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Zoo Do's and Don'ts (Hardcover)

I should have known what to expect since we have purchased other Todd Parr books, and have been delighted with all of them, including this one.

For parents who are looking for a book to teach their kids how to behave at the zoo, THIS ISN'T IT. I should have realized that before we bought it - I was looking for a book to teach my son to not tease the animals, not throw things in their cages, etc. But at least he knows now not to feed macaroni to the elephants.

That said, this is a wonderful book, very colorful and entertaining, and my son loves it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun story, easy to read, vivid colors, May 21, 2002

By 

Jane Austen "beadmaven" (FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoo Do's and Don'ts (Hardcover)

I started reading this to my daughter when she was six months old. The book is smaller than the traditional big picture books, and is very easy and quick to read. The books pages go as follows:
On one page it says: DO feed an elephant peanuts
On the opposite page it says: DON'T feed him peanut butter

The colors are very vivid and the drawing simple. This is a nice book to read to your child starting from day one! We are on our third copy of it and my daughter just turned three.
Great for a boy or a girl.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our Son's Favorite Book!, November 15, 2000

By 

Leo M. Garonski, Esq. (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoo Do's and Don'ts (Hardcover)

Among the crowd of classics, such as "Goodnight Moon," and newer books by Boynton and others, this book captivates the attention of our 14-month old son, and we are grateful to the author. After two months of daily reading, we put it away. It was recently rediscovered, and he constantly reaches for it in the pile of books we make available to him. Is it the colors? The characters? Or the sheer amusement of it all? Maybe it's laughing along with his father or mother as we read it together. Highly recommended from a happy father. I'm buying more from Todd Parr!