ALA Booklist (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Actor, musician, and author Lithgow (I Got Two Dogs, 2008) offers here another humorous children's song in picture-book form. A boy reluctantly accompanies his family to an open-air concert held in a bandstand next to the zoo. Bored with the music, the boy drifts off to sleep, where he dreams the animals escape their cages and take over for the musicians. He is confused that the audience doesn't react to these strange events, but he finally settles in to enjoy the concert, only to be awakened by his sister telling him it's time to go home. Hernandez's vibrantly hued digital artwork captures the zaniness of the text; she portrays tutu-clad hippos tooting tubas along with trumpeting lions and raccoon flautists. The illustrations also serve as a low-key introduction to orchestra instruments, and young listeners will enjoy identifying the animals with their musical devices. A CD of Lithgow performing this song (unavailable for review) is included, making this a particularly good story hour choice, especially for Lithgow's many fans. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Lithgow's sideline as a kids' book author is no lark. His past bestsellerdom indicates that this book will be on plenty of radars.

Kirkus Reviews

One can easily guess from Lithgow's admonishing title just what might be in store. A boy and his family go to an outdoor concert in the park. However, the band shell happens to be right next to the zoo. (Cue disaster chord.) Suddenly, the animals storm the stage, knocking over the musicians and grabbing all of the instruments. Lithgow pleads with readers: "Oh, children! Remember! / Whatever you may do, / never play music right next to the zoo. / They'll burst from their cages, each beast and each bird, / desperate to play all the music they've heard." The ferret plays the flute, the yak plays the sax, the bonobo plays the oboe (naturally), and the goat…well, the goat just eats the sheet music. Hernandez's digital art shines during the frantic tussles between the orchestra members and the animals. They won't give up their instruments without a fight! In an oft-used trope, the little boy finds out that he was just dreaming in the end. But that brings up Lithgow's second most important rule: Never fall asleep during a concert! Move over, Carnival of the Animals (illustrated by Boris Kulikov, 2004); here's another snappy, yet lighter and younger, zoological fantasy to add to Lithgow's repertoire. (CD included) (Picture book. 2-6)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

After a boy falls asleep at an outdoor concert near the zoo, mayhem erupts: -All at once the conductor erupted with rage!/ A band of wild animals was storming the stage!- Lithgow (I Got Two Dogs) describes the chaos in high-spirited verse (which he also sings on an accompanying CD): -The monkeys played fiddle, the bison played bass,/ the percussions were manned by the camel./ The yak played the sax until red in the face-/a surprisingly musical mammal.- The premise has lots of comedic potential, and Hernandez (Dog Gone!) delivers: a flautist fends off a bear and two raccoons with her music stand and, later, a blue tutu-wearing hippo blasts the tuba -by the light of the silvery moon.- Readers get an incidental introduction to various instruments, but light nonsense is this book-s raison d-être. Although some rhymes feel padded or extraneous (immediately after the concert, the animals -each reminisced, so grateful and glad,/ so full of contentment and pride-), it-s a frisky addition to the author-s oeuvre of musical picture books. Ages 2-6. Author-s agent: Lark Productions. Illustrator-s agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

PreS-Gr 2 This zany picture book follows a boy who attends a concert next to the zoo. Bored with the performance, he begins dozing off when suddenly the animals take over the stage. "The lions and the elephants,/the bears and the raccoons/will steal away the trumpets,/the flutes and bassoons,/replace the musicians, and chase them away/Then they'll sit in the band shell/and play." The humorous verse is full of zoo creatures and instruments that children will likely want to learn more about. The digital artwork matches the tone and text perfectly. Children will be giggling at both the song and the illustrations, such as the one of a hippo playing a tuba. This would be a great storytime book, and it even includes a CD of Lithgow singing the tune with an orchestra. Brooke Rasche, La Crosse Public Library, WI