One Night in the Zoo

by Judith Kerr

On an extraordinary night of wild antics, an elephant jumps into the air and starts to fly, prompting his fellow zoo animals to embark on their own magical adventures, in a high-spirited tale featuring lively rhyming text.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Counting, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Judith Kerr was a German-born British writer and illustrator who has created both enduring picture books such as the Mog series and The Tiger Who Came To Tea and acclaimed novels for older children such as the autobiographical When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit which give a child's-eye view of the Second World War.

Kerr was born in Berlin but left Germany with her parents and her brother, Michael, in 1933, soon after the Nazis first came to power. They were forced to leave as her father, noted drama critic, journalist and screenwriter Alfred Kerr, had openly criticised the Nazis,who burned his books shortly after the family had fled Germany. They travelled first to Switzerland and then on into France, before finally settling in Britain, where Kerr has lived ever since. She subsequently became a naturalised British citizen.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The animals in a zoo get up to all kinds of shenanigans at night in this sweet counting book from British picture-book author and artist Judith Kerr, creator of such titles as Mog the Forgetful Cat and The Tiger Who Came to Tea . From the one elephant who jumped into the sky and flew, to the ten cocks crowing "cockadoodledoo," the denizens of this zoo know how to have fun, although they make sure they're back in place by dawn, so no one (save the reader) is the wiser...

With rhyming text and her signature watercolor illustrations, Judith Kerr presents a charming counting book in One Night at the Zoo, full of quirky animal characters and unusual and unexpected activities. I think my favorite scene, from a visual perspective, was the one in which the seven tigers sneezed so loudly they blew the feathers off the cockatoos. Full of humor and fun, this is a counting book I'd recommend to all fans of this author/artist, as well as to anyone looking for picture-books in rhyme.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich will mein Englisch aufbessern und finde das klappt mit kindergeschichten am besten 😊
Auch dieses Buch ist eine süße kleine Geschichte die beschreibt was die zootiere in der Nacht machen 😉

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first sentence of this book already captures the audience ‘One magical, moonlit night in the zoo’, and leads you the reader wanting to find out more. The book describes all of the things some Zoo animals get up to when the moon is out for example we have an elephant jumping in the air and flying, lions doing card tricks and bears making stews!. Come morning the Zoo keepers are left wondering why the animals are so tired and asking each other what have the animals got up to during the night – this is a secret that only the animals and the reader know which I think is really sweet and children will love.

This book uses a rhyming pattern throughout which ensures it stays ‘snappy’ and the audience engaged. I would especially use this book when introducing children to the topic of counting because as the book progresses so does the number of animals we are introduced to for example five flamingos, six rabbits, seven tigers etc. and as such would be beneficial to EYFS and reception age children.

I had never heard of this book before I read it and Judith Kerr does an excellent job at engaging her audience and drawing them in as an adult I enjoyed it! I particularly like the fact that I could see myself using this book as an aid to helping children learn to count in a fun way.

[Alison Wickham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. It tells the tale of what animals get up to at night in a zoo. It reminded my of toy story, with the animals getting up to all sorts of mischief that the keeper doesn't know about. The language and structure gives the book a poetic feel. It uses consecutive number up to ten for each group of animals. This could be used for links to maths, using explicitly for counting, or developing problems with it for addition, multiplication or subtraction. Also, a great book just to enjoy!

[Shanell Camelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first sentence of this book already captures the audience ‘One magical, moonlit night in the zoo’, and leads you the reader wanting to find out more. It tells the tale of what animals get up to at night in a zoo. The language and structure gives the book a poetic feel. This book uses a rhyming pattern throughout which ensures it stays ‘snappy’ and the audience engaged. I would especially use this book when introducing children to the topic of counting because as the book progresses so does the number of animals.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One peaceful moonlit night in the zoo turns into a night of very unusual happenings. All the animals do uncharacteristic things, such as, lions make a strange concoction of a stew which, when the flamingoes eat it, turns them from pink to blue. An elephant flies and bears sneeze the feathers off a cockatoo. When the zookeeper arrive in the morning, the animals have all settled back into place and are very tired which puzzles the zookeepers.
This is a funny rhyming counting book with visuals created in soft pastel colours. An enjoyable read.

[Brianna Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book to help children learn numbers and counting up to ten while also learning about animals that live in a zoo. Its a fun book that is entertaining and educational in helping to count while watching/reading about funny animals doing things that you would not think that an animal would do in a zoo. This would be a good book for a kindergarten class who are just learning to count, especially up to the number of ten.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book uses rhyming words to keep the reader engaged and is a relatable book for people who have been to the zoo. The story is about the different animals going out when the moon is shining and what they get up to but it is a secret kept between themselves (and the reader).
The zoo keeper is left wondering why the animals look so tired.
The book speaks to the reader as towards the end it says “except you” so the reader knows the animals secret.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light-hearted imaginative story for children that are curious of what animals do at night in the zoo. It is a filled with rhymes and covers numerous spelling variations for the “oo” sound. It also introduces a number pattern and can be used to make links with mathematics (specifically to counting, addition or subtraction).

[HAYLEY STANSBURY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing book written and illustrated by Judith Kerr. This counting book captures the imagination from the start allowing children to visualise and immerse themselves in the wonderful things the animals get up to while the zoo is closed at night.

