Kirkus Reviews

A little boy visits the zoo for the first time and is enthralled by all its wonders. Joined by his parents and sister, Lucy, the boy relates each part of the day, from buying tickets to studying the zoo map and the slightly alarming animal sounds he hears in the near distance. But as they wind their way through the park, visiting the Jungle House to see the monkeys, the Gorilla Forest, the African Plain and its elephants, the lions inside the Grasslands building, the Reptile House, and polar bears and sea lions, the new experience of seeing the animals and their behaviors up close fascinates this youngster. The initial trepidation the boy felt at the beginning of his day gives way to sheer delight in the Bird House, where the birds fly freely and a parrot lands on his shoulder for a sip of nectar. A picnic lunch and a couple of balloons for souvenirs complete the perfect Saturday outing for this brown-skinned family of four. Detailed watercolors rendered in soft hues fluently complement the boy's first-person narrative and give readers a firsthand view of the zoo's residents. Following on Library Day (2016), this is a lovely addition to the creators' series on first experiences. (Picture book. 4-6)

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

A young brown-skinned boy narrates the story of his day at the zoo with his mom, dad, and little sister. Each spread focuses on a single animal exhibit and the children's reactions to it. The day wraps up with lunch and a souvenir balloon. Tidy watercolors and straightforward text provide preschoolers with a realistic, no-big-surprises preview of a first zoo visit.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1 A boy describes his first trip to the zoo with his family. Howls, squawks, barks, splashes, grunts, and whistles are just some of the sounds he hears as they walk past the cages. "I hold my father's hand tightly because the roars make me a little nervous." A full-spread map of the zoo reveals all the habitats and animals that the family will visit. They begin at the Jungle House to see the busy monkeys, followed by Gorilla Forest. Next they stop by the African Plain to view the elephants, ostriches, zebras, and giraffes. At the Reptile House, they see a boa constrictor, a poisonous coral snake, and a painted turtle. The boy's little sister runs ahead when they get to the polar bears. The children love watching the big white bears "in their underwater dance," but their father hurries them along because it's feeding time for the sea lions. As the zookeeper throws the shiny silver fish to the excited barking diners, the boy realizes he, too, is hungry. After a picnic lunch, they walk through the Bird House, where there are no cages, and a parrot rests on the boy's shoulder to drink nectar from a paper cup. "I wish I could bring him home," he laments, but they do get souvenir balloons to keep. Rockwell's signature watercolor illustrations depict a loving, brown-skinned, pink-cheeked family and an exciting array of animals eating, playing, and caring for their young. VERDICT In addition to preparing youngsters for a trip to the zoo, this title can be used with early elementary students to model personal narrative. A pleasing, straightforward introduction. Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

A boy describes his first trip to the zoo with his family. After looking at a map of the grounds, his family visits the Jungle House, Gorilla Forest, African Plain, Grasslands, and Reptile House. Next, they watch the polar bears and sea lions. The family lunches at an outdoor picnic table before feeding nectar to parrots in the Bird House. While many picture books with a zoo setting feature elements of fantasy, the realistic approach here will appeal to many children, particularly those who have never visited a zoo. The pleasing line-and-watercolor illustrations are equally good for one-on-one reading or for sharing with groups. The map works well as a device for introducing the places and animals to be seen later. Clarity of text and art, a hallmark of the Rockwells' picture books, makes this story widely accessible to young children, while the diversity of people in the illustrations makes it inclusive as well. An enjoyable addition to the Rockwells' My First Experience Book series, which opened with Library Day (2016).