Dear Zoo

Why It's On Our Shelf

What works here is the anticipation. Each page builds curiosity about what animal is hiding behind the flap, and the repetitive structure means kids quickly learn the pattern and start guessing. The animals progress from big and scary to small and perfect, which creates a natural narrative arc that even very young children can follow. The flaps are sturdy enough to survive repeated lifting, and the simple text works for both babies just learning words and toddlers who want to 'read' along. It's a book that grows with the child, first as a sensory experience, then as a guessing game, and eventually as early independent reading practice.