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Fraidyzoo
A young girl faces her fears in this award-winning picture book from the author-illustrator of Alfie and How Do You Dance?An ALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Book Today is the perfect day for the zoo! But Little T is afraid to go. The only trouble is, she can’t remember what scared her at the zoo the last time. To help her remember, her mom, dad, and sister come up with an ingeniously creative in a flurry of bubble wrap, umbrellas, water bottles, salad tongs, a mop, a vacuum cleaner, and much, much more, her family brings to life an astounding parade of zoo animals—in alphabetical order! Can you guess which animals the family is acting out? And can Little T stop feeling like such a “fraidyzoo”? In this charming and witty picture book, award-winning author-illustrator Thyra Heder honors the bravery it takes to face your fears, and the loving people who help you do so.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2013
50 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Thyra Heder
15 books44 followersThyra Heder is a writer and illustrator of picture books for children, and a storyboard and concept artist for film, television, fashion and architecture. In 2015 she was a Sundance Screenwriting Fellow and awarded the San Francisco Film Society Hearst Grant along with director, Brent Green. Her four picture books, Fraidyzoo, The Bear Report and Alfie: (The Turtle That Disappeared), and How Do You Dance? with Abrams Books for Young Readers have all received critical acclaim and international translation. In 2018, Alfie was awarded an E.B. White Read Aloud Honor by the Association of Booksellers for Children. She was born and raised in Cambridge, MA in a family of artists, and graduated from Brown University with a BA in Art Semiotics with a focus on film and video. She loves to collaborate with artists and writers of all kinds from her studio in Brooklyn, NY. She also loves walking around New York City and drawing strangers .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
August 16, 2019
When Little T declares that she is frightened of going to the zoo, her helpful family sets out to determine exactly what scared her on her last visit, impersonating an A-Z cast of animal characters in order to find out. Their creative interpretation and play - masquerading as this animal and that, donning intricate, handmade costumes - eats up the entire day, so that by the time she is ready, the outing must be put off. When the family finally do get to the zoo, they discover just who the scary creature was, and this time it is Little T's seemingly fearless older sister who is frightened...
Much like the author's subsequent The Bear Report - the only other Thyra Heder picture-book I have read - I found Fraidyzoo an immensely engaging book, one which presents a humorous and heartwarming narrative involving a loving, close-knit family, while also crafting an innovative exploration of the alphabet. I liked the fact that the reader must guess which animals Little T's family is impersonating, and that the 'answer key' (so to speak) is provided on the rear end-papers. The artwork, created with ink and watercolor, is immensely appealing, with a lovely color palette, an exuberant sense of motion, and many expressive details. Recommended to young animal lovers, to would-be zoo visitors, and to anyone looking for creative new alphabet books.
Much like the author's subsequent The Bear Report - the only other Thyra Heder picture-book I have read - I found Fraidyzoo an immensely engaging book, one which presents a humorous and heartwarming narrative involving a loving, close-knit family, while also crafting an innovative exploration of the alphabet. I liked the fact that the reader must guess which animals Little T's family is impersonating, and that the 'answer key' (so to speak) is provided on the rear end-papers. The artwork, created with ink and watercolor, is immensely appealing, with a lovely color palette, an exuberant sense of motion, and many expressive details. Recommended to young animal lovers, to would-be zoo visitors, and to anyone looking for creative new alphabet books.
January 11, 2018
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A girl is afraid to go back to the zoo so her sister and parent act out different animals that could possibly be the culprit. When none of them are scary they decide to go to the zoo the next day.
The illustrations are so beautiful in this book. From the close up of the scared girl's face to the intricate rhino costume the family makes and wears. They truly are works of art and they capture the love this family has for each other and their willingness to help one another with their fears.
My nephew and I so enjoyed the puzzle aspect to the book where we are given a clue to the costume shown in the picture but we are not told the animal. The answer key is on the inside back cover. We had a lot of fun with this once we figured out that it was a part of the book. We were stumped on a few but that seemed to be the readability the book had.
I also loved the message the book had about fear and how to work through ones fear and see that with confidence we can overcome the unknown. The sister's inclusion was so lovely from her excitement to go to the zoo, her willingness to help her younger sister with her fear and her own fear once they got to the zoo. So well done and thought out. I would definitely pick this up for any children in my life.
BOTTOM LINE: Gorgeous drawings + a cute guessing game \ overcoming a fear = a winner!
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June 11, 2014
This is the best children's book I have read in a very long time, and considering our "over 50 books a week" "the librarians know all our names" I think that is saying something.
The family in this book is the family I am trying to create. They changed their plan because the youngest got spooked, but DIDN'T just drop the subject. Nope, they spent a day trying to figure it out, using real things that congregate in homes with children. It's real. And beautifully done. Will be purchasing.
