Horn Book (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

When two children try to hide a dragon in their closet, they find a crocodile already there. As they hide the crocodile, they encounter a spider. They find another animal in each new hiding place, until they've collected a whole menagerie. The bright, playful illustrations provide hints of the coming beasts, but the rhymes in the text aren't always felicitous.

Kirkus Reviews (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

When ferocious beasts come to visit, two friends face the dilemma of finding places to put them so they can get away. "There's a dragon on the doorstep, / Do you think he wants to play? / Let's lock him in the closet, / Then let's run away!" But there is also a crocodile in the closet, so where to put him? Each new hiding place uncovers yet another new beast (along with all the previous ones concealed somewhere in the picture). Young readers will delight in the hide-and-seek illustrations. The most observant will spot a tail, head, fur or claw of the animal that will pop out at the next turn of the page. The simple lines and bold colors are appealing, and the facial expressions on both the children and the animals will grab readers' attention. While the rhythm and rhyme of the couplets peters out toward the end, this is still an enjoyable read-aloud for a group or one-on-one. (Picture book. 2-7)

School Library Journal (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

PreS-Gr 1 A boy and girl encounter a series of exotic animals, beginning with the dragon on their doorstep, which they lock in a closet and then run away. As the children proceed from room to room, trying to subdue or escape from each of the surprising houseguests, they find yet another one (a crocodile in the closet, a tiger in the toy chest, and a lion in the laundry). To no avail, they try to lock the creatures away in various locations throughout the house, which may be a little disconcerting to young readers. The smiling animals seem too open and friendly to be truly frightening and, in the end, the youngsters and the whole menagerie end up outside, where they can play another game and everyone can hide! The rhyming text, which features some alliteration, is slightly uneven, but the lively art, done in watercolor, pen-and-ink, and crayon, adds a touch of humor to the story. Although children may like pointing out the hidden creatures in the brightly colored illustrations, they may find more enjoyment in searching for the runaway rabbit in Rosemary Wells's McDuff's Hide-and-Seek (Hyperion, 2004). Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA