Calm Down, Zebra - by Lou Kuenzler (Hardcover)

About the Book

Annie is helping baby Joe learn about colours... "Frog, fetch the green paint. That's perfect. Well done! And Lion, you're yellow, as bright as the sun." But Zebra is rather keen on patterns... And he's getting a little over-excited!

Book Synopsis

Everyone's favorite, enthusiastic Zebra is back, eager to get in on the act as Annie tries to teach her little brother about colours.

Annie said to the animals, "Let's help baby Joe. He's learning his colours, which he doesn't yet know. I'll paint pictures of you - please line up for me. If I use the right colours then Joe will soon see." But although things don't turn out quite the way she imagines, together Annie and Zebra make the world a brighter and more beautiful place! A perfect picture book introduction to colors for young readers.

Review Quotes

"My son is 3 years old, and let me tell you, we read a lot of picture books. I am never quite sure if a new book and will hold his wiggling, excited, energetic attention. Calm Down, Zebra was a knock out of the park. Julia Woolf's bright, whimsical illustrations caught his attention immediately and he snuggled right up to listen. He especially likes talking about colors (he asks me at least 5 times a day what my favorite color is). So it was really fun to read a color concept book that also had an engaging story. We paused on every illustration so that my son could look at all the many colors. He especially enjoyed the illustrations with the spots. Lou Kuenzler's playful rhyme made the text a lot of fun to read. It was very easy to follow along with the story and my son giggled at many parts. My older daughter was even pulled into the story because she related to Annie as she attempted to teach her little brother his colors. Final Verdict: If you are looking for a fun, engaging and silly book to introduce or reinforce colors, this is the book for you!" -- SlothReads

"This punchy story in rhyme flows easily off the tongue and will be a hoot to read at story time or bedtime. It's sure to prompt giggles and requests to read it again. Exuberant, energetic illustrations add to the humor in this humorous and joyous celebration of thinking outside the paintbox. Calm Down, Zebra is a fine addition to any library collection!" -- Prose and Kahn

PRAISE FOR NOT YET, ZEBRA

"As animals queue up alphabetically to have their portraits painted, pesky Zebra keeps trying to jump the line. In exuberantly spattered watercolors, Annie, a small, redheaded white girl with an easel, invites Aardvark, Bear, and the other animals forward one at a time for broadly brushed pictures with upper- and lowercase letters (all assembled in a closing gallery on the rear endpapers). Along the way she gently but repeatedly has to push importunate Zebra to the back: "I need Gorilla and Hamster and... / What did I say? / Not yet, Zebra. Please go away!" Zebra (not unlike Mo Willems' Pigeon, though nonverbal) turns out to be hard to discourage, but sad looks, disguises, and pushy behavior all turn out to be equally fruitless. And, when Zebra's turn finally, finally comes, he's nowhere to be found--having, no surprise, fallen asleep in bed. Like the young artist, budding abecedarians will be amused. There are few surprises in the lineup of animals, but the mix is a lively one, and even the animals who are observing proper order have plenty of personality on offer. A cheery run through the ABCs, with a bit of a message about lining up and awaiting one's turn slipped in. " --Kirkus Reviews
"Hilarious.... . Kuenzler's silly words paired with Woolf's bright illustrations offer little ones the opportunity to practice important ready-for-kindergarten skills while having heaps of fun." --Columbus (OH) Parent
"This is an adorable abecedary for preschoolers and kindergarteners, who will relate to the impatience of having to wait one's turn. Zebra gives the saddest eyes, the nudgiest nudges, and the most creative disguises, all in an attempt to wheedle his way to the front of the line, but Annie catches our wily friend every time. This one's fun to read aloud, and would make a great companion to my other favorite impatient friend, The Pigeon.... The endpapers feature our Zebra friend, contorting himself into all the letters in the alphabet, and the artwork is colorful and cartoony, nicely set against the subdued background pages. I'm always up for a good concept book for my collection; something that gets the ideas covered, but with a little fun; something that brings some personality to the narrative. Not Yet, Zebra brings the giggles, for sure."--Mom Read It

About the Author

Lou Kuenzler grew up on a windy sheep farm in Devon. She is the author of numerous books for children, including My Digger is Bigger, Eat Your People the Shrinking Violet series, the Princess DisGrace series, the Bella Broomstick series and Not Yet, Zebra. She lives in London with her family. Julia Woolf worked for twenty years in animation, including twelve years working in the US for Dreamworks. After returning to the UK she did an MA in Children's Book Illustration. She is the author/illustrator of Giraffe on a Bicycle, Not Yet, Zebra and various board books. She lives in Kent.