Author: Margaret Rey and Alan J. Shalleck
Title: Curious George Visits the Zoo
Illustrator: Margaret Rey and Alan J. Shalleck
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Year: 1985
Genre: Picture storybook
Format: Paperback
Reading level: Transitional
Interest level: Elementary
Topics: Zoo animals, listening skills, parent-child relationship
Summary: This book is about Curious George, the monkey who is small and brown and wants to go to the zoo. The man in the yellow hat takes George to the zoo. They see all of the different animals at the zoo, including seals, giraffes, kangaroos, elephants, zebras, and other kinds of monkeys that look similar to George. George, as always is curious, so he snatches up a pale of bananas from the zoo keeper and heads straight for the monkeys cage. A little kid loses his balloon and it floats up into the monkey's cage. George climbs up to the top of the monkey's cage, distracts the monkeys by giving them bananas, and then grabs the balloon as quickly as he can. George returns the balloon to the small child. The small child and his mother are very thankful for George's good deed. George became a hero that day. This book is great for kids who know how to read but need some practice on expanding their vocabulary. The pictures are cheery with the bright colors and kids will surely love this book.
Extension Activity: Have children trace different zoo animals, then cut them out and paint them. This works on the children's hand-eye coordination, along with their ability to follow directions. The can learn what other animals look like and then use their imaginations to make the animals whatever color they desire. This is a fun and educational extension that goes along nicely with the book.
