If+I+Ran+the+Zoo



Book Review by: Jacinya B. __**If I Ran the Zoo**__ **__Caldecott Award Winner__** Written and Illustrated by: Dr. Seuss Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Published Date: October 12th, 1950

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0394800818

ISBN-13: 978-0394800813

Age Range: 5-9 years old

Grade Level: Kindergarten – 4th grade

Hardcover: 64 pages

Series: Classic Seuss

Pricing: Hardcover: $12.75, Paperback: $3.49, Kindle: $3.99, Nook: $9.99

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Summary //If I Ran the Zoo// is about a young boy, Gerald McGrew who dreams of what he would do if he ran the zoo. McGrew would search for the unusual kind like a “fluffy bird called Bustard or a family of Joats.” He’ll search in the oddest of places for new zoo faces. Dr. Seuss is at it again with his clever and simple rhyme scheme, colorful pages that scream to be read and come alive by all who reads—all genders, all ages in full delight!

Review Dr. Seuss has created another brilliantly crafted, beautifully illustrated book. The story of imagination of Gerald McGrew is one that has effective rhyme and rhythm that captivates even the oldest of audiences. With a mixture of simple vocabulary and fun diction with perfectly matched illustrations, this book is not only enjoyable but comes alive; bringing life into the children’s minds, showing that imagination is just a wonder away. This story is effective in use of mini-lessons and modeling rhyming, sequencing, retelling, character development, plot, setting, and so much more. //If I Ran the Zoo// is specified for kindergarten to fourth grade but can be used in multiple grades not only for its vocabulary, but it can build on structures of writing, creativity, and expression.

Literary Analysis //If I Ran the Zoo// is centered around, not only the catchy rhyming scheme and wording but the illustration of the book. The illustrations are of the zoo animals McGrew only imagines if he ran the zoo. On the third page if the book, Gerald McGrew is standing at the corner of the zoo which holds lions and tigers but nothing of excitement, thus the page being white and bland. As McGrew starts to let his imagination roam, colors begin to fill the pages along with the creativity of the animals that he would find, the ones that “are the most unusual in kind.” Some of the elaborate illustrations that show the imagination of McGrew would be “when he captures a family of Lunks in a bucket from Nantucket." Another example of Dr. Seuss’s intricate design in illustration would be when he has all of the animals in his zoo, “What this zoo must be worth! It’s the gol-darndest zoo on the face of the earth!”

With the depiction of such animals, this book opens a world of creativity for the children to escape in and be a part of. The author has crafted this element of illustration by appealing to the age of the readers by also playing on the learning of colors, all being mainly primary working closely with color recognition. With the illustration we can say that Dr. Seuss’s //If I Ran the Zoo// is a picture book. If one was to remove the words, readers can create the story simply by looking at the pictures and beautifully illustrations that are spread across the pages. The readers can interpret the book in a way that appeals to them and also, helps them to read and understand what the story is about. Due to the colorful pages and pictures, the children can learn to expand their reading along with their imagination. At the same time, due to the careful crafting and quality of the book, children will be able to make the book come “true” by making their own personal connections with real life. Children will be creating their own zoos in no time!

**__Author Biography__**

Theodor Seuss Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, was born 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. As a child, Seuss’s mother would sing rhymes to him as a way to calm him to sleep, something he credits for his own ability to rhyme. Seuss began illustrating and writing for Life and Vanity Fair. Later, his first book, //And to Think I Saw it On Mulberry Street//, was rejected more than two dozen times before finally being published by Vanguard Press in 1937. From then, Seuss became a legend. Over the years, Dr. Seuss’s collection grew of simple vocabulary and intricate and captivating illustrations, some of which became film adaptions. He died at the age of 87.

**__ Related Links __**

@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_I_Ran_the_Zoo

@http://www.amazon.com/If-Ran-Zoo-Classic-Seuss/dp/0394800818

@https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTm6JbPIuXs @http://www.catinthehat.org/history.htm

@http://www.seussville.com/activities/ZOO_MyZoo_2.pdf

@https://www.pinterest.com/jdjhmartin/if-i-ran-the-zoo/