The family in this book is the family I am trying to create. They changed their plan because the youngest got spooked, but DIDN'T just drop the subject. Nope, they spent a day trying to figure it out, using real things that congregate in homes with children. It's real. And beautifully done. Will be purchasing.
March 11, 2021
This is one of those books that inspires me to be a better parent.
Munchkin and I both give it 5 stars.
Munchkin and I both give it 5 stars.
February 2, 2018
Awesome
The pictures were very colorful and detailed. My daughter loved calling off the animals and would laugh at how silly they were being In the story to prove no one was scared of the zoo. Awesome read for kids.
The pictures were very colorful and detailed. My daughter loved calling off the animals and would laugh at how silly they were being In the story to prove no one was scared of the zoo. Awesome read for kids.
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December 6, 2014
Great illustrations and a clever story. Little T is afraid to go to the zoo, but she can't remember why. Her family helps her out - by making costumes to act out zoo animals and help her remember. Then, they can overcome her fears together.
The costumes are fantastically elaborate. The illustrations are great fun to explore, figuring out not only what animal they're dressed up as, but also what it's made out of and how it's held together. The whole family gets involved: mom, dad, sister, and even the cat. Exploring fear has never been so much fun!
I love this book for how lovingly supportive the whole family is. It's got clever costumes any kid will love. And, it's an alphabet book that goes beyond the basics - the animals are in order, but they're not all named on the page. It's up to the reader to remember what letter comes next, look at the pictures and figure out what animal they've become.
Recommended.
The costumes are fantastically elaborate. The illustrations are great fun to explore, figuring out not only what animal they're dressed up as, but also what it's made out of and how it's held together. The whole family gets involved: mom, dad, sister, and even the cat. Exploring fear has never been so much fun!
I love this book for how lovingly supportive the whole family is. It's got clever costumes any kid will love. And, it's an alphabet book that goes beyond the basics - the animals are in order, but they're not all named on the page. It's up to the reader to remember what letter comes next, look at the pictures and figure out what animal they've become.
Recommended.
March 21, 2014
The strongest part of this book is the family. Instead of teasing, making fun, or flat out making Little T go to the Zoo when she says she's scared of it, her family tries to find out just what it is that she's afraid of. They use their imaginations and make animals from A to Z out of things they find around the house to see if Little T is afraid of them.
It's fun to figure out which animal they are making, and might even inspire readers to do the same.
It's fun to figure out which animal they are making, and might even inspire readers to do the same.
December 30, 2017
So fun! The illustrations bring this story up to another level entirely. Make sure you spend some time looking at them all - including the illustrations on the endpages. The clues are there for the sharp-eyed reader who pays attention to detail.
February 6, 2014
Smart and goofy and joyfully creative. A cut above the average alphabet book.
July 23, 2020
Be prepared to giggle and laugh your way through “Fraidyzoo” by Thrya Heder. The lessons throughout the book are twofold, but the creative and playful illustrations are worth the read alone!
Do you look forward to visiting the zoo and seeing all of the unique animals there? Some zoos have so many animals to see, it’s hard to take them all in. From alligators, giraffes, hyenas, and monkeys, to rhinos, unicorns, and oh wait… those doesn’t exist (even if one little girl wishes they did)!
Zoos are fun, right? Well, maybe they are to you and me, but in this story Little T will need to overcome a fear before she will go with her family to visit the zoo. What is Little T afraid of? She doesn’t seem to remember... but that doesn’t stop her creative family from constructing an array of animals (from A to Z) to see if one of them will strike a chord with Little T!
What do they use to create the animals? Why, everything they have at hand and within their household! From cardboard boxes, grocery bags, hot pads, and brooms… to umbrellas, mop heads, hula hoops, and so many other everyday objects! The random items along with their playful personalities bring each of Heder’s imaginative animal illustrations to life. Towards the end even Little T joins her family in creating the animals and eventually asks if they could all go and visit the zoo the next day!
Overcoming any type of fear has its challenges. Luckily Little T has her family to help her! A favor she returns as she tries to convince her older sister to overcome an unexpected fear of her own. What does she become afraid of? You’ll have to read the book and find out!
Rose D. / Marathon County Public Library
Do you look forward to visiting the zoo and seeing all of the unique animals there? Some zoos have so many animals to see, it’s hard to take them all in. From alligators, giraffes, hyenas, and monkeys, to rhinos, unicorns, and oh wait… those doesn’t exist (even if one little girl wishes they did)!
Zoos are fun, right? Well, maybe they are to you and me, but in this story Little T will need to overcome a fear before she will go with her family to visit the zoo. What is Little T afraid of? She doesn’t seem to remember... but that doesn’t stop her creative family from constructing an array of animals (from A to Z) to see if one of them will strike a chord with Little T!
