The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

de Moraes, Ana

The Zoomers' Handbook

32 pp. | Andersen | April, 2016 | Trade ISBN 978-1-5124-0424-1 $17.99

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Thiago de Moraes. Behold! A handbook not for "zookeepers" or "farmers" but for "Zoomers," who "look after very special beasts," including the "goatrilla" (goat plus gorilla) and the "shiger" (sheep plus tiger), whose "stripey wool makes the nicest sweaters." The text is marvelously understated; likewise, the illustrations use subdued colors, ensuring readers will fix on the finer details of these hybrids' weirdly wondrous physical attributes.

Reviewer: Nell Beram