Dear Zoo: what to read next
If you and your children love Rod Campbell’s classic lift-the-flap story, which other books might you enjoy?
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell is an absolute classic that has been loved by generations of children – and is still just as popular today! But if you and your children love it, which other stories might you like?
First of all, for Rod Campbell fans, his new animal conservation-themed board book Look After Us features flaps and taps into little ones’ natural inclination to care for animals.
Alternatively, for another classic character, why not try Find Spot at the Zoo, which sees everyone’s favourite spotty dog having a day out? Elsewhere, Nicola Slater’s Hello Zoo features Ludo the cat having a day out at the zoo too, with flaps AND a squishy bouncy castle.
For those who really love flap books
Katie Hindley’s Treacle Street series is a must, featuring a cast of adorable animal characters involved in everyday life activities.
Alternatively, toddlers who love point-and-say books will find Edward Underwood’s 100 First Words has plenty to engage them, as well as some nice big flaps to turn. And Jonny Marx and Zoe Waring’s Peek-Through series of board books present a simple rhyming story based around everyday toddler life events like shopping and the jobs people do.
Toddlers looking for other brilliant reads
Check out Lauren Crisp and Thomas Elliott’s Noisy Tractor: I Can Learn My First Sounds, Noisy Tractor: I Can Learn My First Soundswhich features some very realistic tractor noises and a really satisfying (and durable) squishy plastic tractor on the front.
Diana Bedoya’s Busy Grow is part of a lovely board book series from Campbell Books, featuring topics such as growing vegetables, recycling and many more. And Nicola Slater’s Where’s My Jumper? is a cute and funny little tale in a board book, perfect for toddlers very attached to favourite clothes, toys or blankies.
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Noisy Tractor: I Can Learn My First Sounds
by Lauren Crisp, illustrated by Thomas Elliott
2021 0 to 4 years
For slightly older children looking for a zoo-themed book
Ross Collins’ brilliantly silly This Zoo is Not For You will suit 2–3 year olds due to its minimal text, while Maudie Powell-Tuck and Karl James Mountford’s stunning The Moonlight Zoo is a visual treat for 4–5s.
Finally, John Burningham’s The Way to the Zoo tells the story of a little girl who finds a door in her bedroom wall that leads to a zoo. Magical!
Join in!
Those are some of our ideas – but what about you? What magical stories do you love reading?
Let us know by messaging us on social media @BookTrust using the hashtag #WhatToReadAfter
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