Alyssa Satin Capucilli

A cumulative rhyme featuring rebuses, in which a parrot, a tiger, a lion, a peacock, and other inhabitants of a city zoo wake up and startle each other.

A Rebus Read-along Story

Inside a Zoo in the City

Sarah Sammis

I'm not a fan of rebus style stories. Nor am I a much of a fan of the House That Jack Built type of story. There are exceptions to both of course, and Inside a Zoo in the City by Alyssa Satin Capucilli is one of those.

This rebus book begins in the wee hours of the morning as various exotic animals wake up and make their commute to work. Where do they work? The zoo, of course.

The book works for me for a number of reasons. The first is its length: short by the standard of this type of book. Next, it has an unusual plot: animals going to work from the city to the zoo. Finally, it has humorous illustrations to accompany the silly story.

Inside a Zoo in the City A Rebus Read-along Story