Old MacDonald Had a . . . Zoo?

About the Book

An extended retelling of the classic children's song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" by beloved author/illustrator Iza Trapani featuring zoo animals running amok on the farmstead.

Iza Trapani is known for her clever twists on classic nursery rhymes. This time she outdoes herself with a vist to longtime favorite Old MacDonald.  His busy little farm--with a moo, moo here and a moo, moo there is out of controwhen zoo animals like kangaroos, elephants, and hippos join the menagerie. What's a farmer to do? Iza Trapani's hilarious, jam-packed illustrations are full of details animal-loving readers will point at with glee. And the sweet ending will keep them giggling until the next reading.
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Praise for Old MacDonald Had a . . . Zoo?

Old MacDonald had a—kangaroo?!?It's just another day on the bespectacled white man's farm, starting with the milking of his cow and an E-I-E-I-O. But in the pig's sty, instead of an "oink oink" accompanying the E-I-E-I-O, there's a hopping kangaroo splattering mud everywhere. An elephant sprays Old MacDonald clean with water from the trough (with an E-I-E-I-O). Then…"Old MacDonald heard a crunch, E-I-E-I-O. / Zebras helped themselves to lunch, E-I-E-I-O. // With a chomp above, and a chomp below, / Here a chomp, there a chomp, / Everywhere a chomp chomp, / What a hungry, messy bunch, E-I-E-I-O." Then monkeys E-I-E-I-O in the henhouse, and a crocodile E-I-E-I-Os in the garden before Old MacDonald gets fed up. He bundles all the inappropriate animals into his truck and takes them back to the zoo with a vroom vroom and an E-I-E-I-O. Prolific nursery-rhymer Trapani turns the traditional song on its head for a rousing romp with some zoo escapees and some surprised farm denizens. Bright watercolor, acrylic, and ink illustrations, mostly in double-page spreads, are full of expressive animals. This update of the rhyme would be a fine addition to personal collections and will be welcome at storytime. A wild time on the MacDonald farm, with music included at the close.
--Kirkus Reviews
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Excerpt

Old MacDonald Had a . . . Zoo?

Old MacDonald in the sty, E-I-E-I-O,
Saw a kangaroo hop by, E-I-E-I-O.
  
With a hop hop up, and a hop hop down,
Here a hop, there a hop,
Everywhere a hop hop,
Mucky mud went flying high, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald heard a plunk, E-I-E-I-O.
An elephant had come to dunk, E-I-E-I-O.

Iza Trapani's Extended Nursery Rhymes Series

Old MacDonald Had a . . . Zoo?
Old King Cole
Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
Shoo Fly!
Froggie Went A-Courtin'
How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Row Row Row Your Boat
Baa Baa Black Sheep
I'm a Little Teapot
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About the Author

Iza Trapani
Iza Trapani was born in Poland, and when she first came to the United States at the age of seven, she learned English in large part by reading a book of Mother Goose. She is the author of many books for children, some of which were based on beloved nursery rhymes such as Mary Had a Little Lamb, I'm a Little Teapot, and the bestselling The Itsy Bitsy Spider, which recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary. Iza lives in upstate New York. More by Iza Trapani
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About the Author

Iza Trapani
Iza Trapani was born in Poland, and when she first came to the United States at the age of seven, she learned English in large part by reading a book of Mother Goose. She is the author of many books for children, some of which were based on beloved nursery rhymes such as Mary Had a Little Lamb, I'm a Little Teapot, and the bestselling The Itsy Bitsy Spider, which recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary. Iza lives in upstate New York. More by Iza Trapani
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