Book: The Way to the Zoo
Author: John Burningham
Pages: 40
Age Range: 4-8
The Way to the Zoo reminded me a bit of Barbara Lehman's Rainstorm, and a bit of Philip and Erin Stead's A Sick Day for Amos McGee. All three books feature implausible events related in a completely matter-of-fact manner. My four year old daughter thought that The Way to the Zoo was hilarious, and asked immediately that I read it again.
Burningham takes his time with the story. Instead of jumping in to where the girl finds and opens the door, she first glimpses the door from her bed, decides to wait to check it out in the morning, and then forgets, and doesn't look inside until after school the next day. He uses a relatively basic vocabulary, and explains what's happening in detail. I think that The Way to the Zoo could function as an early reader for some kids. Here's an example (all on one page spread):
"It was getting late. Sylvie had to get back
to her room and go to sleep because she
had school again in the morning.
Sylvie asked a little bear to come back
with her. He did and slept in her bed
She made sure the bear was back in the
zoo and the door in the wall was closed
before she left for school."
This passage is, of course, also good for teaching young readers about foreshadowing.
Burningham's illustrations are in pen, pencil pastel, and watercolor. The are minimalist, with only the faintest suggestion of backgrounds, lots of white space, and the details left to the reader's imagination. This isn't my personal favorite style of illustration - I couldn't always tell what kind of animal was being represented, for instance. But the pictures made my daughter laugh, particularly one involving birds in the living room, and another in which a rhino lies on the floor covered up in towels for the night.
The Way to the Zoo has a timeless feel, support in particular by the apparent freedom that Sylvie has from parental oversight. It would make a nice school or library read-aloud for K-2nd graders. Recommended for home or library use!
Publisher: Candlewick (@Candlewick)
Publication Date: August 26, 2014
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
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