‘Twas the Day Before Zoo Day

Catherine Ipcizade
Sylvan Dell Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781934359082
Reviewed by Cayden (age 4) and Max (age 2) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (5/08)


“’Twas the Day Before Zoo Day” is a play on the popular classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  In this book we explore how the zookeepers ready the animals in the zoo for Zoo Day.  Many of the animals aren’t exactly cooperative though as we see the llamas spitting and the elephants rolling in mud and spraying water. 

Cayden:  “Look at all of the animals on the cover!  Can we name them?”
Max:  “Animals!”

Cayden:  “My favorite animals are the monkeys!”

Max:  “Mouse!”
Cayden:  “There is a mouse on his shoulder!  Why is that mouse up there?”

Cayden:  “I thought monkeys hang by their tails and not their feet!”

Cayden:  “Rhinos eat grass.  See?”
Max:  “Grass!”

Cayden:  “Why do those things eat bugs?  Look that bug is running away so they can’t eat it!”

Cayden:  “What is a doo-doo?”

Max:  “Spray!  Spray!”
Cayden:  “The elephant sucks the water in his trunk and sprays everyone!”

Cayden:  “Why aren’t the zebras happy?”

Max:  “Bus!”
Cayden:  “The bus is bringing the kids to the zoo!”

Cayden:  “My favorite part was the game at the end where we matched the animals!”

Parent’s comments:

“’Twas the Day Before Zoo Day” is an excellent book that teaches children a lot about the different quirks of the animals in a zoo as well as the job functions of a zookeeper.  My children loved looking at the pictures of the animals and even learned some new ones, like the meerkat.  Just like “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” this book is written in the format of rhyme. 

At the end of the book there is an educational section entitled “For Creative Minds” that contains learning activities based on the material presented throughout the book.  My children had a lot of fun with the “Adaptation Matching Activity” and learning about the tasks that the zookeeper performs.  “’Twas the Day Before Zoo Day” is a super learning adventure for children and we highly recommend it!

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