Yasmin, la Guardiana del Zoo

Yasmin #8

by Saadia Faruqi, Hatem Aly (Illustrations)

Yasmin's class is going to the zoo! The students love watching the animals do silly things, but when Yasmin is chosen to feed the monkeys, she's the one that does something silly. Can Yasmin fix her mistake and make friends with the monkeys? Fully translated Spanish text.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Chapter Books, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author, essayist and interfaith activist. She writes the children’s early reader series “Yasmin” published by Capstone and other books for children, including middle grade novels “A Place At The Table” (HMH/Clarion 2020) co-written with Laura Shovan, and “A Thousand Questions” (Harper Collins 2020). She has also written “Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan” a short story collection for adults and teens. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry and prose, and was featured in Oprah Magazine in 2017 as a woman making a difference in her community. She resides in Houston, TX with her husband and children.

Reviews

[Lupine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and visually appealing early chapter book. Includes discussion questions, a craft idea, fun facts and glossary. LOVE!

[Tegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how Yasmin shows initiative and shares her lunch, which prompts the other kids to, as well.

[Deborah]

Love how much back-matter this charming book has!

[Sara Magnafichi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this Yasmin book, she runs into a problem at the zoo. While visiting the mama, baba (father), and baby monkey section, she causes an issue with the lunch the zookeepers were going to use to feed the monkeys. Together, Yasmin and her class, come up with a plan that helps solve the problem.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yasmin's class visits the zoo and she shares her snack with a monkey.

[Erin *BookDragon_Library* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to Sofia Martinez, early chapter book, about 21 pages of text. Color illustrations and large font. Pakistani American. Muslim. 3 discussion questions at the back and a glossary of Urdu words. The Urdu is not highlighted in the text within the book and some things in the glossary are never actually mentioned in writing within the story. There is also 1 page of facts about Pakistan and a craft on monkeys which matches theme of the book. #ownvoices author

While I think it is fun that they were able to feed the animals their snacks and it showed problem-solving skills, I don’t think it is a particularly good message to kids in what is probably supposed to be realistic fiction since at no zoo can you feed the animals.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This easy reading chapter book features a character I think I've seen before, but this is not one of the better outings. It's about Yasmin's trip to a zoo, but the zoo is very odd. I was OK when the seal splashed them, but if an elephant can really reach out and grab someone's hat, there's an enormous safety issue here. Anyway, having elephants in a zoo is mean.

I was so bothered by the crazy zoo that I couldn't pay attention to the story, and then the back third was all instructional stuff about Pakistan that was interesting but not really relevant to my zoological concerns. Also as a kid I hated crafts at the end because I suck at crafts (I still do, but now I own it.).

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very simple chapter book for kids. The pictures include a very diverse group of students and since Yasmin, the main character, is from Pakistan it introduces some of Urdu vocabulary. At the end of the book it has questions about the story, the Urdu vocabulary definition, fun facts about Pakistan and a fun activity on how to make a bendy monkey. It is nice to have many culturally diverse books in the classroom so that some students can relate and others can learn about other cultures.

[Greg S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m in love with this series in general, but let me comment on this one specifically.

My son did not request a second reading of this one.
Maybe I lack enthusiasm, but it was weird to me how the kids just walked into the monkey exhibit. Also how the elephant was close enough to grab a kid’s cap.

But it was cute, light read, so no worries.

I don’t think we even read the questions in the back. But they were appreciated!
I like the words and pronunciations in the back!

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I’m glad the author has Yasmin ask before giving the monkeys her banana from her lunch, I was annoyed that the kids were all just in the enclosure with the monkeys. Any accredited zoo would not allow this (and yes I realize that, once again, my zoo volunteer work is affecting my enjoyment of a children’s book). I liked the rest of the story though.

(Story #3 in Yasmin in Charge)

[asiya | アセヤ (free palestine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

How fun! This story was so cute and sweet that I felt very touched towards the end. I love how these new children's books are getting a bit more inclusive by the day. The monkeys were a bit weird and did kinda' play off of that Middle Eastern example of "wildness" and "the only animals there". So, that would be my only point to push out. But, other than that, it was actually pretty fun!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this emergent chapter series

[Sobia A Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review in "Yasmin in Charge"

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful series!

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the final book I read this year to count towards my Goodreads challenge! 100 different books in the year.

[Emily Pool · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re adding this into the 3rd grade book club rotation in our “mystery” books. It’s perfect for one of my “lower” groups - sweet, accessible story that still feels like a “chapter book.”