Zoomer

by Ned Young

Hooper and Cooper are ready, but where's Zoomer? Zoomer is waaaaay too busy for school today. Although his dad begs him to get ready, how can Zoomer make time for school with such a full schedule? He has to blow the world's biggest bubble, build a brontosaurus out of sand, launch a rocket ship—and that's just the beginning! Ned Young paints Zoomer's world with fun, detailed illustrations that showcase the silly side of everyday life. Kids and their parents will laugh out loud at the surprise ending that proves Zoomer knows best after all.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Animals, Storytime, Humor, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2010

Reviews

[Kelly Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminds me of the Shel Silverstein poem called Sick about a child who pretends to be sick until the child is told that it is Saturday. In this book, a dog does not want to get ready for school even though his father and siblings urge him to get ready. Finally, the dog who does not want to go to school informs his family that it is Saturday.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't decide how I feel about this one. Zoomer is funny and the illustrations are great. The resolution is fun, but he's so disrespectful of his dad and his brothers are such tattle tales. I enjoyed the book, but I'm not sure I'll use it in my story times.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the story was a bit confusing (was it real or his imagination?), but loved the cute details in the illustrations.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of our family's favorite books. Gorgeous illustrations.

[Jenna Gareis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five things about Zoomer by Ned Young 📚📚📚📚📚

1. Zoomer is the youngest of three puppies at home one morning with their dad while their mother is away on a trip.
2. While everyone gets ready for school, Zoomer declares he’s much too busy to go to school and goes about beating world records, exploring new planets, and building dinosaurs out of sand.
3. Although Zoomer is getting into everything and his brothers encourage their dad to ground him or punish him in some way, dad never loses his temper. He models curiosity, compassion, and gentle redirection.
4. In the end, it turns out Zoomer knows something his older and supposed-to-be-wiser brothers and father do not.
5. The illustrations are giggle-worthy and imaginative. I love EVERYTHING about this story. It would make a fun and relatable book for all the parents, siblings, and our beloved little Zoomers in the world.

[Children's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoomer is so fun!!

The kids are obsessed with these incredibly interesting illustrations, loaded with entertaining background details. These are the kind of illustrations you get lost in. The kind that reveal something new every time you look at them.
Zoomer’s father is trying to get the pups ready for school. The twins are ready but Zoomer is far too busy doing awesome stuff. He’s making his father crazy all morning with his outrageous antics. Finally his father is at his wit's end and demands and explanation. Why isn’t Zoomer getting ready for school??

That is the moment Zoomer points out that it’s Saturday 👏😂

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. The illustrations are incredible and the story has such a fun twist! I’m excited to add this to our Children’s Bookshelf!!

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful fantasy children's book that will keep children laughing from start to finish. Zoomer the dog and his twin brothers have been left with dad while mom is away. The dogs are supposed to be getting ready for school. The twins are excellent at following Dad's directions, but Zoomer is constantly doing his own thing. The surprise ending will definitely have children rolling on the floor.

[Savannah Crider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great story time read for elementary students. This book is about a dog named Zoomer and his brothers. There dad is trying to get them ready for school, but Zoomer has other things in mind. It has a great ending that young students will love and find funny. I think this book would be best for reading aloud to a class. The illustrations are wonderful and students can follow along great with the pictures if they are nor great readers yet.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoomer and his twin brothers, Hooper and Cooper, were told by their dad to get ready for school, but he was not able to convince Zoomer who said he was too busy doing many other things. Fun illustrations. Funny ending.

[Christine Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Countdown to Kindergarten: Letter Z

When Mom is away Dad is finding it hard to get Zoomer and his brothers ready for school. In fact, Zoomer refuses to go at all! A surprise ending will have everyone chuckling.

[Faith Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book! Would be perfect for lower grades, especially at the beginning of the school year. It’s about a dog named Zoomer that doesn’t want to go to school. In the end, it turns out he doesn’t want to go to school because it’s Saturday.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are delightfully detailed in this story of a dog family's hectic preparations to get ready for school. Dog school must start amazingly late in the day for them to have all of the adventures they do. There's a silly twist at the book's conclusion!

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Zoomer's creativity in this book. I just wish he would have shared his knowledge that everyone else had forgotten a little earlier in the book - as he was frustrating most of his family by not explaining why he was acting the way he was acting.

[Dannon Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really goofy and silly and would definitely be engaging in a read aloud setting for students. It's not very educational but I might read it at the end of the day on Friday so kids can get excited about what they're going to do over the weekend.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for beginner readers. The illustrations were well done. My 3 kids and I enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this book to others.

