The Zoo Box

Gr 1–3—Erika and Patrick's parents are going out for the evening, and Erika has been left in charge. Their parents promise that if they are good and in bed on time, they will earn a trip to the zoo the next day. After promising to behave, the kids head to the attic to play dress-up. Patrick stumbles across a box labeled "DO NOT OPEN." Unable to resist the temptation, he opens it and unleashes a flurry of wild animals. The creatures file out of the house and down the street, and the kids join them, disguised as a tiger and a bear. They arrive at a zoo and are stunned to realize that humans make up the exhibits! Eerily exciting and fun, this adventurous graphic-style picture book really turns the tables on the familiar, sweet, happy-ending children's book. Very Jumanji-esque, this book will be a favorite for children who like stories that are a little edgier. Filled with brightly colored illustrations and nicely spaced speech bubbles, the book is easy to read and highly visually appealing. A terrific choice for new readers who gravitate to graphic novels but aren't quite ready for most of them yet.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE