Illustrator: Marc Brown
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011
Genre: fiction
Themes: rhyme, talent show, zoo animals
Age Level: 3-8
Opening: One blustery morning, when frosty winds blew, When families stayed home, and when field trips were few, The midwinter doldrums arrived at the zoo.
Synopsis: When the winter doldrums arrive at the zoo, a very small hippo and a young kangaroo decide to stage a ZooZical, to display their singing, dancing, acrobatic, and other talents to the people of Springfield.
Why I like this book: This book had me with the end papers! Simple line drawings and coarse (yet not itchy!) textures compliment such funny rhymes : Then the snakes (by mistake) tied themselves up in knots. Ocelots lost their spots.
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julie rowan-zoch 
Oh, this looks like such fun! I’ve never heard of it, but I will have to go find it 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Julie!
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Good – I was so sure someone had reviewed this already!
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I thought that hippo looked familiar! Marc Brown has a pretty distinctive style. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Looks like an illustrator can ‘run but can’t hide’ too!
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Great review. This book looks really fun. Is that Marc Brown of Arthur?
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Yeah, baby!
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Pinned to my list the minute I saw the cover! I love the art and the sound of the book in general! The title is such a great play on words that invites you right in.
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KnowwhatI’msayin? Mmm,hmm!
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I love writing about zoo animals, this sounds brilliant. Such interesting language and super rhythm.
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Hope you, I mean the kids like it!
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“Simple line drawings and coarse (yet not itchy!) textures..” love this description, Julie. i always enjoy illustrators describing picture books! Great review and I like your eco-link.
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Comes from being a wool-lover, never minding the itch got me a lot of hand-me-overs!
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Oh no! A spotless ocelot?
I will not have it. I will not!
Obviously I am feeling Seussical about Zoozical! Thanks for a fun review!
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Does that mean you’ve see Seussical the Musical too? The HS put that on 4 yrs ago and my daughter was lucky to be on the costuming crew!
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The cover grabbed y attention immediately and I knew it was about a musical performance. Love stories like this. Great activities. Will have to look for this read.
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Beth got me going as she had a ‘Fiddler’ tune stuck in her head! I imagine this book will inspire a few budding thespians!
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HA! This looks cute and a MUST read! 🙂
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😀
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We recently checked this one out from the library and LOVED it!
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Groovy
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I don’t associate this publisher with many children’s books or fiction for that matter so was surprised by that they published this book.
I loved your review. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
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You may be right as to the low number of PBs they publish, but I have seen a few. I suppose it would be good to look into those numbers in general; I tend to note the quality I admire from different houses.
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Ha! I’m having a hoot of a time reading your replies to everyone, never mind the book…lol. And I daren’t guess what you would say with my comment…lol. But I do love the cover of this book and I’m itchin just readin your fab review ….lol.
Great one Julie!
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I always wonder not only who reads a post, but if I am the only one reading comments and replies! Makes me stand a bit taller when I recognize a kindred spirit!
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lol…stand tall sister, stand tall!
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Smiling!
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A small hippo. I love it. I’ve added it to my library list.
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Pocket-sized. Only joking!
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