ALA Booklist (Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 1999)

Newly illustrated in full color, Hoff's popular I Can Read story, first published in 1959, keeps the simple lines and energy of the original art. The colors are quiet, but it's fun to see the yellow taxi and the diverse classroom and the hippo with a great, red open mouth. It's the classic quest story: the small seal wanderer wants to leave the zoo and look around, and he finds--because he has traveled--that there's no place like home. (Reviewed December 1, 1999)

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2000)

In these two simple books for beginning readers, color has been added to Hoff's pen-and-ink illustrations. Oliver the elephant isn't needed at the circus and has to find a job somewhere else, and Sammy the seal explores life outside the confines of the zoo. Though they look and sound somewhat dated, the stories will appeal to those looking for light, easy reads.