ALA Booklist (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Takoda the tiger cub finds a "tumbledown mall" and sees its potential as a future zoo. Two rough, tough rhinos arrive with bulldozers to begin the work. When ten insects offer their help, the rhinos decline: "You bugs are too small . . . You don't count at all." Instead a progression of larger animals ree lemurs, four oryx, etc. ansforms the space into a utopian zoo complete with waterslide. But the rhinos refuse to share the slide. The insects suddenly parachute in, crawl into the rhinos' ears and snouts, and make them cry. The rhinos apologize for bullying the others ("We're rough and we're tough, but we don't rule the zoo") and Takoda exclaims, "Our zoo is the best because everyone counts!" Cartoon illustrations in gouache and pencil create an oversized and colorful, happy world full of construction equipment and a medley of animals. With its Seuss-like rhymes, opportunities to count up and down from 10, and strong design choices, this book will find many fans. The anti-bullying message doesn't withstand close analysis, but most readers won't mind.

Kirkus Reviews

Zoo animals of every size work together to turn an abandoned mall into a new zoo.Takoda the anthropomorphic tiger cub thinks the old building and grounds would make a wonderful zoo. (It's entirely unclear why a new one's warranted, as these animals seem to be self-governing, with no humans in sight.) His fellow animals are up to the challenge, and readers will be too as they count the animals on each page: "Two rough, tough rhinos" with bulldozers, three lemurs with paint rollers, four oryx cutting windows, etc. But the rhinos spurn the insects when they offer their help: " ‘You bugs are too small.' / ‘You're pests. You're annoying. / You don't count at all.' " Before long the amusement park-like zoo is complete, but a new problem arises: Those rhinos won't share the water slide. "Then silently, stealthily, down from the sky…" it's bugs to the rescue, proving to even the rhinos that everyone counts. The final spread is a riot of fun as the animals enjoy the slide, and those with good eyes and some patience will be able to spy the insects. Don't miss the jokes on the endpapers (adults will surely hear them multiple times). Sierra's rollicking rhymes are fun to read aloud and listen to, and Brown's gouache and pencil illustrations give children lots of details to pore over, but it doesn't do for counting what the team's Wild About Books (2004) did for reading.This rhythmic, imaginative romp practically reads itself aloud. (Picture book. 3-8)

School Library Journal (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

PreS-Gr 1 When a group of animals decide to transform an abandoned mall into a beautiful new zoo, they learn the valuable lesson that everyone has something to contribute. The work begins with two burly rhinoceros demolishing the mall; but when a group of eager insects try to join their crew, the cantankerous rhinos call them pests, and tell them they are too small and that they "don't count at all." The construction continues with lemurs, bears, elephants, etc. all building an amazing zoo, which even includes a fantastic water slide. Everything comes to a head when the pugnacious rhinos declare the slide their personal property. The banished bugs from earlier choose this moment to make themselves known and suffice it to say, the rhinos are abashed and soon everyone is having a rollicking good time. Sierra takes on numbers and bullying in a playful manner that is well-suited for young listeners. The rhyming text coupled with detailed illustrations make for a fun storytime read. VERDICT Kids will enjoy poring over the artwork and the charming end pages, which are replete with silly number puns told by the bugs. Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI