Midnight at the Zoo

by Faye Hanson, Faye Hanson (Illustrator)

Overview

What happens at the zoo when all the people have gone home?

Max and Mia are very excited about their school trip to the zoo. But when they arrive, not much is happening: the zebra is asleep, the lions are hiding, and they can't even see a monkey. Max and Mia make the best of it — after all, if you look very carefully, there is something to see everywhere. But when they are accidently locked in the zoo at night, they realize that midnight is when the zoo comes alive! Flamingos are doing the flamenco, the lions dance till dawn, and the pandas have a party. Morning comes all too soon and it’s time to go home, but Max and Mia will never forget their night in the zoo!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763689087
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	06/06/2017
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Faye Hanson graduated from the Cambridge School of Art in 2008. She is the author-illustrator of The Wonder. She lives in England.

Editorial Reviews

04/10/2017
Hanson’s (The Wonder) eclectic, romantic style—it’s like she’s the Vivienne Westwood of children’s literature—gets a workout in this story of a magical overnight escapade. When Max, Mia, and their classmates arrive at the zoo for a much-anticipated field trip, the animals are hidden away (“not the flick of a tail or swish of a whisker can be seen”) though sharp-eyed readers will spot signs of life, such as a lemur tail hanging from a tree. Disappointed, the group departs, accidentally leaving Max and Mia behind to discover that the zoo turns into a fabulous, if not downright campy masquerade party at midnight. As Hanson’s narrative switches to alliterative rhyme, flamingos and hippos dress up in feathery and glittering outfits straight from a Busby Berkeley musical, bears in elaborate headdresses parade through Japanese pagodas, and Max and Mia are in the thick of it all. Hanson isn’t a quick visual read—her decorative style and expansive, detail-laden scenes demand focus from readers. But for those willing to expend the effort, the rewards are both satisfying and stylish. Ages 3–7. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Colorful, precise, and whimsical digitally colored pencil illustrations abound with delightful comic details...Festooned with feathers, jewels, and flowers, the previously hidden animals treat Max and Mia (and readers) to a visually extravagant, spectacular celebration. An exuberant, surprising, and unforgettable trip to the zoo.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Hanson isn’t a quick visual read—her decorative style and expansive, detail-laden scenes demand focus from readers. But for those willing to expend the effort, the rewards are both satisfying and stylish.
—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

★ 2017-03-29
When they are accidentally locked in, two children discover what a magical place the zoo becomes at midnight. White siblings Max and Mia join excited classmates on a school trip to the zoo. By day's end, however, the animals have failed to appear, and disappointed kids pack onto the bus and depart, leaving Max and Mia behind. At midnight, Max and Mia eagerly witness zoo animals perform a dazzling floor show. Next morning, they awaken in the zoo as their frantic mother retrieves them, refusing to believe their amazing tale. Initially, the spare text focuses on Max and Mia, who "trundle like elephants," "cling like monkeys," "nibble like lemurs," and hide "like scaredy meerkats." As the midnight revels commence, the text segues into alliterative rhyme with "flouncing flamingos," "mischievous monkeys," "laughing lemurs," "pandas who prance," and "kingly cats." Colorful, precise, and whimsical digitally colored pencil illustrations abound with delightful comic details. Hilarious in their animal headgear, Max and Mia stand out in close-up cameos as well as busy double-page spreads. Festooned with feathers, jewels, and flowers, the previously hidden animals treat Max and Mia (and readers) to a visually extravagant, spectacular celebration. An exuberant, surprising, and unforgettable trip to the zoo. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews