Mr. Peek and the Misunderstanding at the Zoo

by Kevin Waldron

Poor old Mr. Peek the zookeeper has a bad start to his day. Will he notice what has gone wrong, or will he spread confusion throughout the zoo?

When Mr. Peek puts on his son’s jacket by mistake, he starts to air all his insecurities as he goes on his daily rounds at the zoo. But unbeknownst to Mr. Peek, all the animals think he is talking about them! How will the unfortunate misunderstanding be cleared up? This debut picture book from a stunning talent—winner of a Bologna Ragazzi Award—combines hilarious, distinctive illustrations with a fantastic story about how easily insecurities can spread.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Storytime

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Kevin Waldron is an emerging illustrator from Dublin, Ireland, whose first picture book was MR. PEEK AND THE MISUNDERSTANDING AT THE ZOO. He divides his time between New York and London.

Reviews

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Peek has issues. This book shows the potential spread of sadness that can come with self pity. It shows how easily self perception can effect one's attitude in a negative way. One misunderstanding can lead to a lot of troubles. It shows how easy it is to place blame. I feel sorry for Mr. Peek and I relate to him. Alena and I recently visited the zoo, so it was fun for both of us to read this book today.

[Emila Yusof · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I like the illustrations. My son likes the illustrations too but thought that the text fonts and they way they were arranged are a bit confusing and distracting. To me it is ok.

Nonetheless, on personal note, I think the story is quirky and hilarious! It is about a zookeeper, Mr. Peek, who has mistakenly dressed in his son's small jacket. He thought he is getting fat and mumbles about it while walking pass a hippo. The hippo thought the remark is intended for her and feels sad. And then Mr. Peek goes on mumbling out loud about the food he ate, his wrinkles, etc which the animals thought are intended for them. They become sad altogether.

Mr. Peek finds out that he was wearing his son's jacket when he met him at the zoo. They switched jacket and Mr. Peek managed to restore the animals happiness as he goes on walking back pass the animals muttering happy remarks; totally the opposite of what he had said earlier.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It covered a topic that many books forget to mention. High self-esteem is very important for children and this book does a great job of portraying the power of reassurance. Although the book does not have a major conflict or a funny approach, it has a very important message that will surely interest readers in an entertaining way.
The illustrations are not very colorful, but they do grab the attention of the reader. The drawings of the many animals provide a direct connection to the text and allow the reader to visualize the setting meanwhile Mr. Peek speaks.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr peek jumps to conclusions. And then does some bad self talk which the animals hear. The animals think they’re being insulted. Misunderstandings abound.

Got this as kiddo was misunderstanding things and insisting that I was lying to him.

We enjoyed the book and our discussion.

The art is ok.

[Korcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Czy polecam Wam tę książeczkę? Zdecydowanie tak, warto ją przeczytać, pooglądać ładne ilustracje i pośmiać się razem z dziećmi. Z pewnością miło spędzicie czas z tą opowieścią. Zachęcam do lektury!

http://korcimnieczytanie.blogspot.com...

[The Bougie Twins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Heidi Kuipers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever story, fun illustrations

[Andreia · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/10

[Chasity Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curricular Connections: I would use this book to teach kids about confidence, and character. I would also use this book so that younger children can learn about different Zoo animals and different vocabulary words. This book can also be a lesson on how your attitude or character can affect their peers and others around them. The TEKS I’ll use will incorporate with character, and attitude and it will also incorporate with learning words for Vocabulary.

(10) Reading/Comprehension of Informational Text/Expository Text. Students analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about expository text, and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to:

§110.10. Implementation of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading, Elementary, Beginning with School Year 2009-2010.

(A) identify the topic and details in expository text heard or read, referring to the words and/or illustrations;

(B) retell important facts in a text, heard or read;

(C) discuss the ways authors group information in text; and

(D) use titles and illustrations to make predictions about text.



Reading and Comprehension Skills—Second Grade Figure: 19 TAC §110.10(b) Reading/Comprehension Skills.

Students use a flexible range of metacognitive reading skills in both assigned and independent reading to understand an author’s message. Students will continue to apply earlier standards with greater depth in increasingly more complex texts as they become self-directed, critical readers. The student is expected to: (A) establish purposes for reading selected texts based upon content to enhance comprehension; (B) ask literal questions of text; (C) monitor and adjust comprehension (e.g., using background knowledge, creating sensory images, re-reading a portion aloud, generating questions); (D) make inferences about text using textual evidence to support understanding; (E) retell important events in stories in logical order; and (F) make connections to own experiences, to ideas in other texts, and to the larger community and discuss textual evidence.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

One morning at approximately 9am Mr. Peek put on his favorite jacket to do his zookeeper rounds. But he noticed the jacket was too tight, so tight that one of the buttons popped off! This puts in Mr. Peek in a horrible mood as he walks about the zoo checking on each of the animals. He berates himself for eating bad food, not fitting into his jacket, sweating, becoming old and wrinkled, and many more complaints. Unfortunately, the zoo animals think he is scolding them and this puts them in a horrible mood as well! The elephants are distraught thinking about their wrinkles and the penguins are worried about the bad food they supposedly ate for breakfast. But then Mr. Peek turns a corner and meets his mischievous son, Jimmy, who is wearing a very large zookeeper jacket, “You have MY jacket on, Dad!” Mr. Peek is very relieved. He skips as he does his afternoon rounds, complimenting himself and the animals as well. He is glad to see the animals looked happier too, they seemed a bit glum during morning rounds. All is well until Mr. Peek realizes his keys are missing…

The humorous text of this story is printed in easily readable, but chaotic fonts that convey the jumbled state of Mr. Peek’s mind. Waldron uses size to emphasize important words. Dialogue in quotation marks tends to swirl and weave through the pages, while descriptions remain (mostly) stationary. The illustrations, created with digital media, are stylized and modern. Waldron’s use of color, exaggeration, and shading create a graphic design atmosphere. Mr. Peek’s absurd assumptions are supported by his slightly exaggerated, ridiculous appearance; His angled mustache sticks out below a gigantic nose and his belly juts out over impossibly long, skinny legs. Waldron has cleverly hidden the source of all the mischief, young Jimmy, in nearly all the illustrations. Don’t miss the endpapers, which feature a beautifully designed map of the Peek Zoo.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

One one the funniest books ever read to my students. They loved the story. The pictures of the zoo and the round the charachter makes needs to come out to help children better understand vocabulary. The cat in all the pictures was very clever too. had to read it 3X.

Mr. Peek starts out his day to make s his rounds in the zoo. However a jacket too small for him makes for some hilarious conversatiosn with himself. Muttering and sputering about the zoo Mr. Peek shares about the empending doom of his tight clothes. Children love predicting what the problem is and the illustrations are superb. It will be a favorite at story time!

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Peek is having a bad day. First, his jacket that usually makes him feel so good and so important is suddenly too tight. He goes through his day, and through various animals' cages, berating himself for allowing himself to go to pot. The story shows how one negative remark can have a huge effect. The digital media illustrations done in muted, earthy colors fill the pages with the funny animals misconstruing Mr. Peek's remarks. The story is resolved when Mr. Peek's son reveals something, and Mr. Peek makes his rounds at the end of the day reassuring the animals--unintentionally--that they are all OK.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Peek is feeling bad about himself (his belly popped a button off his coat) and as he makes his zookeeper rounds, he talks out loud to himself, "you're gaining too much weight!" The zoo animals think he is talking to them, and they feel upset. When Mr. Peek realizes he put on his small son's coat by accident, he takes the tour around the zoo, again talking aloud to himself, "you're looking fine!" and the animals feel better. Nice for a lesson on overhearing.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are cute, and I like the book's message that it's best not to overreact to problems (and that doing so can have unintended negative consequences). The "moral" was taught in a light, funny way. My four-year-old daughter enjoyed this book, and it was fun to read aloud.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The zookeeper exclaims "Oh Poop" as his jacket button pops off. Then he mutters disparaging comments to himself as he wanders through the zoo upsetting all the animals.

This book is so cute!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems to have a rather adult sensibility, but it's kind of cute anyway.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read, maybe especially so for parents. Though, of course, the 'oh poop' line was fun for all! I enjoyed the illustrations, however, some of the noses are a bit odd.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and funny.

[Andrea Vernola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable...with a great message about how our attitude affects others either positively or negatively. Great illustrations!

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like I had to do a lot of explaining to my 5-year-old with this book.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute illustrations. book that mentions many different animals. could be a springboard for health topics.

[Vanessa Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made ME chuckle out loud. The illustrations of the animals are adorable, and the story is goofy as well. This one is going in my class.

[Zatika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustration accompanies a beautiful story. Always practise 'husnuzzon' or bersangka baik in Bahasa Melayu. :)

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a clever book!

[Marge]

longer zoo story

[Thia]

communication breakdown

[Amy Lombardi]

Self-esteem, father son bond,

[Heid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Green Jacket, Insecurities and Attitude

[Rani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Peek, the zookeeper is having a bad day. He says words to himself that other animals misunderstand. When things go #right, everything becomes #alright. #Humor #YoungReader #PictureBook