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273 pp.
| Candlewick
| January, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-7854-8$15.99
(3)
4-6
Julius Zebra series.
Zebra Julius and his animal friends (Rumble with the Romans!) continue their gladiatorial adventures, this time being sent to Londinium to fight Celtic gladiators while trying to escape from their Roman captors. The protagonists are still awkward, gangly, and mostly clueless, but the silly story's irreverent humor and goofy, black-and-white cartoon illustrations on every page should entertain readers.
32 pp.
| Little Bee
| June, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4998-0556-7$17.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Diego Funck.
The panda, penguin, and zebra from The Black and White Factory return to guide readers through the Color Factory, where only "factory-approved" colors are allowed. Things quickly go awry, but the animals--and readers--learn to have fun with all sorts of "non-approved" colors. While lacking its predecessor's freshness, the endearing heroes and eye-catching illustrations will satisfy fans eager for more interactive color-mixing high jinks.
(3)
K-3
African Animals series.
These books aimed at new readers introduce iconic African mammals in straightforward texts with a level-appropriate amount of information. Large, impressive color photos of the wild animals, which span across the gutter of the wide-horizontal-trim books, command attention. Each book's three appended facts expand on a part of the main text. Glos., ind. Review covers these African Animals titles: Hippopotamus, Hyena, Meerkat, Rhinoceros, Warthog, and Zebra.
32 pp.
| Peachtree
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-56145-911-7$16.95
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Lorraine Rocha.
"Trumpets tooting, cannon shooting. / Music playing, horses neighing." Rhyming text introduces a circus act that descends into humorous chaos after Zebra mistakenly steps on Lion's toe. Double-page spreads filled with riotous action, rendered in watercolor and gouache, show the wide-eyed animals racing through a busy seaside town and the humans trying to get out of their way.
(4)
K-3
Little Pebble: Black and White Animals series.
Each choppy but accessible text contains a smattering of facts about the titular animal--where it lives, what it eats, key physical adaptations, etc. Relevant vocabulary (e.g., herd and grazing in Zebras) is effectively defined in the brief texts, and full-page photographs on each spread provide resting points for new readers. Common Core critical-thinking questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Little Pebble: Black and White Animals titles: Giant Pandas and Zebras.
32 pp.
| Simon
| August, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-85707-585-7$16.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4711-4659-6
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Judi Abbot.
"I'm off to Gran and Grandpa's, / with a big smile on my face." A zebra child describes the delights of visiting with Gran and Grandpa: reading books, building a rocket, riding the splish-splash ride at the fair. Though it's aimed more at doting grandparents than their grandchildren, bouncy rhymes and bright illustrations featuring boldly striped zebras make this a pleasant-enough book for sharing.
32 pp.
| Abbeville
| January, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7892-1246-7$7.95
(4)
K-3
Wally, a friendly looking wolf, is hungry and gets increasingly grumpy as the book's illustrator draws and offers inappropriate foods. Zoe the Zebra loses her stripes and becomes frustrated with the book's illustrator, who keeps painting triangles on her hide instead of stripes. The stories are slight, but the meta interactions may entertain young listeners new to the convention. Review covers these titles: Wally the Wolf and Zoe the Zebra.
273 pp.
| Candlewick
| April, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-7853-1$15.99
(3)
4-6
Julius Zebra series.
Julius the zebra and other African animals are kidnapped and brought to Rome. Rather than be slaughtered in the Colosseum, they choose to fight as gladiators themselves. Suspension of disbelief is a must, but it won't be difficult to achieve: this irreverent, high-energy story is filled with action and humor, with each page punctuated by goofy, frenetic illustrations.
(4)
K-3
Zoom In on Savanna Animals series.
These books are serviceable introductions to some savanna-dwelling animals. Superficial facts about appearance, habitat, food, and life cycle are briefly explained in simple new-reader text and illustrated with clear stock photos. Some of the choices for the back-matter comparisons of height, weight, speed, or length are odd (e.g., at four feet, "a cheetah is longer than an acoustic guitar"). Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Savanna Animals titles: Cheetahs, Elephants, Giraffes, Lions, Tigers, and Zebras.
32 pp.
| Little Bee
| August, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4998-0277-1$17.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Diego Funck.
A panda, penguin, and zebra lead readers on a charming tour of the Black and White Factory, where things such as dice, dominoes, and tuxedos are made, and where everyone follows the rules: "No messes. No colors. No surprises allowed. Ever." Then a tiny bit of color sneaks into the monochrome factory...and the crisp illustrations. This funny, interactive romp is a winning celebration of creativity.
32 pp.
| Little Bee
| June, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4998-0100-2$16.99
(4)
PS
Young Gus, a zebra on the African savanna, does not want to go on "the long walk" necessary to reach lush grazing land. In spite of his family's attempts to make the trip fun, he acts out, each time earning the admonition, "Don't kick up a fuss, Gus." The slight story is given a boost by friendly illustrations that feature funny antics and good use of color to distinguish changing landscape.
(4)
K-3
A+ Books: Awesome African Animals series.
These large books use simple texts, impressive photos, and colorful graphics to introduce African mammals. The language is engaging ("Slurp!...Squirt!...Spray!"), though some information is pretty superficial ("Your neck has seven bones too. They are much smaller than a giraffe's though!"; "[Elephant] calves look like small adults"). Each book includes Common Core critical-thinking questions. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Awesome African Animals titles: Giraffes Are Awesome, Lions Are Awesome, Meerkats Are Awesome, Chimpanzees Are Awesome, Zebras Are Awesome, and Elephants Are Awesome.
(3)
K-3
Seedlings series.
These attractive books provide bite-size facts about their subjects, including their habitats, physical appearances, family relationships, diets, and behaviors. Engaging, bright close-up photographs are prominently featured, and each book concludes with anatomically labeled photos of its respective animal. Spare, kid-friendly texts with highlighted vocabulary words make the information accessible to new nonfiction readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings titles: Camels, Pandas, Polar Bears, Sea Lions, Whales, and Zebras.
252 pp.
| Whitman
| September, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8075-1378-1$14.99
(3)
4-6
This second book in the affectionate animal-centric mystery series focuses on Zed, a rescued zorse (a horse-zebra hybrid) living at the Wild Oaks Sanctuary. When a mysterious trainer claims ownership of Zed, Kelsey, Becca, and Leo suspect him of abusing the zorse in the past and determine to uncover the truth. Plot twists and suspenseful action will keep readers, especially animal lovers, entertained.
32 pp.
| Random
| May, 2015
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-97203-4$12.99
|
PaperISBN 978-0-385-37406-4$3.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-375-98196-8
(4)
K-3
Step into Reading series.
Elephant Joe and Zebra Pete, firefighters extraordinaire, rescue a dragon stuck in a tree and put out the fire said dragon creates when blowing out birthday candles. The vocabulary is easy to read, the language natural, and bright comic-book panels mirror the action. However, lack of transition between the two episodes creates a potential point of confusion for beginning readers.
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Paul O. Zelinsky.
Irrepressible Moose (Z Is for Moose) forces his way into another concept book, this time on shapes. An offstage narrator addresses Moose directly--"Hey! Don't eat that!"--in bold-type text. When Moose proves ever more disruptive, his old friend Zebra comes to try to save the day. Zelinsky expertly juxtaposes the expected orderliness of a book with the chaos caused by Moose's interruption.
Reviewer: Lolly Robinson
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2014
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Matthew Myers.
Zebra takes Musk Ox on a journey to each continent, where they learn a fact or two and Musk Ox has a chance to complain. Musk Ox's self-centered worldview is more silly than informative. There are plenty of one-liners and visual gags, but this third book featuring the odd couple (A Is for Musk Ox; Musk Ox Counts) doesn't fully hang together.
(4)
K-3
Amazing Animals series.
Vivid photographs providing up-close views of the daily lives and behavior of the title mammals are the highlights of these slim volumes. Minimal texts touch on habitat, appearance, diet, and offspring, and supply a folk-story answer to a question about each creature (e.g., "How did camels get their humps?" "Why do zebras not have horns?"). Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Amazing Animals titles: Camels, Cougars, Sea Lions, Whales, and Zebras.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Matthew Myers.
After his humorous efforts to learn the alphabet (A Is for Musk Ox), Musk Ox takes on counting. Unhappy that he's alone on the "one musk ox" page (even though he wanted to go first), Musk Ox barges onto other pages, messing up the counting lesson. This anti-counting book will elicit plenty of guffaws, and Myers's heavy shapes suit the musk ox's forceful personality.
(3)
PS
When Abigail, a giraffe whose favorite thing is counting, invites Zebra and Cheetah to count a field of flowers with her, she discovers they don't know how ("One...two...six...lots!"). It takes all day to teach them, and by then it's dark. What will the three friends count now? Charming and energetic watercolor illustrations give Abigail and her pals lots of personality.