Dear Zoo
Each crate flap conceals an animal rejected for one specific trait, so lifting reveals both the noun and the adjective that sends it back. The repeated request-return pattern makes the final acceptable pet easy to anticipate.
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell is estimated to take about 3.5 minutes to read aloud (110 words, 1 sentence a spread). Best for ages 0-4.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Words
- 110Approximate
- Sentences per spread
- 1Text density
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5strong repeat appeal
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 0-4Age range
Our review
The closed crate provides a visual guess before the flap supplies the answer. Tall, fierce, grumpy and other judgments connect an adjective to a memorable animal, while the unchanged sentence frame lets a toddler speak the return line before the reader reaches it.
Where's Spot? asks one location question and makes each hiding place spatially meaningful. Dear Zoo is more useful for descriptive vocabulary and category contrast. Its board-book edition better supports repeated lifting, and adults can distinguish the playful ending from the real work of choosing and caring for a pet.
Before you buy it
The flaps can tear easily. If your child is under two, you'll want to stick to the board book version.
Themes
- zoo animals
- guessing
- adjectives
- flaps
Books like Dear Zoo
More books with similar themes, formats, lengths and ways to join in.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?about 4 minutes estimated · book review
Where's Spot?about 3.5 minutes estimated · book review
The Very Hungry Caterpillarabout 4 minutes estimated · book review
Pat the Bunnyabout 3.5 minutes estimated · book review
Little Blue Truckabout 5.5 minutes estimated · book review
Lists Dear Zoo is on
- 20 booksBooks for 2 Year OldsThe useful distinction at this stage is between a book that invites an immediate action and a story whose events need to stay in order.
- 14 booksBooks for 1 Year OldsChoose a book for the action you want to share: lifting a flap, naming an animal, copying a sound or settling into a familiar rhythm.
11 booksBoard Books for BabiesFor a first shared book, the useful question is what you can do together on one spread.- 14 booksBoard Books for ToddlersChoose a board edition for how the child will handle it, then choose the story for what you want to share.
- 8 booksLift the Flap BooksA flap can hide an answer, move a story forward or reveal an object to name.