MEET THE CREW AT THE ZOO

Luke and his family have just moved to New York, where his father will be the vet at a new zoo.

Luke’s worried about whether or not he’ll find friends at his new home, but more than anything else he misses his beloved abuelo, who’s remained behind in Florida. Since his home is right next to the zoo, Luke has plenty of opportunity to explore, not only encountering several other children who seem friendly, but also discovering a mysterious box with some special items inside. As he works his way around the zoo, he learns about some of the endangered animals in it while he tries to find the box’s rightful owner. Eventually, he discovers the box was meant for him all along, and it turns out that Abuelo was lonely too and will be moving in to help at the zoo. This very early chapter book features large print, a simple vocabulary, plenty of white space, and an attractive illustration on nearly every spread, making it just right for those transitioning from easy readers. The simple information about endangered species is a nice bonus. Luke’s possible biracial white/Latinx heritage is suggested only in the language used to refer to his male grandparents: “abuelo” and “grandfather.” He and his family are all pale-skinned in the illustrations; other characters are diverse. Book 2, Animal at Large, publishes simultaneously.

A warm, engaging series kickoff with a cheerful conclusion.