Written by Eric Kahn Gale, Illustrated by Sam Nielson
The Zoo at the Edge of the World is an amusing, easy read about a boy named Marlin with a speech problem, who works at a zoo with his father and brother, who soon discovers he can speak animal. The downside to this was it started to read like there was a book before this one that introduced the characters and explained where Marlin’s father had gone. It eventually tells the story, but I don’t like to time travel in books. I’d rather have all the facts there and just get to read the story.
There are some parts that will be difficult for kids to read about, such as the snake’s meal talking to Marlin just moments before it’s put in the chute for the anaconda to eat. There are other parts that are funny, but not quite appropriate for those under 4th grade. When the bird is doing a mating dance and Marlin has to repaint the wall, I chuckled, but didn’t find it would be appropriate for a 2nd grader to use. The ending was my favorite part, where the jaguar that is made out to be so bad, turns out to be pretty amazing.
Review by Allyson Rolfe, Granger Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★½✩ (3.5 stars)
Interest Level: High 3rd-low 5th
The Zoo at the Edge of the World
Written by Eric Kahn Gale, Illustrated by Sam Nielson
Harper Collins Children
233 pages
Release Date: August 26, 2014
ISBN: 9780062125187 (hardcover)
