DO KANGAROOS WEAR SEAT BELTS?

Firmly belted in the back seat and on the way to the zoo, a little boy wants to know if kangaroos have to wear seat belts, too. He also asks, in upbeat rhyme, if penguins have to ride in strollers, if young monkeys must wear bike helmets, and if hippo mommies hold their youngster’s hands as they run to the pool. Mom always has a ready and cheerful response, “A mama hippo has legs, not arms, but she can hiss when she’s alarmed.” “If anything dangerous wanders his way, she carries and ferries him safely away.” Throughout the tour of the zoo, Mom describes the similarities and differences between humans and various animals. The ultimate message, however, is that no matter the species, all parents do their best to care for their young ones. In beautifully blended watercolors with wood-block details, Manning decorates each page with realistic yet fanciful zoo creatures. A perfect read for the pell-mell toddler who is sometimes frustrated by the safety measures imposed by loving adults. (Picture book. 3-6)