  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 11/01/2016 A boy describes his first trip to the zoo with his family. After looking at a map of the grounds, his family visits the Jungle House, Gorilla Forest, African Plain, Grasslands, and Reptile House. Next, they watch the polar bears and sea lions. The family lunches at an outdoor picnic table before feeding nectar to parrots in the Bird House. While many picture books with a zoo setting feature elements of fantasy, the realistic approach here will appeal to many children, particularly those who have never visited a zoo. The pleasing line-and-watercolor illustrations are equally good for one-on-one reading or for sharing with groups. The map works well as a device for introducing the places and animals to be seen later. Clarity of text and art, a hallmark of the Rockwells’ picture books, makes this story widely accessible to young children, while the diversity of people in the illustrations makes it inclusive as well. An enjoyable addition to the Rockwells’ My First Experience Book series, which opened with Library Day (2016). - Copyright 2016 Booklist. Loading...
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