[Liz Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations. Lots to see.

[Goshen PL Childrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read at Storytime on March 23, 2022
Theme: Puppies

One of the our all-time favorites! Absolutely, love the story and illustrations.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great pictures, a little light on the story, though.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like the ending. And the illustrations are delightful.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoomer is a rambunctious child and this book shows how he gives his father grief while he tries to get everyone ready for school. Zoomer insists that he has far too many things to do instead of school and he doesn't do anything small. Zoomer's twin brothers constantly tattle on him and try to get him grounded, something that will appeal to many children that are siblings. Besides the silly fun provided, I did have one issue with the text. Zoomer's father is constantly thinking about how happy he'll be when his wife returns home since he doesn't know how to take care of the kids. He makes numerous comments about it and even asks the twins what he should do because he just doesn't understand his son. While some kids and some families may find this funny, I wasn't too impressed with the emphasis on the gender roles but that could just be me.

[Deb Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoomer is a fast paced story that features a family of dogs who are being cared for by their dad while mom is away. The dad is desperately trying to get Zoomer and his twin brothers ready for school, but Zoomer insists he is not going to school. The book is written and illustrated by Ned Young and he does a fantastic job with the illustrations. They are vibrant, detailed and realistic. While reading this book for one of my small groups, my students loved playing I spy with several of the pages. The story promotes the use of prediction and highlights how dialogue is used between characters. I really enjoyed the author's creativity and the parallel to human families. This is one of those stories that has a surprise ending...definitely worth sharing with your students.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had Zoomer's energy and imagination. I almost gave it a 3 star, but It made me literally LOL and not much does that, so when a book makes me laugh it gets a higher mark.

Zoomer is creative, cleaver, fun, imaginative, and will make dad's really appreciates moms, because look at all the crazy stuff that happens when mom is away.

Nothing like having your puppies (aka kids) wake you up by playing baseball in your bed, and your pillow is home plate. Not to mention "the sun nor Dad was up yet!!"

Too bad the twin puppies Cooper and Hooper aren't as much fun, but every party needs to have a pooper!! Right!?!

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young, Ned Zoomer (2010) Three puppies are getting up and ready for school. Zoomer who seems to be the youngest says he is too busy and cannot go to school. While running around the house causing all kinds of problems Zoomer refuses to get ready for school. The bright and detailed illustrations help tell the story and make the text come to life. The pictures match and complement the written story beautifully. This is a fun, and humorous read aloud that would engage a young audience. The target audience is 5-9 year old.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been sharing this story over and over again with six and seven year olds. They really appreciate it. The dog food castle was a special favorite, not to mention the crash landing of the rocket on the roof so casually referred to as a "beautiful" landing. The ending has been done before, but for some quick thrills and easy laughs for a younger audience, this was very nice. Comical and light-hearted!

[Beckie Coldiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book, which is sure to stir the imagination! Children love the bright illustrations of Zoomer in this book. I would implement this book in the classroom when teaching sequencing and cause & effect. Additionally, I would recommend this book for children in kindergarten through first grade.

[Scarlet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dad is left one morning to take care of his three kids, but the youngest one, Zoomer, is insisting on not going to school. After doing several fun things and putting it off as long as he can Zoomer finally tells dad that it's Saturday.

Great as a back to school book and just as a book for a fun and humorous read.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be fair, I should put Alex's favorite picture book on here too. We just found this at the library and we all love it. The illustrations are particularly pleasing, although the story is fun too. Alex and Adele laugh at the end EVERY TIME. I had to order it from Adele's book order, it is that much in demand around here.

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The use of animals in human settings doesn't rise to the level of other books using anthropomorphism.For example, I really believe the bird in "Are You My Mother"is the animal equivalent of a lost child. But in Zoomer, I don't really accept the dogs as children. Only the surprise ending made me smile. The rest is just eh.

[Erika Tortorice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story of a dog who would rather do fun activities than get ready for school; unlike his other two siblings and per his father's request. Only to find out that it was Saturday and not a school day at all. The illustrator did a great job using colors throughout the book and perfectly capturing the concept of the story with each illustration.

[Lee Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute...read it for the cousin's sleepover tonight and they loved it. Daddy dog is on child duty as mommy is away and struggles to get his 3 boys ready for school, but Zoomer is waaaayyyy too busy for school and his schedule is completely full doing, magic, blowing the worlds largest bubble, building a rocket and so on.