'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day Book

This delightful adaptation of the children's classic, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," takes readers to the zoo, as preparations are under way for "Zoo Day." But things aren't going according to plan . . . The llamas won't quit spitting, the giraffes are drooling, and the zebras aren't happy at all with their stripes. Meanwhile, the zookeepers are scurrying this way and that, cleaning up poop, ringing mealtime bells, and trying to get the animals bathed. But are the naughty elephants listening? Not a chance. And if that weren't bad enough, a poor alligator mistakes a bee for a fly, and instead of eating supper, he gets stung in the eye! Does it all work out? Will the zookeepers end up spending the night at the zoo? Will "Zoo Day" go off without a hitch, or will the dancing monkeys take over?

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2- The zookeepers are busy getting ready for Zoo Day. They are cleaning cages and bathing and feeding the animals. Some of the creatures, like recalcitrant children, are ill-behaved. The llamas are spitting, the giraffes are slurping. "While out in the dirt, naughty elephants rolled,/not listening at all to what they'd been told./They frolicked in mud to cool down from the sun./Their trunks became sprinklers and soaked everyone." Finally, the sun goes down and the workers go home. The next morning, the animals and their babies prepare themselves for the crowds of children arriving on yellow buses. This silly, slight story ends abruptly with the zookeepers standing at the gates while the children enter the zoo. Large color cartoon illustrations support the text. Back matter has a fill-in matching activity, some "animal fun facts," and a writing exercise about zookeepers. A secondary purchase at best.-Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH