Wild About Books

( 12 )

Overview

A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake.

A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake.

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More About This Book

Overview

A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake.

A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake.

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Editorial Reviews

From The Critics
Only the humor is a clue that these lush, folk-art-style paintings are the work of Brown, creator of the book and TV character Arthur. Sierra's text amplifies the visual shenanigans with the frisky tale of a literacy craze that ensues when a bookmobile rolls into a zoo: "Raccoons read alone and baboons read in bunches./And llamas read dramas while eating their llunches." (Ages 4 to 6)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2004
Publishers Weekly
Sierra (Silly and Sillier) and Brown dedicate this spirited volume to Theodor Seuss Geisel, to whom they give several affectionate nods (including a meter akin to And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street). After the Springfield (Dr. Seuss's hometown) librarian one day drives her bookmobile into the zoo, she settles into a chair with a book: "By reading aloud from the good Dr. Seuss,/ She quickly attracted a mink and a moose,/ A wombat, an oryx, a lemur, a lynx,/ Eight elephant calves, and a family of skinks." As the zoo's residents eagerly descend on the bookmobile, their species-appropriate selections will elicit chuckles from kids: a monkey grabs for a banana cookbook, two crocodiles open Peter Pan to the page featuring the croc that swallows a clock, giraffes pore over "tall books" (devoted to basketball, redwood trees, skyscrapers) and hyenas read joke books. Sierra's cleverly rhymed verse includes many playful embellishments, such as "Raccoons read alone and baboons read in bunches./ And llamas read dramas while eating their llunches." The critters then become wild about writing as well and pen so many new books that the librarian enlists their help to build a library branch at the zoo. Packed with funny flourishes, Brown's atwork reflects a loose, free style; his bustling paintings capture this endearing menagerie's antics. A winning paean to reading and writing. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature
Judy Sierra, a master of rhyming story books for young children, teams up with beloved, colorful illustrator Marc Brown and dedicates Wild About to Dr. Seuss. The story starts when Bookmobile Librarian Molly McGrew drives her bus into the zoo, and "By reading aloud from the good Dr. Seuss,/ She quickly attracted a mink and a moose." A zany set-up? It's just so wacky it works! For animals of all species begin stampeding "to learn all about this new something called reading." This book is a clear reflection of Sierra's passion and knowledge about rhyming, books, reading, young children and humor! The perfectly scanned lines and bright illustrations are filled with book references that will delight young readers as well as a rollicking playfulness loaded with subtleties for all age levels. A younger child will appreciate references to The Cat in the Hat, while older readers will note the hidden humor in the misspelled line: "llamas read dramas while eating their llunches." In addition to the perfection of read aloud quality, the author honors and unites animal behaviors and characteristics with the kind treatment of books. Sierra takes an implausible situation and turns it into a possible reality, a story with sense about what books might inspire if they were put in animals' hands, er, paws and trunks. It's no surprise that this won the 2005 E.B. White Read Aloud award. 2004, Knopf, Ages 3 to 8.
—Susie Wilde
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2-In a rhyming text that is both homage to and reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's epic rhyming sagas, Sierra spins the tale of librarian Molly McGrew who mistakenly drives the bookmobile to the zoo. The various denizens are attracted to her read-alouds and soon are reading, writing, rhyming, and going wild about those wonderful books. With Molly's encouragement, the animals start their own Zoobrary so they can read to their hearts' content. Sierra's text has a wacky verve and enough clever asides and allusions to familiar characters to satisfy bibliophiles of all ages. The author's sense of playfulness in plot and language ("llamas read while eating their llunches"; a hippo wins the "Zoolitzer Prize") creates a lavish literary stew. Comic moments abound, including bugs writing haiku and unruly bears licking illustrations right off the page (until Molly gently teaches them how to treat books properly). Brown's cheerful, full-color illustrations stretch his trademark art with ever-so-slightly stylized spreads that are rich in pattern, texture, and nuance. On each spread, he plays with perspective and layout to create an electric sense of excitement as the animals discover what kids have known for a long time-reading is fun!-Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780375825385
  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publication date: 8/10/2004
  • Pages: 40
  • Sales rank: 99,349
  • Age range: 3 - 7 Years
  • Product dimensions: 12.54 (w) x 11.04 (h) x 0.42 (d)

Meet the Author

Judy Sierra is the author of many critically acclaimed children’s books, including the bestselling collection of funny poems, Antarctic Antics; Silly & Sillier; and Tasty Baby Belly Buttons. She lives in Castro Valley, CA.

Marc Brown is best known as the creator of Arthur the aardvark, but you will find no aardvarks or animals wearing glasses in this book. Drawing upon his classical training at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Marc Brown’s colorful paintings for Wild About Books reflect the naïve spirit of folk art at its best. “Judy Sierra’s story gave me the opportunity to indulge myself in painting,” said Mr. Brown, adding that this is the book of which he is most proud. He lives in Hingham and Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 12 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(9)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews

  • Posted June 29, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Born to Read
    Library Lion

    An enchanting celebration of animals and books!

    Author Judy Sierra's playful, rhythmical, rhyming story of animals and books, combined with Marc Brown's cheerful, fanciful, lushly colored pictures, makes for a delightful book so enjoyable that it's hard to find words to describe it. The text is worthy of Dr. Seuss, and it's appropriate that the book is dedicated to the good doctor. I was immediately drawn to the book by its cover art, then found that what's inside is even better!

    WILD ABOUT BOOKS is fun, and funny, a read-aloud treat and a feast for the eyes, a celebration of animals and books, reading and writing. And this is one picture book that parents are sure to enjoy at least as much as their children do. Everyone will be wild about this delightful, beautiful book!

    Sheila Beaumont

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  • Posted April 27, 2010

    My 4 year old twins LOVE this one - and it is fun for me to read too

    We LOVE this book in my house. Very sing-songy prose which makes it easy and fun to read. Sweet plot line and introduces lots of more obscure zoo animals (gnu for instance). If you like Dr. Seuss, you'll love this one. Great illustrations too.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 22, 2010

    Wild About Books

    This is a great kids book, good rhyming, fun story and lots of animals. Fun for adults too.

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  • Posted December 12, 2009

    really great book

    this is a really wonderful book. well-written and humorous, with beautiful illustrations. my 2 1/2 year old is obsessed with it, and even we love reading it over and over with him

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  • Posted March 23, 2009

    Wild About Books makes kids wild about reading!

    Judy Sierra's clever story about a librarian who accidentally drives her book mobile into the local zoo immediately captures the imagination of the young reader. Molly introduces the various animals to not only reading and caring for books but also to writing - linking the essential concept that good readers make good writers. Even the "reluctant" animal readers find something of interest. The book is wonderfully illustrated in rich, vibrant colors and it's rhythmic patterns are best read aloud. This is one of my children's favorite bed-time reads. It is a great choice for early elementary-aged children.

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  • Posted March 23, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Library Mouse
    Born to Read

    Wonderful Book!

    I read this book to my son's elementary school (K-3) during out Parents As Reading Partners Program. The children loved it and especially loved seeing the illustrations of and hearing about books mentioned that they're already familiar with. It's a terrific read-a-loud book!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 14, 2006

    Wild About THIS Book

    This is a wonderful book. My son is 11 months old and he loves to look at the pictures and even listens to the rhythmic words. This book is so clever and cute, it entertains our whole family over and over again.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 13, 2005

    A Hook For Reading!

    A motivating book for encouraging children to get into books and read. Plenty of adult humor and play on words to keep all ages interested at multiple levels of enjoyment. Be sure to have plenty of great books on hand for kids to go wild over after reading this one aloud.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 20, 2004

    Wild about the book!

    Kindergarten teachers are always on the lookout for great read-aloud books and this is surely one. When the librarian accidentally drives the bookmobile into the zoo the animals are introduced to books and reading for the first time. And they love it! The text rolls right along in a fun-to-read lilt and the illustrations tell a story of their own. Look for familiar children's books among the animals' choices. The boa reads 'Chrictor,' the crocodiles read 'Peter Pan.' It's been great fun reading to adults, can't wait to read it to my class.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 1, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 28, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 20, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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