Night, Zoo

School Library Journal

PreS-K-- These two books, in which a variety of objects and individuals are told good night, are almost identical except for their subject matter. The formats consist of very brief text in large white cursive letters displayed on star-speckled night skies of purple and blue, with a full-page, soothing painting of those addressed on the opposite side. The zoo book deals with chimps, gazelles, a woodchuck, herons, penguins, turtles, bears, and an eaglet, all snoozing soundly. . . . America shows a rather mixed bag of prairies, cowboys, astronauts, the President, the Chicago Cubs, the Golden Gate Bridge, redwoods, a town, and a small boy--all sleeping or in darkness. The zoo creatures are especially amusing and appealing, while the American scenes give a mild, pleasant geography lesson. The deep-toned watercolors have an appropriate softened, restful quality perfect for the animal and human sleeping going on and the nighttime peace of the landscapes. The figures of the astronauts and baseball players are childlike, and the animals and birds anthropomorphized with nightcaps, bedtime storybooks, and milk and cookies, adding a touch of whimsical humor. Competition is formidable in the bedtime book category, but these new entries should be able to compete successfully for the attention of very young children. --Patricia Pearl, First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA