Shoo!

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Waterstones
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 6 Sep 2022 | Archive Date 13 Aug 2022
Pushkin Press | Pushkin Children's Books

Talking about this book? Use #Shoo #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

A raucous debut picture book about an invasion of pesky animals.

Mrs Golightly doesn't like animals – and now a whole zoo has moved next door! No matter how hard she tries to shoo them away, she finds animals everywhere: a kangaroo on the loo, a giraffe in her bath, and even ants in her pants.
What can she do to get rid of these stinky, bothersome creatures?
Bursting with colour, delightful rhyme and outrageous humour, Shoo! is acclaimed children's author Susie Bower's first picture book.
A raucous debut picture book about an invasion of pesky animals.

Mrs Golightly doesn't like animals – and now a whole zoo has moved next door! No matter how hard she tries to shoo them away, she finds...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781782693161
PRICE US$13.95 (USD)
PAGES 32

Average rating from 110 members


Featured Reviews

Shoo! is an adorable little book about an old woman who doesn't like noise, mess, or ruckus. When a zoo moves in next door, she finds herself with all kinds of animals in her house.

This was a very cute little children's book! I loved the art style and the light rhyming. I think kids will have a wonderful time listening to it or reading it themselves and can see it being used in classrooms to teach rhyming. Mrs. Golightly's character is funny and grumpy, which makes the end even sweeter as she dances with her new zoo friends.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, and Pushkin Press for providing me with a copy for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Oh well this was a cute story. It was good, it flowed really well. We as a family loved the rhymes and it added to the story. The illustrations were very comical and explained the plot so it is easy enough for younger ones.

Was this review helpful?

Mrs. Golightly does not like animals, so what do you think happens? A zoo moves in next door! Each day of the week is filled with different animals doing outrageous and noisy things. She finally gets rid of them, but things are quiet...too quiet. What does old Mrs. Golightly do? She joins them in the garden for a dance party!

This cheekily illustrated book is full of sound words and rhyme. Kids will love all the animals and making all the noises that go with them.

Was this review helpful?

Just look at that cover! This is a funny picture book with gorgeous illustration. It's rare that I'm happy with both the story and the artwork. Here, nothing is amiss.

My four-year-old loves animals, and she's crazy about the Zoo. This book was love at first sight.

Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for an Advance Review Copy.

Was this review helpful?

Review to come late August on blog and early September to other places.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I spotted this one on Twitter and I knew I had to have it! Then, surprise, Netgalley turned up to have it and I was accepted to read it! Whoop!

In this one we meet a crabby lady named Mrs Golightly (love her name). She loves her garden. But she doesn't love the animals that pop up in there. Squirrels, NO. Cats? NO! Birds? SHOOO! I can tell you my first impression of the lady wasn't a good one! I mean, I have a garden myself and I would LOVE all the cute animals to come by. Well, OK, maybe not cats. But that is because they try to kill frogs and birds and poo in my garden. But frogs? Birds? Butterflies? YAS! I was curious if I was going to be liking this crabby lady, was she going to have a chance of heart? Or would the zoo ruin it all?

Yes, a zoo. I don't know how regulations and such were thrown overboard, but this lady gets a zoo next to her! I can hear you say that this isn't too bad, right? The animals are in cages, they are not going to be outside, right? Well, nope. These animals have a hand in escaping it seems... or the zoo is very lax in keeping animals in. Because quite soon we see a kangaroo having a wee on her toilet. We see giraffes having a party in the garden. Did I mention the alligator on the radiator? I had quite the laugh at what was going on with the zoo, though I have to say, despite her being crabby? I was feeling sorry for the woman. I mean, I wouldn't mind some animals, but everyday? Not sure if I would be so happy. So I could imagine her reaction when things just got too crazy. I think I would have done the same. I could relate! WOAH!

The ending was just the sweetest. It definitely was unexpected, though maybe not fully, I have read other picture books like this. But I am so happy with the Mrs. Golighty and loved seeing this side of her.

The illustrations were just the absolute best! Lovely style, lovely colours, and the animals just seem to pop out of the pages.

All in all, a laugh-out-loud book about a crabby lady and the zoo animals next door that keep visiting. Recommended!

Was this review helpful?

Adorable illustrations, animals, rhymes, and lots of fun sound words. Mrs. Golightly thinks she hates animals when a zoo moves in next door, but sometimes people can learn to unlearn their hate and befriend others.

Was this review helpful?

What a fun book to talk about character traits and what can make people grumpy!

This book reminds me of “Those Darn Squirrels” and “Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch” and would be good for plot and theme comparisons.

Even with being the grumpiest person ever, a little love and consideration can go a long way to change someone’s perspective and life.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this Arc!

Was this review helpful?

What a fun story about Mrs. Golightly and her outrageous experience with the zoo animals! Susie Bower has created a charming, quick, fun read about a woman who wakes up to the unexpected! Who else can say they’ve experienced actual ants in their pants? Or llamas in their pajamas? This tale could also be used to demonstrate the differences children experience when confronted with differences-we may not all like the same things, or think the same way, but when we are left on our own, it’s sadder than when we began! Shoo! is a story that is multilayered and can be used in multiple situations-classrooms, homes, therapy sessions, take your pick. Looking forward to reading more.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great book about not knowing you like something until it's gone. This is a great little story! I loved reading it.

Was this review helpful?

This was so cute! It was just long enough to be entertaining, but short enough to hold the attention of a younger crowd. The illustrations are beyond beautiful and captured my attention from the beginning. There was whimsy in the story, but also (a change of) heart.

Sometimes we think we want to be left alone, but then its too quiet and lonely. Mrs. Golightly learned this lesson & made some animal friends in the meantime. It was great to read this book. I can't wait to read more from Bower in the future.

Was this review helpful?

Grumpy old lady is <i>very</i> annoyed when a zoo moves in next door and the animals come over.

Is the plot riciculous? Yes.
Is the whole thing so cute I don't care? Also yes.

This one will be perfect for reading out loud as it's one of those that rhyme. You know, she has bats in her hats, an armadillo on her pillow, ants in her pants.

Short, sweet, colourful, funny. What you want in a picture book.
Let's hook readers soon, make them bookish before they know what hit them.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun short story for under 7s telling the poetic rhyming tale of Mrs Golightly and “ the invasion” of a collection of zoo animals into her house .It is a simple tale about the recognition of friendship told in rhyming sentences which will be enjoyed by young readers who will want to repeat the words. The illustrations by Francesca Gambatesa are delightful and will appeal to children .A fun read for KS1 or at home .

Was this review helpful?

This picture book, is so much fun. Shoo! Is about a woman who likes everything to be peaceful and quiet, and is dismayed when she learns that a zoo is not only moving in next door, but that the animals escape at night, and like to dance on her front lawn.
And when she goes in side, she finds them in her house. For example, a kangaroo in her loo.

In the end, of course, she gets her peace and quiet and realizes that it is a little too quiet, and when the animals invade her space again she invites them back with welcome arms.

Sweet illustrations, and funny story.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this available for an honest review.,</em>

Was this review helpful?

Awww! This is exactly the kind of book that will put a smile on your face. The rhymes sounded so natural and I loved the beautiful illustrations. What a cute and charming book!

Was this review helpful?

This was adorable!

Shoo! is an illustrated story about a grump who doesn't like animals, but realizes in the end everyone needs a bit of mess in their life.

So cute! The illustrations were great, and the rhyme was fun. I'm sure the kids will love it.

Perfect if you love animals - and if you don't 😂

Was this review helpful?

I was given this book as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Mrs. Golightly hates animals. She believes them to be “stinky, bothersome creatures.” If she sees one she says “SHOO!” So when a zoo moves in next door, she is very put out. Different animals keep showing up in her house. They won’t leave her alone.

I like this book, because I can see a lot of teaching opportunities and discussion points that you can have with children. For instance you could discuss how to identify emotions. “How does Mrs. Golightly look? How does she feel? When have you felt that way?” Finally, have students describe how Mrs. Golightly feel at the end of the book, how her feelings have changed, and why they think they have changed.

You can also teach students about rhyming words. How to identity rhyming words. Then have students start making up their own rhymes by predict what animals will show up next.

Was this review helpful?

A lovely well written story about a woman who just doesn't like animals. It was an amusing rhyme that not only introduced the animals, but also the days of the week. I would recommend this to under 7s.

Was this review helpful?

Mrs Golightely doesn’t like animals, so it’s unfortunate that a zoo moves in next door and starts disrupting her life. But she soon discovers that she’s sort of lonely when she kicks them all out.

This was super cute. I will likely buy it for my son’s little library when it comes out!

Was this review helpful?

We adored this humourous story and my son enjoyed final outcome and loved the animals. He spent ages absorbed in the absolutely delightful illustrations. He is on the higher end of the target age but is at the age where he can read some of the words himself. The rhyme and repetition are great for beginner readers and younger children who love repeating along with the reader.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Shoo! is an illustrated children's book full of fun and is sure to get lots of giggles for any child who has it read to them. Mrs Golightly doesn't like animals and when a zoo moves in next door and causes her mayhem she has had enough! She shuts up her house to ensure no more animals can get in, but then something quite extraordinary happens - she begins to miss them!
The illustrations are absolutely fantastic and so humorous and children will join in with the repeating line Mrs Golightly says through the book. This would make a great fun read to share in a classroom or nursery for story time and I absolutely loved it!

Was this review helpful?

Beautifully presented silliness, as a woman's house gets invaded by the critters from the zoo next door. Once she's shooed them away, and made her home a fortress, she gets to miss them a little. The art is just wonderful, and the rumpus you'd get in a school class or library from the repeated mass shouting of her catchphrase will endear this to the young no end, as will the rhyming elements. Proof perhaps that the simple ideas are the better ones, this gets four and a half stars from me.

Was this review helpful?

Mrs. Golightly doesn’t like animals. She is always shooing them away. One day a zoo moves in next door and the animals start coming over to her house. She shops them away and then as time passes she misses them.

This is a really cute book. My son loved the shooing sound and seeing all the different animals. He thought it was so funny.

This is a great book for young kids to be read too and for older kids to read. A fun one for all ages.

Was this review helpful?

shoo is a short but sweet children's book. it shows how the main character goes from disliking animals to dancing with them and actually appreciating the zoo animals that live next door to her. it is an amazing book that you should check out if your looking for a laugh.

Was this review helpful?

I received an electronic ARC from Pushkin Press through NetGalley.
Mrs. Golightly is not a fan of animals. When a zoo moves in next door, she spends her week shooing them out of her life and home. Then, she spends a week alone and discovers it's not as much fun. She joins the fun and dances the night away. The illustrations are detailed and offer readers a look at animals in a wide variety of situations. Elementary level readers will love the text as Bower takes us through the activities each day. They will laugh at the antics and be joining the "Shoo!..." text throughout the story.

Was this review helpful?

4.5 Stars
Shoo! is a little book about a lady who doesn’t like animals. A zoo opens beside her house and makes life difficult for her. She shoos and yells at the animals that come into her house. She even barricades her home and puts up boards to prevent animals from bothering her. But when the animals no longer visit her, she feels lonely and sad. Will the lady change her mind about animals?
I love the illustrations in this one. The colors are soft pastels but still cheerful. The color scheme makes this a lovely bedtime book for little ones. The lady’s house has grayish blue tones to match her mood. The illustrations almost have a middle-grade mystery kind of feel (lucky that mystery is one of my favorite genres).
The story comes in simple sentences that have internal rhymes for animal names. I found it cute and funny to read those lines aloud. There’s repetition to make the rhyming even better and help kids remember the animal’s names.
To sum up, Shoo! is a lovely book about the importance of animals and how life can be more fun when we have friends.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Pushkin Press, and Pushkin Children's Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Was this review helpful?

A big thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a children's book. It is delightful. Poor Mrs. Golightly thinks she doesn't like animals. Of course, craziness ensues!! Turns out she adores them all (well maybe not the ants in her pants). This is a fun, colorful, rhyming story. I giggled while reading it. 4 stars

Was this review helpful?

This is an incredibly funny picture book! It is really begging you to be read out loud! My small human (just short of becoming 3) found this book hilarious, he loved the pictures, Especially the kangaroo on the loo! (More so the farty-poo), the crocodile was a little scary at first, but the llamas in her pyjamas made up for it straight away!

I'm aware that this is a kids book, however I have to bring this up, the lady's boundaries are quite literally trampled in this book, the animals are invading her personal space and one by one keep doing so, to a point she has to put measures in place to deter said animals. Luckily once she does, they do stay out of her house, however then have a party in her garden, but she does become friends with the animals in the end and all is well. I'm maybe judging this too harshly, as it is a children's book after all and could maybe be a learning moment for the child. eg; Explaining why this is not a nice/the right thing to do and how the animals should have behaved instead.

The illustrations are especially pleasing to the eye, the colours are not too flashy, more muted, but exquisite and adorable. Towards the end of the story, the lady and animals all fall asleep in bed, which makes it a very good option to be read as a bedtime story, however this is definitely not the only time to read it! the book is genuinely funny and also teaches children about the days of the week. I'm very impressed and will definitely be purchasing this book!

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun story that has a grumpy main character who realizes that maybe she does like those animals after all. It has quirky, gorgeous illustrations and it packs in a lot of humour.

Was this review helpful?

This picture book is ADORABLE. I love the art style, very cute, very unique and well done. Absolutely love how well the lettering works with the illustrations. The story itself is simple yet also cute, I love the rhymes, it's very well thought for kids learning to read. I really recommend it, I have a weakness for picture books, probably because I'm such a kid at heart and I'm an illustrator myself, and I really enjoyed this one.

Was this review helpful?

Mrs. Golightly is a grumpy woman who doesn't like animals. Unfortunately for her, a zoo moves in next door! Then animals keep showing up and she keeps shooing them back to the zoo. When they stop coming by though, she finds herself lonely without the animals.

A very cute story book with rhymes! I liked the illustrations a lot too.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great book that my son and I both thoroughly enjoyed. Mrs. Golightly is a hilariously cranky lady who hates animals. Her worst nightmare comes true when a zoo moves in next door. The story unfolds with Mrs. Golightly finding a kangaroo on her loo, a giraffe in her bath and a llama in her pyjamas. In true picture book fashion, Mrs. Golightly begins loosen up a little and appreciate the company of the animals. We have used this in our homeschool as a perfect story for discussing character arc changes. The illustrations are absolutely delightful and perfectly match the sentiment of Mrs. Golightly throughout the whole of the story. The conga at the end was a perfect finish.

Was this review helpful?

This is a cute children's book with gorgeous illustrations. I love animals, so I had to get it when I saw it on NetGalley. It's a fun story with a lovely ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

Was this review helpful?

First of all I loved the art! The cooling as well was great. I loved the rhymes and the story was very cute. It made my toddler read along! Great book!

Was this review helpful?

A fun book with lots of animals. Mrs Golightly learns to love all the animals of the zoo. A good book to teach days of the week with too.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! The story, the rhymes, the fabulous and funny illustrations, I loved it all! The illustrations really brought this story to life. 5stars all day long for this hilarious book

Was this review helpful?

Cute book. Read with my 4yo son. He very much enjoyed the pictures and the rhyming. We loved moving around to the words while I was reading to him. Great illustrations!

Thank you to NetGalley, Pushkin Press, and Susie Bower for allowing us to read this ebook early.

Was this review helpful?

I thought my son might be a little old for this at 6 but he absolutely loved it! He laughed the whole way through and made me re-read it several times! It's up there with some of our favourite children's books now!

Was this review helpful?

I can’t wait to read this book with my students. I would love to see what animal they would choose to be in the sorry and what behavior the animal would be doing. So many fun activities to do with this book.

Was this review helpful?

In my opinion, there are 4 types of children's literature: Informative (the kind that spews facts), Discursive (stories that can start conversations) Aesthetic ( for the joy of beauty, such as poems or nature narratives), and ENGAGING (books meant to bring joy, fun and overall happiness) Great children's books can do a few of these at the same time.

I thought this was going to be a purely engaging book and was pleasantly surprised with it had a Discursive and Aesthetic component as well. The rhyming element was so cute and enchanting. The overall message of opening yourself to new experiences is great for kids!

The illustrations are crisp and colorful and draw the reader in. All the animals look friendly. This was a joy to read!

Was this review helpful?

All we say is accept the animals as they are and live in peace ✔️

I love the little cute story so much! The artwork is fun and the illustrations really colourful. So well done I would say.

The animals are fun. The old lady is grouchy but who can say no to animals eh?!

Thank you, Pushkin Press, for the advance reading copy.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this picture book! I read it with my 4yr old and he loved shouting "go back to the zoo!!" Will definitely be stocking this one when it comes out in Sept.

Was this review helpful?

An enthusiastic endorsement from my kid!

Mrs. Golightly loves her garden, but doesn't like animals. At first, this is just a problem because of the expected birds, squirrels, and other small creatures. But then a zoo moves in next door, and Mrs. Golightly's yard becomes the best place to party. But, after several nights of chasing off her unwanted guests, she comes around for a charming ending.

My kid has asked for a repeat of this one by its easily-remembered name, which basically always guarantee a 5-star review from me. I may read a lot of picture book, but he's the target audience, and the audience is charmed by these mischevious animals and the frantic gardener. He loves the sort of call-and-response allowed by the repeated "shoos." The book also has some witty rhymes, with just a little bit of rudeness (a roo on the loo and ants in the pants) to make it all the better.

Most pages are full-spread artwork with backgrounds, with occasional pages devoted to multiple images to show action sequences (think comic book, minus the borders). Gambatesa does a great job conveying emotion. Ever seen an annoyed alligator or embarrassed kangaroo? Here!

A charming pick for any animal lover...or hater?

Was this review helpful?

I loved the art. The animals were cute and the old lady was properly cranky but not mean. The ending was not a surprise, but still enjoyable. The rhymes were good and not clunky. A good readaloud for PreK groups.

Was this review helpful?

What a fun book! ‘Shoo!’ Is the perfect children’s book, a fun story with great illustrations and silly onomatopoeia that adds so much character. I can just hear my kids at bedtime laughing and making the the sounds along with me.

Was this review helpful?

This delightful picture book had me laughing out loud. Fun story with great illustrations. Thanks to author, illustrator, publisher and NetGalley for a preview.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a fun read about Mrs Golightly, a woman who hates animals and lives next door to a zoo. The animals keep breaking in and annoying her, but when she finally gets them to leave she realizes that she misses them. I thought the middle became a bit repetitive. Young readers might enjoy that part, but I think the adults reading the book to them might become a bit tired of it. That section just felt slightly too long. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this. The illustrations were adorable.

Was this review helpful?

Mrs. Golightly absolutely does NOT like animals, so when a zoo opens right next door she is prepared to not like it at all. When the animals start showing up day after day, Mrs. Golightly does everything she can to shoo them away only to find that being alone isn't quite as fun as it used to be.

A whimsical story with fun illustrations, and clever alliterations, Shoo! by Susie Bower is a blast to read aloud and will entertain young children of all ages.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pushkin press for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Mrs. Golightly doesn’t like any animals at all and is always shooing them away, then suddenly a Zoo opens up next door and all the animals invade her house, she wants them out for good.

Adorable, Repetitive, Humorous and Utterly Fun.

Mrs Golightly really didn’t like or care for literally any of the animals and told them over and over again to shoo she didn’t like them. The animals continue to get everywhere in her house, but when they stay out things change.

I really liked the rhyming and the repeating of the lines, it’s a perfect book for young readers as they can read it easily, learn the story quickly and can join in. These types of books are always a perfect hit with young children.

The illustrations were really sweet and made the story that much funnier seeing everything on the pages that the animals were doing. I really liked this book a lot and I really highly recommend it if you are looking for a fun, hilarious, wacky, interactive and easy read for your child they will really enjoy this book.

Was this review helpful?

What a super book! Children will enjoy the range of animals who invade the home of Mrs Golightly. The illustrations are a treat to look at and complement the story really well. The rhyming pattern will make this one that children can join in with once they know the story.

I have a feeling this is one children will ask for again and again.

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful illustrations and fun word play!
The little one and I enjoyed the colourful images, all the animals to point out and name, and particularly the rhyming sections - although we have a bit of a copier at the moment so I see some potential problematic moments when she chooses to say ‘shoo shoo I don’t like you!’ to some unsuspecting family member or friend!

Was this review helpful?

I love everything about this book! The story, the illustrations...so cute and fun. The illustrations are perfect and the story is adorable.

Was this review helpful?

A rhyming, funny, read aloud picture book for KS1 pupils to enjoy time and time again. The repetition engages pupils to participate. I love the character and the illustrations which make the humour come alive.

Was this review helpful?

This hilarious picture book tells the story of a woman who lives alone in a house and despises all animals. When a zoo moves in next door, she must shoo all of the animals back to the zoo as they begin invading her house. With comical illustrations and hilarious text (including a kangaroo making bathroom noises on the toilet - sure to get lots of giggles on that page!) children are sure to love this book. The text is fairly large and relatively easy to read with some expressive/bold text for noises and silly words. I can definitely see this book being a transition text between reading aloud to a child and a child feeling ready to begin reading independently. I would recommend this fun book to parents and teachers of children in the age 3-8 range. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

Shoo! is a really fun book about a cranky neighbor next to the Zoo, who learns to love her new neighbors. This would be a great read-along book, as many of the words rhyme. I loved the illustrations, they were so silly and fun!!

Was this review helpful?

This book was a super cute story about Mrs. Golightly and her budding relationship with the Zoo animals that moved in next door. As a teacher this book offers more that just a charming story, but offers great examples of rhyming and onomatopoeia!

Was this review helpful?

Shoo! - “A raucous debut picture book about an invasion of pesky animals”

My 10 year old son read this book to me 📚

We spent a few minutes on each page counting and discussing squirrels, birds, butterflies… and Farting Kangaroos, of course 🤣 💩

Thank you to the illustrator, not only did we spend some time discussing pages, we spent more time laughing 🤣

Basically, a riot to read (don’t think I’ve ever said that before 🤣)

Over and out… Shoo! Shoo! I don’t like you! 👋🏽 🤣

Was this review helpful?

An uptight old lady discovers that a zoo has moved in next door. But she thinks all animals are smelly and noisy.
The zoo animals get a little too comfortable at Mrs. Golightly's house. They know nothing of boundaries!
After shooing away the animals, Mrs. Golightly finally gets some peace. But soon, she realized that maybe she didn't mind their company after all.
Shoo! is a silly book with detailed and engaging illustrations. And, of course, you can't go wrong with a children's book featuring a kangaroo on the loo!

Thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the digital ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this one. It's about a zoo that moves next door to someone who loves their peace and quiet. It's silly and fun. It has some rhyming and a bonus that little ones will learn their days of the week.

Can I just say I would love it if a zoo moved next door to me?

Was this review helpful?

Brilliant laugh out loud read.
Mrs Golightly gets some new neighbours when a zoo moves in next door!! Mrs Golightly does not like this.... Oh no! She spends the next week trying to get rid of all the animals as they come around to visit her!
But one day she gets her wish...... 
So many lessons learned from this beautifully illustrated read.
Would recommend to early readers.
Many thanks to Netgalley!

Was this review helpful?

3.5.

This was a very cute picture book about Mrs Golightly who does not like the company of animals; however, a zoo opens up next door. What is she to do?!

The illustrations were very adorable with very cute creatures that individually have so much personality. I enjoyed the rhymes within, their structure and placement, and the themes of tolerance, acceptance, and embracing/adapting to change. Some of the text was a bit hard to read (e.g., black font on a grey/dark blue/dark green background) and while I liked the themes, I think the story was itself was alright. The illustrations had a simple colour palette of neutral and dark greens, greys, blues, and reds which were a bit melancholy at times.

I really enjoyed that you do see personal growth with Mrs Golightly as she adapts to the neighbouring zoo and root for her and the zoo’s inhabitants to befriend, or at the very least, coexist with each other. And to be flexible while adapting to these changes, which can be a challenging thing to do!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced e-ARC of this book.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this one! It starts with a cranky old woman who doesn't like animals. Much to her surprise, a zoo opens up next door! She has animals taking over her house and garden throughout the week and she is MAD! She decides to fix her problem by boarding up her house and putting signs outside of her front gate. The next week, there are NO animals bothering her. I thought she would love that! Turns out, she was lonely and missed them. After that week of being alone, her attitude changed gears and she welcomed the animals back. I loved the illustrations! The story was cute! I think it is perfect for younger children, 2-6.

Was this review helpful?

I started by reading this book with my children and then realized it would be a great addition to our curriculum as well. We all 3 laughed with every page turned.
We loved that it was about an older lady and her experience/acceptance of her new “neighbors”. The slight repetition was wonderful for my early readers to repeat what they had just heard/read.
Introduction of animals, repetition and a reminder of kindness and acceptance made this a book we will read time and time again.

Was this review helpful?

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Mrs. Golightly does not like animals, and when the zoo moves in next door, she is not happy. Each day a new animal slips into her home until finally, she locks them all out. Then she is lonely. Great rhyming words and a funny story.

Was this review helpful?

Lighthearted and fun. This is a lovely story about patience, acceptance and friendship. Filled with whimsy and an inspired compliment of drawings that bring the story to life.

Was this review helpful?

Shoo von Susie Bower find ich grandios. Die Illustrationen sind lustig und ansprechend. Die Geschichte selbst ist humorvoll und nett erzählt. Mrs Golightly mag keine Tiere und nun zieht ein Zoo direkt nebenan ein. Plötzlich sind Tiere bei im Haus und Garte überall und sie vertreibt sie immer wieder. Bis sie einen Tages merkt, dass ihr die Tiere ans Herz gewachsen sind und sie tanzt mit ihnen im Mondschein in der Nacht.

Ein tolles Bilderbuch, was sich sehr gut zum Thema Wochentage, Animals, Zoo oder zum Einüben der Phase I don't like you/ I do like you. Auch wird ein bestimmter Satz immer wiederholt, sodass die Kinder beim Vorlesen schnell mitsprechen können. Hervorragendes Bilderbuch für den Englischunterricht in der Grundschule. Ich bin begeistert.

Was this review helpful?

Shoo! was a wonderful and fun read. The illustrations and the rhyming of the words were especially cute. My kids loved all the animals and hoped that they would find an Armadillo on their pillow as well, but they did not want the ants in there pants. Thanks for a fun read!

Was this review helpful?

I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Shoo! is an illustrated children's book that will make you laugh out loud and definitely funny and a keepsake for children. It tells the story of Mrs. Golightly who hates animals but ends up confronting her fear when a zoo moves on next door. Mayhem ensures but through it she discovers who she truly is. I loved the plot, the illustrations and I cannot recommend it to everyone fast enough.

Was this review helpful?

My children and I loved this book! My girls love going to the zoo, so the fact that it involved zoo animals (especially llamas!) was a huge plus. We continued to laugh as each animal managed to get in the house. Their actions and Mrs. Golightly’s reactions had my four year old cackling and begging me to go back to previous pages. I also adored the illustrations. My girls love animated movies, and it was almost as if we were watching one play out on the pages.

Was this review helpful?

This might be the most adorable book I've ever read in my life.

This is about Mrs. Golightly who doesn't like animals. She shoo them away whenever she sees them. However one day a zoo moved in next door. I won't say much about the story as it is a short book.

This book was ADORABLE!! It was funny and heartfelt. This book felt like a hug. I loved it so much. And the illustrations were absolutely stunning and cute. I want every kid out there to read this book!!

Was this review helpful?

What a cute and fun little book! I think younger kids will especially love this with the colorful illustrations and animals doing funny things like a kangaroo using the toilet. I would buy a copy of this book for a little person in my life.

**thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review**

Was this review helpful?

Adorable! This is everything a picture book should be. Rhyming. Animals. Wonderful illustrations. A giraffe taking a bubble bath. A++

Was this review helpful?

This was a laugh out loud read at bed time this week. What happens when a Zoo moves next door and you don’t like animals? Well an endless array of animals in the most inconvenient of places of course! This story uses repetition so wonderfully and little bookworm was joining in in no time at all. A fabulous book to share together!

Was this review helpful?

What a cute book! The illustrations were detailed and super cute. The story was entertaining and fun. Overall, a great read!

Was this review helpful?

Here it is...my new favorite picture book!
Let me list all the reasons why it is the best and deserves a million stars, not just 5 and should be on the shelf of every library and bookstore.
-The art is SPECTACULAR. The facial expressions and the body movement combined with the color choices make it feel like its come to life!
-The story itself is sweet as pie, I don't want to spoil it but I definitely teared up.
-It is going to be a classic read along story time book! Parents and kids are going to have so much fun discussing all the animals and the silly things that happen when someone tries to shoo them!
I truly can't recommend this lovely picture book more! It's so good!

Was this review helpful?

