Zoo News Sunday: Holiday Fare and baby names

Good morning zoo fans, Zebee here. It's December and I'm in the holiday spirit. Are you? Many zoos have their holiday lights and displays up, zo be sure to make a date the visit your local zoo soon.

So, on with the news from the week. See you at the end.

The National Zoo's popular panda cub heads home to China
Learn why this is happening. Will the rest of the Panda's in US zoos have to go to China too?

Zoo’s baby orangutan gets a name
What's her name and what does it mean?

Quebec zoo reports two polar bear births
Look at this cool picture of a mamma and her babies.

New babies join zoo kangaroo family
Great family picture.

Smithsonian's National Zoo's Animals Will be Lit Up This Holiday Season
See the schedule and all the info about the National Zoo's schedule this holiday season.

Minnesota Zoo joins holiday hunger fight
Go to the zoo and help fight hunger.

Two stories from the Bronx Zoo:
Green Global Headquarters Opens on the Bronx Zoo Campus
Learn about this latest addition.
Bronx Zoo Collects toys for the Needy
Take a toy with you and see what you get in return.

Hogle Zoo to switch on lights Saturday
If this is your zoo, check it out.

Santa is coming to the zoo
Tampa area, this is for you and the Lowry Park Zoo.

Okay, that's it for today. I'll see you back on Tuesday. In the meantime, stay warm. Zebee out.

posted by Zebee aka Joy Delgado
We go Beyond Reading
Laughing Zebra – Books for Children
Fun ways to help children learn
Books Go Beyond Reading

Book Review: What do you do with a kangaroo? By Mercer Mayer

Hello everyone, Zebee here. Okay, here is the book review I promised two weeks ago. This was my boss Joy’s favorite book to read to Rebekha and her brother Daniel when they were young.

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What do you do with a kangaroo? by Mercer Mayer
Published by: Scholastic
ISBN 10: 0-590-44850-1

Review by: Joy Delgado
One of my favorite children books, What do you do with a kangaroo? takes you on a journey into the imagination of a little girl. She goes through her whole day imagining what she would do if first a kangaroo jumps in her bedroom window, well let me quote:

What do you do with a Kangaroo
who jumps in your window, sits on your bed,
and says,
“I never sleep on wrinkled sheets,
so change them now and make them smooth,
and fluff up the pillow if you please.”

What do you do?

You throw him out, that’s what you do.
“Get out of my bed you Kangaroo!”
The story goes on with encounters of the oddest sorts. She meets an opossum, a llama, a raccoon, a moose, a tiger and a camel. What does she do? Throws them out, but they all come back at the end of the day. She what she does in the end when they all want to sleep in her bed.

The illustrations are by Mercer Mayer and they are spectacular. These pictures are rich and full of detail and really bring the story to life.

I highly recommend searching for and acquiring a copy of this book and letting your imagination sore. First copyrighted in 1973, it is still around today.

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My boss Joy brought it by the ‘V Zoo’ a while back and read it to all of us. And here’s what some of us had to say about it:

Jewel the giraffe: “What a fun story. I like the llama the best.”

Lito the gerenuk: “That little girl has guts. I don’t know what I’d do if I encountered a tiger, no offense Simon.”

Simon the tiger: “No offense taken Lito. I wonder what it’s like riding a tricycle.”

Billy the chimp: “I know what I’d do if I were in the story. I’d hang from the ceiling fan and spin around until I got dizzy then I’d jump down and run all over the house. Can I mom, huh?”

Brindi, Billy’s mom: “No Billy, but you can swing from the ropes here today and pretend, okay?”

Billy: “Okay, if that’s all I can do.”


Personally I liked the story, but one thing was missing. A zebra!
Until Sunday, stay safe and dry, my boss Joy is STILL getting lots of rain.

‘V Zoo’ Slide Show Part 2

Okay, I know you have been waiting for the second part of our ‘V Zoo’ slide show, so, I have it for you today. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Please drop me a comment and let me know which is your favorite animal in our zoo. Oh, and if you want to see Part 1 just click here.

See you Thursday with another great book review.

Bye,
Zebee

Zoo news: Several elephant stories this week as well as lions, polar bears and more.

Happy Sunday all you people in Bloggerville. Zebee here. Well, since it’s Sunday, I get to bring you all the zoo news I’ve collected for you this week. Let’s get right to it.

Seneca Park Zoo in New York unveils elephant splash pool

Watch Lilly and Genny C in their new pool. Looks like fun. Think I could join them?

Video & Gallery: Abandoned lion cub set for future in Africa

Check out this video of the Zara, most adorable baby lion cub you’ve ever seen.

Maryland Zoo Welcomes New Polar Bear

Visit Anoki in her new home. Why did she move from her home in New Mexico? How does a Polar Bear get transported from one zoo to another? Read this and find out.

