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Book Reviews, Picture book · October 9, 2020

Picture Book Love: Zoo-Mate Wanted

zoo-mate wanted book review

Summary: Zoo-Mate Wanted

Zoo-Mate Wanted is an adorable picture book featuring two physically identically sisters with (of course) different personalities. Leah and Lilly love each other, but they just have different preferences. One day, after dealing with Leah’s messes, Lilly gets fed up and moves out of their room. Leah is unfazed, and just decides she’ll find a new “zoo-mate” who doesn’t mind messes and is willing to paint and get creative everywhere and whenever. After interviewing and testing out a few animal friends, she realizes finding a new zoo-mate isn’t as easy as it seems.

The Good

This book is super cute! I love books about sibling relationships, whether it’s two sisters or just a big family. Leah and Lilly are mostly nice to each other, and even during their squabble, there isn’t any real meanness, which is nice. I also liked that they resolved things without parental intervention. Leah’s process of interviewing prospective zoo-mates is cute. I found that idea to be a creative use of imagination, much like Help Wanted, Must Love Books (another picture book I loved).

The illustrations are cute and vivid, and the author distinguishes both girls for the reader. I like that the text is minimal and most of the story flows through the imagery and character’s facial expressions. It makes for a short and sweet picture book.

Overall: Zoo-Mate Wanted

Zoo-Mate Wanted is a delightful picture book that highlights a positive sibling relationship, and shows how to make compromises to accommodate differences at home. With minimal text and engaging illustrations, this picture book is perfect for kids ages 3 and up — especially if they have sisters, a twin, or if they’re animal lovers. I think even older kids would enjoy this one.

Pre-Order This Book

zoo-mate wanted picture book
Amazon

Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This book is out April 2021!

More Picture Book Reviews

  • Catch That Chicken by Atinuke
  • Sunday Funday in Koreatown by Aram Kim
  • The Way to Treasure Island by Lizzy Stewart

What are your favorite picture books about sisters? I’d love more recommendations!

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Posted In: Book Reviews, Picture book · Tagged: siblings

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🥽 I loved the illustration style in this one and while I found the VR setting a bit disorienting, I appreciated the unique lens of the story. The graphic novel format works brilliantly for helping readers appreciate the power of VR. I think with text, it would have just been too much “world-building.” This is more engaging and exciting for kids.

🐢 Lo and Behold is a clever middle grade graphic novel about virtual reality, grief, and parental addiction. Readers who enjoy VR will love this one, but as the Author's Note mentions, it will also be a fantastic introduction for those who, like me, aren't familiar with it. A fun summer read with hints of serious themes.

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Which hyped books did you love? And which ones missed the mark for you?

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This one didn’t end up being as sad as I thought it would be but it was very moving, especially because Krosoczka shares newspaper clippings and pictures of one the families with whom he forged a particularly close relationship even until his college years.

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Hi, new followers! It’s such a pleasure to have a few new faces around. I love finding new readers to follow on the gram. 

My name is Afoma and I run a book blog called Reading Middle Grade. I also run a Facebook Group and newsletter related to my blog. In my day job, I’m a freelance writer and editor, with a degree in medicine.

I’ve lived in three continents (born in Nigeria, med school in Ukraine and the Caribbean). I live in Nigeria now with my husband and many, many books 🤭 I love to cook and travel and run. This year, one of my goals is to become a better runner. I’m currently able to run 2K without stopping. 

Even though we don’t have traditional four seasons in Nigeria, the summer months are my favorite. From childhood, they were the one time when my overachieving, perfectionistic self could RELAX. And do nothing! And even now, I try to take time off in the summer to do nothing.

Some of favorite books this year have been LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU, THE LOST YEAR (I lived in Ukraine for 3 years, so this resonated with me!), and MAAME. 

Thank you so much for following my reading journey! Tell me something about yourself — hobbies, favorite books, anything! ❤️
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