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What's New at the Zoo? (Hardback) - Common
The hilarious happenings, grumblings and rumblings, at an overcrowded zoo are comically chronicled by Broadway/Hollywood legends Adolph Green and Betty Comden and acclaimed illlustrator Travis Foster.
36 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2011
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 25, 2021
Apparently, the text of this book is lifted from the lyrics of the Broadway musical "DO RE MI." It's silly and apparently is a commentary on the cramped conditions at the Central Park Zoo in the '50s and 60s.
June 16, 2022
This book is so much fun! Completely silly, but fantastic illustrations and lots of cool animals are mentioned in this silly book. There's not much of a story line, but it will make my story time kids laugh. A great group read aloud!
September 13, 2018
fun refrain based on a broadway song.
June 16, 2019
The rhymes are great, illustrations are fun, and who can resist the fold-out pages? Not much of a storyline though.
January 30, 2024
Strange song that doesn't translate well into picture book form.
July 18, 2012
What’s New at the Zoo? by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
*A review copy of this book was viewed from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
This was such a fun book about the animals of the zoo. They are all cramped up and stepping on each other’s pouches, spines, and snouts. It is full of colorful words rhyming words that almost flow like a song. It would make sense because according to the introduction it was a song from the Broadway play Do Re Mi in 1960.
It is full of bright colorful pictures that children will love. There are all types of animals that can be found in the zoo and they are all on top of each other. The animals are crying out because they are stepping on each other and need space of their own. Children may not understand the need for open habitat’s for these animals but the adults definitely will.
This was a fun book because there are several games you could play with your youngster such as naming the animals or finding the animals, etc. Lilly enjoyed this book and we give it 4 stars.
*A review copy of this book was viewed from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
This was such a fun book about the animals of the zoo. They are all cramped up and stepping on each other’s pouches, spines, and snouts. It is full of colorful words rhyming words that almost flow like a song. It would make sense because according to the introduction it was a song from the Broadway play Do Re Mi in 1960.
It is full of bright colorful pictures that children will love. There are all types of animals that can be found in the zoo and they are all on top of each other. The animals are crying out because they are stepping on each other and need space of their own. Children may not understand the need for open habitat’s for these animals but the adults definitely will.
This was a fun book because there are several games you could play with your youngster such as naming the animals or finding the animals, etc. Lilly enjoyed this book and we give it 4 stars.
November 17, 2011
This funny book about an overcrowded zoo contains words that are lyrics from the Broadway Show, Do Re Mi. The zoo is so crowded that the animals are stepping on one another. The kangaroo’s pouch is stepped on by a bear. The moose’s snout is stepped on by a goose. All of the animals demand to be let out of the zoo. So when the zookeeper arrives at the door, he is stampeded by all of the animals in their rush to escape. The book combines humor and rhythm into one very appealing read.
Read the rest of the review at Waking Brain Cells
Read the rest of the review at Waking Brain Cells
January 4, 2012
Using the lyrics from a song in the 1960s Broadway musical "DO RE MI," What's New At the Zoo takes a look at an overcrowded zoo. The illustrations show the funny results of what happens when there isn't quite enough space for all of the animals - a bear steps on a kangaroo's pouch, a moose steps on a pelican's beak, a pig steps on a porcupine. Mr. Foster's illustrations are a lot of fun, the expressions he gives the animals convey exactly what they are feeling. This book would be great for a zoo themed story time.
September 19, 2015
The book was a little too short as far as words go. But the book did a great job of using many devices. The book has repetition, rhyming, onamonapias, and a couple pages that flip open. The book has very interesting print function as the animals hurt each other while shouting. It also contains helpful word identification by coloring the names of the animals to match their illustrations. This book would be great to complement a science unit on living animals.
February 2, 2012
Expressive and fun. Complicated illustrations that lend themselves to younger kids finding different animals. No real story, which was disconcerting. The animals spend the whole story talking about how the zoo is too crowded, but nothing is really done throughout the story or at the end. Good for Prek--1st grade.
January 20, 2013
Fascinating backstory! The text of this book is actually lyrics from a 1960 Broadway musical called Do Re Mi, and it was inspired by the overcrowding of the Central Park Zoo—back before zoo designs were reformed to recreate the animals' habitats and give them more space. The illustrations are so bright and fun, too.
January 10, 2012
A cute book full of a wide variety of talking animals. The text comes from a musical, "Do Re Mi" originally on Broadway in 1960. While the text is funny, it would help to have the audible song handy to get the rhythm. Some youtube videos are available.
July 31, 2013
4.5
This is a book for young children. Adapted from the lyrics of a broadway show-tune, it has a fun cadence and a bunch of animal sounds and noises. With a few foldout pages, it's sure to be an Nagano favorite of the 2-3 crowd.
Recommended.
This is a book for young children. Adapted from the lyrics of a broadway show-tune, it has a fun cadence and a bunch of animal sounds and noises. With a few foldout pages, it's sure to be an Nagano favorite of the 2-3 crowd.
Recommended.
April 13, 2016
Thus book is definitely for a younger crowd with a short attention span. So, a perfect read for my 3 year old son. I made it into an obnoxious song as the animals all complained and chanted how they wanted out.
October 17, 2011
The only thing missing is the music to accompany it! A great read for storytime with fun(ny) illustrations. Picture book ages 3-7.
January 13, 2012
A funny story about an overcrowded zoo, based on the lyrics of a hit Broadway musical ("Do Re Mi"). My not-quite-three-year-old daughter finds it hilarious.
March 5, 2012
Frenetic, busy cartoon animals step on each other at the zoo. The words in the book are the lyrics from a song in the Broadway hit musical: "Do Re Mi." Very, very cute.
March 16, 2012
Great opportunities to have the kids chant along with the repetitive "lwt us out! Let us out! Let us out! Let us out!"
January 4, 2016
Fun to read! I enjoyed reading this out loud.
September 8, 2012
Really great drawings. Some of the rhyme was forced. I appreciate that it references a real historical change in how zoos are organized and operated.
May 2, 2013
Loved the colorful illustrations but the story itself was just okay.
April 28, 2014
Cute book, but overcrowding at the zoo is not....
September 26, 2014
Be sure to read the afterword!
March 1, 2015
Cute little story about a Platypus trying to figure out what he is good at.
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April 1, 2015My two boys, 3 & 6, loved this book. So funny.
February 8, 2012
Read this if you love zoos.
April 2, 2012
There's no real plot in this book and the illustrations are very hectic. Good one-on-one, maybe.
July 18, 2012
Great rhyming text. Tried it for storytime--the kids didn't really get it.
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June 25, 2015Daddy read this to me and my big brother.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews