ZOO-MATE WANTED

Two young sisters have difficulty sharing a room.

They are different in almost every way. Lilly is neat and organized while Leah is messy and scattered. Lilly just can’t cope with Leah’s wild habits, and Leah can’t understand what Lilly is fussing about. So Lilly announces that only a zoo animal would be the perfect roommate for Leah and leaves in a huff. Leah actually thinks that’s a pretty good idea and posts a notice for a zoo-mate, one who would enjoy messy, noisy activities without wanting to clean up afterward. A series of creatures tries out for the position, but none is successful. Leah’s beloved toy Monkey takes the brunt of the disasters. The snake tries to eat it, the kangaroo drips paint on it, and the penguin makes the room so cold that Monkey is trapped in a block of ice. The lemur is fun, but its antics put Monkey at risk. So she cleans up her act, literally, and places a new notice with lots of compromises. Of course Lilly returns and their truce holds, because it is totally better to be together. Leer addresses the sisters’ issues with a light touch and no preaching allowed, and bright, appealing illustrations add much detail, making clear that Monkey is a toy animal and that all the contenders for the zoo-mate position are quite possibly toys as well, though delightfully animated. Exactly what danger the lemur puts Monkey into is unclear, however.

Sibling dynamics resonate with young readers, who will find laughter and reassurance in the gentle message.