The Lighting of the Tree at the V Zoo Party 2009

Good morning, Zebee here. Boy! Did we have a great tree lighting party! So many of my boss Joy’s author friends came it was amazing. Many of them brought along their characters too. Let’s see how many we can remember.

Elysabeth Eldering came. She brought along Matt, Guy and Mary Beth, her Junior Geography detectives. They were searching for clues for one of her books.

Lea Schizas was there. Bubba and Giganto were with her. They sure are nice boys and good soccer players. We had a game between the story characters and all of us here at the V Zoo. We lost, but we vowed to have a rematch next year and win. We need a coach. Any volunteers?

Oh, and Bill Kirk came and brought along Ari. We all watched were we stepped so we wouldn’t crush him. He’s really a cool spider.

When Vivian Zabel arrived with Buddy, some of the characters wanted him to teach them how to rope Prairie dogs. Since the closest thing we have to that here at the V Zoo are the meerkats, that just wouldn’t work. Instead he showed them how to rope a fence poll.

Che Dee was there with Odo, the time children, Mashu, Cassie and the Tulies.

Mary Jean Kelso brought along Andy and Spirit. Spirit is a beautiful horse and Andy is amazing the way he can ride.

Dayna Hilton and Sparkles came. Sparkles had us all on our knees again. This time even I could do it. I’ve been practicing.

Rachelle Burk was there with Kenny and Allison. We all wanted to hear about living in a tree house. I’d like to climb up in a tree house someday.

Rena Jones and Dilly came. So did Shari Lyle-Soffe along with Aaron and Horace. Mayra Calvani and Humberto read us some of Humberto’s favorite books. Hugo also showed up with Elizabeth Dulemba with soap for everyone.

I’m sure I forgot some of the authors and their characters. The place was packed and we had a fun time.

Who got to put the star on top of the tree this year? Billy. He climbed up Star’s neck and placed it, very carefully, on the top branch.
Got to go, I need to finish making my gifts. We are all making things for each other this year.

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: The Christmas Angel by Mary Jean Kelso

Good morning book fans, Zebee and the gang here today. When our boss Joy read this story to us, we all wanted to go on our own adventure across the country. But more on that later. First let’s read what Joy has to say about the story.

* * * * * Melissa and her family were setting off on a great adventure to move from Philadelphia to Oregon. The trip would be long and hard. Each family member can bring one special possession along. Melissa’s most precious possession was a Christmas angel her father brought her from England. She packed it very carefully and hoped that it would make the trip unbroken.

Mary Jean has opened the trails of the Oregon Trail to the young reader this time. K.C. Snider’s art gives the reader a feel for what pioneers of the day went through.

At the end of the book there are several pages of information, websites and activities you can engage in to learn more about this part of American history.

* * * * * So, back to what I was saying, we all want to go on our own adventure across America. Here are a few of the places some of us want to visit:

Mori: I want to see the Sequoia National Forest in California. Those trees are amazing.

Lito: I’d like to visit the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest out in Arizona. I just think they’re cool.

Elvis: I want to take my family to see the Grand Tetons. There we could fly free, until we wanted to come home, of course.

Star: I want to visit the Empire State Building. Is it really taller than me?

Belinda: I want to visit my cousins over in Yosemite National Park. They say they get the best picnic foods. You know, my grandparents walked through our boss Joy’s campsite back when she was a little girl. But that’s a story for another time.

So, where can you get your copy?

Guardian Angel Publishing

Okay, we could be here all day talking about all the places we want to visit. How about you. Where would you like to visit if you had the chance? Share it with us and I promise I’ll post it here and share it with everyone, unless you don’t want me to.

Okay, I’ve got to go. See you back here Sunday with more zoo news.

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: Andy and Spirit in the Big Rescue by Mary Jean Kelso

It's Thursday her at the v Zoo, and that means it's book review time. Hello everyone, Zebee here. Let's see what my boss Joy is going to read to us today.

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"Andy and Spirit in the Big Rescue" by Mary Jean Kelso

Book Review: Andy and Spirit Go To The Fair by M.J. Kelso

Good morning all you book lovers. Zebee here with another in the Andy ans Spirit series. The gang here at the V Zoo really like these books. Maybe someday Andy and Spirit can come for a visit. But for now, let's see what my boss Joy has to say about this one.

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In this week’s story, Andy has joined a 4-H club called the Dusty Riders. Andy and several other members of the club are competing at the State Fair for ribbons. He’s very excited about being at the fair, even though he doesn’t think he’s the best rider in the group.

When the time comes for the competition to start, Andy’s a bit nervous. He’s used to working Spirit with his friends around, but this is different. When it’s his turn, Billy, the school bully, yells out from the crowd and lets out a shrill pitched whistle. Will Spirit react and run off with Andy on her back? How does the competition end? I don’t want to spoil the story for you, so I’ll just say that Andy and Spirit prove what a great pair they are.

Mary Jean has once again done an excellent job sharing the experiences of horse and rider and the bond they form. She shows how having a handicap doesn’t have to keep you from doing the things you want to do. The illustrations by K. C. Snider let you see and experience being at the fair with Andy.

In this book you can also learn how wild horses are managed in the U. S. and horse adoption. You can also get some insight to 4-H clubs which have been around for over 100 years.

You can learn more about horse and burro adoption and learn about being a volunteer with the wild horse program.

If you’re interested in reading about 4-H go to their website or their blog.

You can pick up your copy over at Guardian Angel Publishing.

See you back here Sunday with more zoo news. Remember to let me know what oo is near you so I can go there and visit. If I need to sleep over, can I stay at your house? I promise not to snore too loud.

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: Andy and the Albino Horse by Mary Jean Kelso

Hi book fans! Zebee here with the first in a series of books about Andy and a horse named Spirit. I like horses, don't you? Did you know they are like a distant relative of mine? Heck, add stripes and they could sorta pass for a zebra. Anyway, Mary Jean and my boss Joy got together and decided to read these books to us here at the V Zoo. Here's the review from the first in the series, "Andy and the Albino Horse."

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This story is one of struggle and triumph. Andy is a young boy who spends his days in a wheelchair. He feels different that all the other children in school and is the school bullies favorite target. Andy wishes he could stand up and walk, then maybe Billy the bully would leave him alone.

In another part of town there is a lady named Tracy. She’s a horse trainer. During a severe winter she encounters an albino filly who’s been shunned by the rest of her herd because she’s different. Eventually the Bureau of Land Management puts the filly up for adoption and Tracy adopts her. She trains the filly, named Sprit, and Andy’s mom brings him out one day to ride her.

I won’t give away the ending, but this story teaches us that even though someone is different they still have feelings and dreams like everyone else.

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Let's watch the trailer. I love movies!

Cool! You can follow Mary Jane at her blog Andy and the Albino Horse
You can purchase the book at Guardian Angel Publishing

And right here

See you Sunday with more cool zoo news.

posted by Joy Delgado
We go Beyond Reading
Laughing Zebra – Books for Children
Check out what’s going on at the zoo!
Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa blog