What do they use to create the animals? Why, everything they have at hand and within their household! From cardboard boxes, grocery bags, hot pads, and brooms… to umbrellas, mop heads, hula hoops, and so many other everyday objects! The random items along with their playful personalities bring each of Heder’s imaginative animal illustrations to life. Towards the end even Little T joins her family in creating the animals and eventually asks if they could all go and visit the zoo the next day!
Overcoming any type of fear has its challenges. Luckily Little T has her family to help her! A favor she returns as she tries to convince her older sister to overcome an unexpected fear of her own. What does she become afraid of? You’ll have to read the book and find out!
Rose D. / Marathon County Public Library
December 10, 2020
Summary: A family is getting ready to go to the zoo, but little T says she is afraid and can't remember what exactly she is afraid of the zoo for. Her family trys to help her figure out what it is before going by dressing up as every zoo animal they can think of and then some. After lots and lots of trys, Little T says she doesn't think she is afraid anymore and they head to the zoo in the morning. Turns out Little T wasn't the one who would be afraid of something at the zoo! Read the book to find out who was afraid of what!
Opinion: This is a cute easy read with creative illustrations of animals made of cardboard, clothes, and everything else you can find laying around the house. I loved how it showed the family helping out little T with trying to figure out her fear and being supportive of her.
How I would use it: This is a good book for showing kids that it's okay, to be afraid of things, and that we can help each other to not be afraid. You can have the class discuss times where they overcame their fears and it turned out really good/fun. An activity you could pair with this book is making animal masks, similar to how the family made animal costumes.
Opinion: This is a cute easy read with creative illustrations of animals made of cardboard, clothes, and everything else you can find laying around the house. I loved how it showed the family helping out little T with trying to figure out her fear and being supportive of her.
How I would use it: This is a good book for showing kids that it's okay, to be afraid of things, and that we can help each other to not be afraid. You can have the class discuss times where they overcame their fears and it turned out really good/fun. An activity you could pair with this book is making animal masks, similar to how the family made animal costumes.
October 6, 2023
Little T. is afraid to go to the zoo. Only she can't remember which animal scared her last time. And, to the author -- and the family she's created in "Fraidyzoo" -- that's how to solve the problem: Naming the animal. (A debatable assumption, but that's still necessary as plot scaffolding for all the fun that follows.)
Given the very literal idea that a child must be able to recognize the appearance of all the animals that she saw at the zoo the last time, hmmmm. How can the family outing go on? Ingeniously, the family MUST bring to life a creatively assembled collection of zoo animals.
Will Little T. lose her fear(s)?
Most worth looking at, in this book, is the array of costumes that the family improvises.
FIVE STARS, assuming that you're like the intended audience. For whom how things look is super-important. And visual creativity rates high on your list of values.
Other readers, myself included, are not in that visual club. For me, this book is instantly forgettable. Or will be, once I've published this review.
Given the very literal idea that a child must be able to recognize the appearance of all the animals that she saw at the zoo the last time, hmmmm. How can the family outing go on? Ingeniously, the family MUST bring to life a creatively assembled collection of zoo animals.
Will Little T. lose her fear(s)?
Most worth looking at, in this book, is the array of costumes that the family improvises.
FIVE STARS, assuming that you're like the intended audience. For whom how things look is super-important. And visual creativity rates high on your list of values.
Other readers, myself included, are not in that visual club. For me, this book is instantly forgettable. Or will be, once I've published this review.
December 31, 2018
This is a semi-hidden alphabet book. When Little T is scared to go to the zoo, her parents and big sister step through the alphabet using homemade costumes to figure out which animal might be the problem. Many of the built animals are AMAZING. It apparently takes all day to do everything (honestly, building that many costumes would probably take much longer).
This doesn't have the normal alphabet book format with the letter and word on each page. Sometimes there are multiple animals per page. Sometimes it says the letter and sometimes the animal name and sometimes neither.
It shows a family loving each other and sharing their creativity.
This doesn't have the normal alphabet book format with the letter and word on each page. Sometimes there are multiple animals per page. Sometimes it says the letter and sometimes the animal name and sometimes neither.
It shows a family loving each other and sharing their creativity.
December 28, 2023
So there’s not really much of a storyline here, but I think the book is cute because of the way the whole family works together to try to discover the fear but they do it in such a fun way.
they spend the whole day creating crafts and having fun with each other even though they didn’t get to go to the zoo. I love the creativity of the family in making all of the animals out of household materials.
Without the illustrations, this book is nothing. The actual story is kind of eh but with the illustrations, it’s perfect. I really like the illustrations.
The publisher is Abrams books for young readers.
The illustrations in the book are made with watercolor and ink on paper.
they spend the whole day creating crafts and having fun with each other even though they didn’t get to go to the zoo. I love the creativity of the family in making all of the animals out of household materials.
