Overview
Little Zoo Sap and his family are moving from their summer home on the coast to the deep woods for the winter, traveling on a big bobsled pulled by big horses. When Zoo Sap falls off of the sled unnoticed, the forest animals hear his cries and come to shelter him-everyone from the tiny mouse to the giant moose to the great bald eagle-keeping him warm and safe until his father comes back to find him.Synopsis
Little Zoo Sap and his family are moving from their summer home on the coast to the deep woods for the winter, traveling on a big bobsled pulled by big horses. When Zoo Sap falls off of the sled unnoticed, the forest animals hear his cries and come to shelter him-everyone from the tiny mouse to the giant moose to the great bald eagle-keeping him warm and safe until his father comes back to find him.
Caitlyn Payne - Children's Literature
What would it take for a young child to survive for one day in the winter world of the Maine woods? This title answers this question in a heartwarming tale of Zoo Sap, a lost baby who is warmed and protected by woodland animals until his father returns to find him. Joo Tum prepares to move his family to their winter home by loading them onto a huge sled used to transport all they own. His youngest child, Zoo Sap, is tucked into a place on the sled but falls off into the snow as they travel without his family realizing he is gone. All alone in the snow, Zoo Sap gets cold and begins to cry. Woodland animals, such as the moose and muskrat, hear Zoo Sap's cries and come to curl around him to keep him warm. More animals arrive and surround Zoo Sap, keeping him warm and snug until his father returns in the evening to rescue him. Joo Tum thanks the animals and takes Zoo Sap home. The story is beautiful but abrupt language and lack of description makes it difficult to understand. The author often uses short sentences, such as "Everyone helped" or "Zoo Sap stayed warm," which disrupt the otherwise soothing rhythm and gentle flow of the story. Descriptions such as how the eagle spreads his wings over the pile of animals are excellent, but it does not go into detail about how the animals keep the child warm or how they work together to make sure Zoo Sap survives. It does not mention anything about whether or not the animals feed Zoo Sap or provide him any other comfort. Surprisingly, it takes the full day for Joo Tum to realize his son is missing. This is a pleasant narrative that with slightly more depth and detail would make a wonderful children's tale on a snowy winter night. It is a warm storyfilled with descriptions and colorful paintings that being the adventures of a lost Passamoquody baby to life. 2005, Tilbury House, Ages 3 up.
Editorials
Children's Literature
What would it take for a young child to survive for one day in the winter world of the Maine woods? This title answers this question in a heartwarming tale of Zoo Sap, a lost baby who is warmed and protected by woodland animals until his father returns to find him. Joo Tum prepares to move his family to their winter home by loading them onto a huge sled used to transport all they own. His youngest child, Zoo Sap, is tucked into a place on the sled but falls off into the snow as they travel without his family realizing he is gone. All alone in the snow, Zoo Sap gets cold and begins to cry. Woodland animals, such as the moose and muskrat, hear Zoo Sap's cries and come to curl around him to keep him warm. More animals arrive and surround Zoo Sap, keeping him warm and snug until his father returns in the evening to rescue him. Joo Tum thanks the animals and takes Zoo Sap home. The story is beautiful but abrupt language and lack of description makes it difficult to understand. The author often uses short sentences, such as "Everyone helped" or "Zoo Sap stayed warm," which disrupt the otherwise soothing rhythm and gentle flow of the story. Descriptions such as how the eagle spreads his wings over the pile of animals are excellent, but it does not go into detail about how the animals keep the child warm or how they work together to make sure Zoo Sap survives. It does not mention anything about whether or not the animals feed Zoo Sap or provide him any other comfort. Surprisingly, it takes the full day for Joo Tum to realize his son is missing. This is a pleasant narrative that with slightly more depth and detail would make a wonderful children's tale on a snowy winter night. It is a warm storyfilled with descriptions and colorful paintings that being the adventures of a lost Passamoquody baby to life. 2005, Tilbury House, Ages 3 up.—Caitlyn Payne