29 new guests at Dhaka Zoo

Look who’s come to the zoo! Elans, kangaroos, Oryx, Giraffe and Wildebeest.

Denver Zoo to build $50 million exhibit for elephants

I’d sure like to be an elephant in Denver. New exhibit looks really cool. Also learn why some zoos are shutting down their elephant exhibits.

See you Tuesday!

Book Review: Kangaroo Clues by Margot Finke

Zebee here. I’m back with another wonderful book by Margot Finke. All of us here at the ‘V Zoo’ enjoyed her new book Rattlesnake Jam so much last week that we asked for more. She was very happy to give us one more story.
This one is called Kangaroo Clues and is, well . . . I’ll let Molly Martin and Jennifer LB Leese tell you all about it. Margot has a few things she wants to share too.

Thank you Zebee for sharing these reviews with all your readers. Kangaroo Clues is one complete story based on fact. Old Man Kangaroos DO act this way on occasion, to escape wild dogs. Join me at the bottom for some more goodies.
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From - Molly Martin's Review Page - 5 stars

It must have Dreamtime spirit-man who sewed the pouch in kangaroo. Near a shady billabong Old Man Kanga and his friends, Marsupial mouse, Emu, Goanna, Platypus, Kookaburra, frill neck lizard, Cockatoo and Echidna all heard the dogs coming. With leaps and bound Old Man Kanga made it to the water just in time. The dingoes were right behind. Into the water went Platypus and Old Man Kanga while Kookaburra laughed and Goanna hid. Galas screamed while Koala's encouraged Kanga on.
"Kangaroo Clues" is a marvelous book told in rhyme, created by talented writer Margo Finke and filled with delightful illustrations from Mustafa Delioglu. For readers living outside of Australia the tale introduces children to animals and words not heard in every day conversation. For children living in Australia the words may not be new, but the story will offer as much appeal. Delioglu's drawings are vivid, well executed and large enough for children to understand.
Full page art work sets off the narrative to perfection. "Kangaroo Clues" covers 31 pages of cheery rhyme and exciting illustrations sure to please the target audience of beginning readers. Vocabulary is a bit advanced for the youngest readers, however even very young children will be held captivated by the tale as they navigate the buttons turning the pages while Mom or Dad, or older sibling read the words to them.
A read-to book for the 3-5 set, read-with some help for the 6 and 7s, and read mostly alone for the 8 and 9s. Wonderful book for the home or classroom library. Teachers will find the work a good addition to the 'multi culture' unit. "Kangaroo Clues" is a book sure to be reached for often for both pleasure time reading and for class work.
Enjoyed the read. "Kangaroo Clues" is a book I would use in my own Kindergarten-First grade classroom. Happy to recommend.

"Kangaroo Clues" by Margot Finke

Published by Writer's Exchange E-Publishing,

Release: 2004

ISBN: 1876962011

Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese

In KANGAROO CLUES, an illustrated picture book, children learn about Dreamtime and Old Man Kanga and how he beat dogs that were out to eat him. Readers will enjoy hearing about and seeing colorfully drawn pictures of kangaroos, kookaburras, platypus', frill-neck lizards, galas, koalas, and more. Mustafa Delioglu, the illustrator, put a lot of thought and particulars into each creature drawn. Each design adds charm and enchantment to the story.
Told in rhyme, this storybook is a new favorite in this reviewer's household. With Australian parentage, my children and I, thoroughly enjoyed Margot Finke's wondrous tale about Australia's outback and the animals that live there.
This book would work wonderfully in the classroom. Teachers could add this detailed and fun book to their lesson plans when teaching children about the world's countries. This reviewer highly recommends KANGAROO CLUES by Margot Finke.

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A few words from Margot:

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR FORM TURKEY:
Wait until you see Kangaroo Clues - the artist lives in Turkey, speaks no English, and has no computer!!! But I had a wonderful English speaking Turkish friend who recommended him. He has work in many European galleries, and has illustrated many children's books.
My friend acted as interpreter for us, all via e-mail between the two of us, and visits to the artist's nearby studio. It all went seamlessly between the three of us. His illustrations are glorious - especially considering he had never seen most of the Aussie critters in this book. I sent reams of internet photo links to them, so he would get a really good look at each animal. It is my favorite among all 6 books.

Margot

More about Kangaroo Clues

Kangaroo Clues is available as an autographed CD from my Books page. Downloads are also available from the sites listed on my BOOKS page here.

Kids can also visit "Down-under Fun" to learn more about the Aussie animals in my books.

Well, I’m going to ‘hop’ right over to Margot’s site and grab a copy of this delightful and beautifully illustrated book, and check out all the fun facts. See you there!