My School’s a Zoo  
By Stu Smith
Illustrated by David Catrow

    In this rollicking picture book, a little boy finds his world has turned zoo-ish. His parents, his teachers, his classmates, even his little sister are animals, and he’s not enjoying it one bit. If bees and porcupine quills in his desk aren’t bad enough, the school nurse is a vampire bat, and the principal really might eat little kids. What’s a boy to do? This story follows the boy through his wild day and safely home again. Stu Smith’s text can be a bit challenging to read aloud in places since the meter lends itself to a fast, furious reading, but the surprises on every page make it worth the effort. Though clearly targeting school-aged children, my 4-year-old asked for this book again and again. The text is short enough to make a good story time book.

   David Catrow’s illustrations are pure fun. The animals, both at home and school, have wonderfully expressive faces, and the young protagonist manages to look startled in a new way on every page. With Catrow’s style, the family looks a bit…unusual … even when back to normal but he makes every page lively and exciting. And the ending can lead to delightful discussions about what might happen next.