It's Open Mic Night at the Story Zoo and the dogs are up to tell their tales in this hilarious graphic novel for young readers.
At the Story Zoo, you get to tell any story you want in front of the live audience, as long as it's about you. And tonight is dog night. So sit back, relax, and let these dogs tell their tales. We've got some hilarious but quite touching stories from dogs of all kinds, including a bulldog who doesn't wanted to be judged by his looks; a bloodhound who loses her power of scent and turns to a dog called Surelick Holmes for help; an energetic poodle who saves the day with her yapping; and a stray who takes fetching to a whole new level.
These stories will make you laugh, make you cry and maybe even make you howl at the moon. Whether you're looking for smart, funny, sweet, sharp, silly or just plain fuzzy, The Story Zoo is going to be your new favorite haunt.
SHORTLIST
| 2019 The Joan Betty Stuchner - Oy Vey! - Funniest Children's Book Award
One of CCBC’S Best Books for Kids & Teens (2018)
“If ever there was a graphic novel geared toward young readers just begging to be made into a movie, this might be it.” --Vancouver Sun
"Perfect for young readers wanting to try a graphic novel and will be enjoyed by reluctant readers and avid readers alike." --Calgary Herald
PRAISE FOR Audrey (Cow): "Move aside Wilbur and Babe. There's a new farmyard hero in town, and she has no desire to end up hamburger. In a multiple-perspective, documentary-like format, each animal tells its part of the story with terrific humor and personality. ...the many voices make the book an ideal read-aloud for a classroom and ideal fodder for readers' theatre. Bar-el is also unafraid to engage in truly lovely descriptive writing. Part Great Escape, part Hatchet, part Charlotte's Web, all wonderful." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"...[a] cleverly constructed story.... Bar-el creates a humorous chorus of perspectives, temperaments, dialects, and cadences..... Thoroughly charming...." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Animal Farm meets The Great Escape.... Bar-el manages to gently and thoughtfully introduce kids to the concept of the abattoir while also underscoring that a farm's very purpose is producing food. At its heart, Audrey (Cow) encourages kids to think even as it entertains - the mark of wonderful children's literature." --Quill and Quire, Starred Review
"This is no simple farm story; it is a powerful tale that takes a philosophical stance against today's meat industry. Written in transcripts of interviews from the perspective of various animal and human characters, the book emphasizes the emotional reactions of those surrounding Audrey. These monologues give readers the opportunity to discern different perspectives about the same events. Readers must make conclusions and predictions about the events, weighing the relative reliability of the various narrators. A unique approach to a sensitive topic." --School Library Journal, Starred Review
Dan Bar-el is an award-winning children's author, educator, and storyteller. His writing includes chapter books, picture books, and, most recently, a graphic novel. For the past 20 years, Dan has been working with children ages 3 to 13. He's been a school-age childcare provider, a preschool teacher, a creative drama teacher, and a creative writing teacher. These days, when not writing, traveling around the country presenting his books, storytelling, or leading various workshops at schools and libraries, he teaches creative writing courses to children with the organization CWC. Dan lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, and shares his life with artist and goldsmith, Dominique Bréchault, and Sasha, the most adorable cat in the known universe. Visit him at www.danbarel.com.
View titles by Dan Bar-el
Classically educated and poorly socialized, VICKI NERINO likes to make a mess of things like comics, illustrations and paintings. Vicki appreciates visual dirt and noise, but shshsshhh be quiet, please. She smears paint with her fingers and scratchs ink off with her nails, but holy smokes does she ever clean up nice. She has a thing about tigers. Dog Night at the Story Zoo is her first book for kids.
View titles by Vicki Nerino
It's Open Mic Night at the Story Zoo and the dogs are up to tell their tales in this hilarious graphic novel for young readers.
At the Story Zoo, you get to tell any story you want in front of the live audience, as long as it's about you. And tonight is dog night. So sit back, relax, and let these dogs tell their tales. We've got some hilarious but quite touching stories from dogs of all kinds, including a bulldog who doesn't wanted to be judged by his looks; a bloodhound who loses her power of scent and turns to a dog called Surelick Holmes for help; an energetic poodle who saves the day with her yapping; and a stray who takes fetching to a whole new level.
These stories will make you laugh, make you cry and maybe even make you howl at the moon. Whether you're looking for smart, funny, sweet, sharp, silly or just plain fuzzy, The Story Zoo is going to be your new favorite haunt.
Awards
SHORTLIST
| 2019 The Joan Betty Stuchner - Oy Vey! - Funniest Children's Book Award
Reviews
One of CCBC’S Best Books for Kids & Teens (2018)
“If ever there was a graphic novel geared toward young readers just begging to be made into a movie, this might be it.” --Vancouver Sun
"Perfect for young readers wanting to try a graphic novel and will be enjoyed by reluctant readers and avid readers alike." --Calgary Herald
PRAISE FOR Audrey (Cow): "Move aside Wilbur and Babe. There's a new farmyard hero in town, and she has no desire to end up hamburger. In a multiple-perspective, documentary-like format, each animal tells its part of the story with terrific humor and personality. ...the many voices make the book an ideal read-aloud for a classroom and ideal fodder for readers' theatre. Bar-el is also unafraid to engage in truly lovely descriptive writing. Part Great Escape, part Hatchet, part Charlotte's Web, all wonderful." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"...[a] cleverly constructed story.... Bar-el creates a humorous chorus of perspectives, temperaments, dialects, and cadences..... Thoroughly charming...." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Animal Farm meets The Great Escape.... Bar-el manages to gently and thoughtfully introduce kids to the concept of the abattoir while also underscoring that a farm's very purpose is producing food. At its heart, Audrey (Cow) encourages kids to think even as it entertains - the mark of wonderful children's literature." --Quill and Quire, Starred Review
"This is no simple farm story; it is a powerful tale that takes a philosophical stance against today's meat industry. Written in transcripts of interviews from the perspective of various animal and human characters, the book emphasizes the emotional reactions of those surrounding Audrey. These monologues give readers the opportunity to discern different perspectives about the same events. Readers must make conclusions and predictions about the events, weighing the relative reliability of the various narrators. A unique approach to a sensitive topic." --School Library Journal, Starred Review
Dan Bar-el is an award-winning children's author, educator, and storyteller. His writing includes chapter books, picture books, and, most recently, a graphic novel. For the past 20 years, Dan has been working with children ages 3 to 13. He's been a school-age childcare provider, a preschool teacher, a creative drama teacher, and a creative writing teacher. These days, when not writing, traveling around the country presenting his books, storytelling, or leading various workshops at schools and libraries, he teaches creative writing courses to children with the organization CWC. Dan lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, and shares his life with artist and goldsmith, Dominique Bréchault, and Sasha, the most adorable cat in the known universe. Visit him at www.danbarel.com.
View titles by Dan Bar-el
Classically educated and poorly socialized, VICKI NERINO likes to make a mess of things like comics, illustrations and paintings. Vicki appreciates visual dirt and noise, but shshsshhh be quiet, please. She smears paint with her fingers and scratchs ink off with her nails, but holy smokes does she ever clean up nice. She has a thing about tigers. Dog Night at the Story Zoo is her first book for kids.
View titles by Vicki Nerino
