Last Night at the Zoo Book

Personal reaction: I thought this book was a lot of fun because of the journey the animals went on when they escaped from the zoo. I also really liked how it had some rhythm and rhyme to it, like poetry. I also thought the illustrations really helped tell the story and bring it to life, like when the animals were out dancing and there was a full two-page spread depicting the scene.

Purpose: This book would be good to read aloud to K-2 graders. It would be especially good before a trip to the zoo or a unit on animals because it could help the children know what kind of animals to expect on the trip or help spark the students' imaginations on what else the animals might do as they escape the zoo each night. You could have a project where the students learn about animals and create a "sequel" to this book.