Without the illustrations, this book is nothing. The actual story is kind of eh but with the illustrations, it’s perfect. I really like the illustrations.
The publisher is Abrams books for young readers.
The illustrations in the book are made with watercolor and ink on paper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2017
A little girl thinks she may be afraid to go to the zoo, so her family tries to help her figure out why and what animal she might be afraid of.
First off, this family is super-imaginative and creative, but they have way too much time on their hands (or cardboard boxes... maybe both). Fun to guess which animal they are thinking of, and then a surprise twist at the end when they do make it to the zoo keeps the story interesting. Though the illustrations also help as they suit the story perfectly.
No content issues.
May 30, 2018
This book is all of the things. It is funny. It is bursting with creativity. It is suspenseful and surprising. This is the story of a family who is planning to go to the zoo, except one of the kids is afraid of something....only they don't remember what. No worries, this creative family does everything it can to figure out the mystery. Charming, witty, fun. You will want to join this family while you try to guess not only what each picture holds but the answer to the ultimate mystery. Thyra Heder is becoming one of our favorite authors. This is a delight.
September 21, 2019
This book is about a little girl named little T, her family wants to go to the zoo but she is afraid of going. Little T can't remember why she is so scared to go back to the zoo, so her family decides to act out animals in alphabetical order to figure out what animal she is afraid of. At the end of the story little T decides to go to the zoo. They walk up to pay for their tickets, then the zoo employee ask for tickets with long red nails, and little T starts yelling at the moment they figure out what she was afraid of.
March 13, 2021
Picked this up from the library for my 4 year old and we absolutely loved it. SUCH a creative approach to storytelling and problem solving. We had a blast guessing the beautifully imagined "animals" on every page and the conclusion was SO refreshing. I'm not saying I "Awww'd" audibly at the last illustration of the photo of T and her "nemesis", but I'm also not saying I didn't. Love love loved this book. I can't wait to read it again and admire the detail that went into those illustrations. Outstanding book for 2-7 y/o. Highly recommend.
November 15, 2018
I love the way the whole family supports Little T. They want to go to the zoo, but they also only want to go if she's comfortable with it.
The homemade costumes depicted here are amazing. They vary in detail and realism, but they're the real delight of the book.
The homemade costumes depicted here are amazing. They vary in detail and realism, but they're the real delight of the book.
November 21, 2018
One sister is super excited to go to the zoo and it's the perfect day. But the other sister is not so sure. She is afraid of something but she can't quite remember what. Her family helps her try to remember by dressing as an animal that starts with each letter of the alphabet. This results in hilarity. In the end little sister isn't afraid of anything. Someone else in the family has a zoo-related fear.
Fantastically funny and the kids will love guessing what each animal is.
Fantastically funny and the kids will love guessing what each animal is.
October 21, 2017
My 4.5 year old and I loved it. Brilliantly illustrated. Very clever way of depicting the animals and my daughter had a good time guessing as well as learning about the animals that she did not know. She also thought the ending was absolutely hilarious and I loved how the end pictures were so well done that accompanying explanation was not needed. Would read again!
January 25, 2018
Little T's family is helping her overcome her fear of going to the zoo. They are playing creative dress up games to try and figure out what she is afraid of at the zoo. Cute twist ending and very interesting family with costumes. Cute read aloud and fun ending to read and re-read to the picture book audience.
November 28, 2021
This is insanely creative book and the artwork is fantastic. Heder is one of my new children's authors because her writing and pictures are so sweet. This one revolves around a family trying to figure out what the youngest member is afraid of at the zoo. (She does not remember so her family tries to act out all the animals in hope of figuring out the mystery.)
March 24, 2022
This is the single cutest alphabet picture book I have ever seen. My littles (6 and 3) love it. They loved figuring out what the different animals were and the way the big sister was the one who ran away screaming at the end. I loved the way the whole family came together to figure out and soothe one member's fears and just play together.
November 22, 2017
I loved this the first time I read it, and when I got to the end I thought about it and went back through - there's nothing in this story that genders the main character, Little T! The descriptions do, but none of the family members do! :)
May 31, 2019
a great book that addresses fear. It shows how to question it, feel it, and confront it. Great imagery of homemade costumes of animals of every alphabet letter. Ending has a plot twist. The inside of the book covers provide a forshadowing of the story to come and an epilogue.
May 8, 2024
A child is afraid of going to the zoo, but can't remember what animal scared them the last time. The family goes through the alphabet to help them recall, using household objects, linens, cardboard boxes, and more to evoke the creatures in this imaginative romp.
July 11, 2017
Loved the illustrations. Laugh out loud funny.
September 22, 2017
LOVED it! Little T is really afraid of going to the zoo. So her family spends the day trying to get to the bottom of the issue, with fun and silly results.
June 7, 2018
Love the creative artwork
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews