Vince, the Zookeeper’s son, has a special gift. He
can talk to the animals in the zoo that backs onto his house.
Mrs Footlecrannoch (there are lots of words like
this) has been robbed of all her expensive jewellery. There is a reward. Vince
overhears, and is determined to find the culprit and reap the reward of as much
Swiss roll as he can eat.
But this sleuth cannot work alone. He interviews
and enlists animals from the zoo that have specific talents ideal for such a
project. So the role of lookouts and sidekicks are quickly filled.
This is cleverly written, funny, and entertaining.
Filled with rhyming songs, clever word play and language, the story skips along
quickly. Short chapters keep the pages turning. Fantastic fine line
illustrations in black pen add humour and interest to the mesmerising text and ideally
depict the cast of terrific characters. The end papers are a priceless
collection of images of all the human and animal participants.
It carries the important themes of friendship, self
confidence, family, and how things can look one way, but turn out to be
entirely different.
Title:
Zoo Boy and the Jewel Thieves
Author:
Sophie Thompson
Illustrator:
Rebecca Ashdown
Publisher:
Allen & Unwin, $12.99
Publication
Date: 22 February 2017
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9780571325207
For
ages: 8+
Type:
Picture Book