This book could be used in maths lessons but would also be a great tool to help children to think up and write their own magical stories.

[Jolynne Dougherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

One magical moonlit night at the zoo, an elephant jumped in the air and flew. But nobody knew...and thus begins a magical romp at the zoo with lots of rhyming. My preschool storytime kiddos enjoyed the whimsy of this book and enjoyed the recap on the last page, especially the flamingos - Josey's favorite animal.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming story about what animals in the zoo get up to at night. Could be used with young children such as FS as practice counting to 10 as each animals which is in the story goes up from 1 to 10 e.g. 1 elephant, 3 lions, 8 tigers.

[Samantha Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story that helps a child with counting in a subtle, amusing way. There are many giggles to be had at what the animals get up to at night and as usual Kerr's beautiful drawings engage and delight.

[Lizzie Clarkson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rhyming book that helps children learn to count. It is about what all the animals do when there are no humans around.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not keen on stuff that normalises zoos and this goes one worse by making it seem like the animals are all having the times of their lives. The cages at the end are all SO small too.

[Charlotte Whiteing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I don't remember reading it as a child but this is one I will read future children. Very fun narrative

[Jonathan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely book that ks1 children would find hilarious. This book shows children that no one knows what happens behind closed doors! It also has looks of mathematics cross curricular links!

[Brady]

Preschool

[Madison Mckinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book lots of imagination!

[Cara Frazee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade: Preschool-K
Modern Fantasy/Poetry

A fun book of rhyming and practice counting while reading about the animals doing silly things at night.

[Sharmin Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

One night in the zoo, the weirdest unexpected things were happening. An elephant jumped in the air and flew, a Kangaroo and crocodile were cycling, lions were doing magic tricks, and bears were cooking and many other strange things. The zoo wasn’t as it was thought to be. The animals were doing all sorts of things. When the sun rises and the zoo keeper comes back, the animals go back to acting as ‘normal’. The zoo keepers say that the animals look so tired what could they have been up to but they obviously don’t know only the reader of the story.
In the story, the author talks about the animals in number sets beginning from 1 to 10 and each of the animals are doing a different act or trick. It is a very fun and exciting book to read and really keeps the reader interested in continuing to read the story to find out what the other animals are doing during the night. Children in KS1 will really enjoy this story. They be imaginative and talk about what they would see in the night at the zoo remembering to use rhyme just like in the story. Children in EYFS can count the animals as they read through the story and it can be a recognition of the animals. You can also do an activity where children make sounds of the animals and talk about their favourite animal or a trip to the zoo if they have ever been (what did they see).

[David Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light hearted imaginative story on what animals get up to when nobody is looking. It uses rhyming words and keeps the reader uplifted with the turn of the next page. The story comes up with some fascinating activities that the animals undertake when nobody is around. The reoccurring line at the end of each sentence finishes with the same line, making the reader want to raise their voice each time it is repeated.

I would recommend this book for early years and I think it is fun for a group activity and individual 1:1 reading. I even found myself singing along to it and wanting to read it to my nephew!

This book could also be used for number sequencing and repetition. The theme could also be used for literacy or in the form of artwork as to what the pupils would do and or how they would have fun. The book shows a variety of animals which could be a basis to understand knowledge of animals.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An imaginative rhyming frolic after hours in the zoo, which no one knows about except the reader. Each adventure involves one more character in the style of a counting book, but I liked that the last page shows all, so we didn't have to interrupt the flow of the rhyme to practice counting on each page. The story reminded me of "Night at the Museum" for a younger audience. The colored pencil drawings are rather subdued, which isn't inappropriate for night time, but may not be as appealing to children as bright colors.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do animals do at night in the zoo? Kerr imagines a whimsical and fun evening for a variety of zoo animals. The final page of the story reviews the animals and reinforces counting concepts.

This will appeal to the preschool set as a lovely bedtime story. I didn't love the illustrations -- the lions and bears looked a bit too much like people in costumes and the soft colors, which soothing, lack the whimsy of the rhymes. Recommended for public library collections.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun story. We have had stuffies in our classroom that some of us are SURE move when we're not looking, so the things the author writes that animals might do after the zoo closes makes perfect sense.

I didn't point out the number pattern, but my class noticed it right away. We talked about how it was a pattern increasing by one.

Beautiful illustrations. We will really enjoy reading this book to our Reading Buddies.

[Donalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do animals do when the zoo is closed? This counting books describes the antics and games of zoo animals that "Nobody knows" about.
Numerous spelling variations for the "oo" sound will appeal to primary teachers.

[Angel Serrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Por la noche, los animales del Zoo salem de las jaulas y juegan en grupos de uno, dos, tres,... Hasta diez animales. Ideal manera de contar, siempre que se acuerden de volver a sus jaulas a dormir antes de que salga el sol y vuelva el guarda.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book for children. It teaches numbers whilst telling a nice story about what zoo animals do at night.

[Sarah BT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations that are soft and colorful-perfect for bedtime. It's a counting book combined with animals and some fun antics about a moonlit night. This would be great for storytime!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

One magical night an elephant jumped in the air and flew. Wild antics, high spirits and silly games of the other zoo animals also occur. Will anyone find out?