Deborah Lee Rose. Birthday Zoo. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Albert Whitman and Company, 2002. ISBN 0807507768. $15.95. Reviewer: AnnMarie Hamar Reading Level: Preschool Rating: Excellent Genre: humorous poetry; Subject: Zoo animals-Juvenile fiction; Birthdays-Juvenile fiction; Parties-Juvenile fiction; Books-Reviews; A group of zoo animals prepare a birthday party for one lucky little boy ("Who is it for?" inquired the boar/"The kid with the presents," answered the pheasants"). Bears, bats, monkeys, and more unusual animals like the okapi and the tapir all have ideas on how to make the party festive and fun. The end illustration reveals the guest of honor feeding birthday cake to his menagerie of stuffed animals. The simple, rhyming text is kept to a minimum while Lynn Munsinger's energetic, delightful illustrations create scenes of chaos and fun. This is a great book to read aloud.
