Dear Zoo is one of those classic children’s books that every home should have. It’s a delightful lift-the-flap picture book by Rod Campbell that was first published in 1982. This means Dear Zoo is celebrating over thirty-five years in paperback, making it the perfect time to add this classic family favourite to your bookshelf.
My children both enjoy reading the Dear Zoo: A lift-the-flap picture book story, it’s a fun tale about a child who writes to the zoo for a pet. The zoo sends a series of animals, each animal hidden within different crates and baskets, with just a clue given in the illustration as to who is inside. It’s a funny story and your kids will love the interactive element introduced by the lift-the-flap on each page and guessing who is hiding underneath.
Each animal, however, isn’t suitable and they must be returned before another one is sent, with the last one being discovered to be the perfect pet. Children will learn about the giraffe who is too tall, the lion who is too fierce, the monkey who is too naughty and more.
The catchy refrain and repetitive phrases make Dear Zoo a fun choice for storytime, I love that Ethan can now tell me the whole story when we’re reading together. There are also so many other different versions of the book available, if you’re a mom-to-be or new mom you may like this Dear Zoo: Snuggle Book while those with older children will enjoy the Dear Zoo Book and Puzzle Blocks set.
Dear Zoo: A lift-the-flap picture book is available from book stores and online retailers for a recommended retail price of R190. It’s recommended for children aged three to five.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for sharing Dear Zoo with us.
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