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this! The story and illustrations are so cute, and I love the character development of the main character! I also think the repetitiveness is perfect for a picture book! Would really recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Shoo! is an adorable story about Mrs. Golightly who does not like animals-imagine the predicament she faces when a zoo moves next door…

With beautiful illustrations and a mix of repetitive text, rhyming, and onomatopoeia, children will adore this book! My 4 year old especially enjoyed the kangaroo on the loo and the accompanying sound effects!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the early e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Mrs. Golightly does NOT like animals and she is constantly shooing them out of her garden. Pesky critters get lost!

One day a whole zoo moves next door! Oh my! Not only are the animals next door they start invading her garden and inside her house. She tries her best to shoo them away. They literally take over her toilet ( a kangaroo on her loo), a giraffe in her bath, an alligator on her radiator, a pair of llamas in her pyjamas, bats in her hats and the epitome of disgusting...ants in her pants, just to name a few.
She HAS HAD IT ! What can Mrs. Golightly do to eradicate these rude invasive creatures?

This hilarious fun rhyming book will have kids in stitches. The illustrations are expressive, engaging and perfectly enhance the text. I truly love them. This would be a wonderful read aloud to share with the intended targeted age group 2-5 years. "Shoo!" is Susie Bower's first picture book and I can't wait for many more. I highly, highly recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Pushkin Press and Netgalley for this opportunity to review this book.

This is an excellent children but. It has rhyming which I love. And most children really like that. The illustrations are adorable. I especially like the animation of Ms. Golightly. She reminds me of Edna from The Incredibles a little bit. I do feel like it needs something. Maybe that transition where she decides that she likes animals. It does seem to be a quick jump. But other than that it's a great book.

#shoo #netgalley #pushkinpress

Was this review helpful?

Don’t ‘Shoo’ away from this amazing book!

Mrs. Golightly hates animals. So when a zoo moves in next door, she finds her house invaded by a different creature each day of the week, and all she can do is to shoo it away. When it gets too much to take, Mrs. Golightly doesn’t go lightly (dad joke, sorry!) but barges ahead, shoos all the creatures away and barricades every possible entrance to her home. However, just as she begins to enjoy her solitude, she realises that she is lonely. What will she do next?

I simply loved this whimsical story! It was silly and yet so much fun. Mrs. Golightly’s reactions to the animals are as amusing as whatever the animals are doing in her home. Kids will surely enjoy the animal antics as well as the hilarious text.

The book has a lot of educational value too. The content comes in simple prose for most of the text, with a few rhyming words for the animals’ actions (alligator on the radiator, llamas in pyjamas,…) The animals are quite varied as well. There are also plenty of onomatopoeic words in the narrative as well as in the illustrations, all of which would make this a wonderful book to read aloud with full gusto.

The illustrations are the scrumptious icing on this yummy cake. They are so adorable! Even when Mrs. Golightly is grumpy, her expressions are to die for! The colour palette is perfect for the story, with the subtle pastel hues working like a charm.

This would be perfect for homes as well as schools. Maybe not for libraries because kids might laugh too hard and break the cardinal rule of silence. 😉 Just kidding!!! Yes to libraries too! It has all the ingredients that make it a perfect readaloud story. Suitable for all little ones aged 2+.

I recently read this author’s “The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom” and was blown away by it. Now with this second triumph, you bet she is going to be on my ‘Must-Read Children’s Author’ list.

4.5 jolly stars.

My thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “Shoo!” This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Was this review helpful?

Me and my 4 year old loved reading this book! Totally enjoyable with very engaging illustrations.
I have always been fond of Children's books because they have so much more than beautiful stories for the little ones. This one left us with many questions and incited conversations which are always a great way to learn and grow!

Was this review helpful?

This was a delight! Fun and funny and GLORIOUSLY pretty illustrations! What a fantastic book! 'Make this into prints and sell for framing - so dang adorable!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book.


It had some of the most beautiful and cozy imagery I have ever seen in a comic. It felt so comforting and so easy to read through.

The story is simple & clean, Mrs. Golightly hates animals & don't want anything to do with them. Unfortunately, she lived just opposite the Zoo & all the animals loved her Garden. The story then progresses to show us waht she is going to do about it.

The manner in which Mrs. Golightly learns her lesson & accepts that she misses the animals as they were her company is so nice to read about & laugh.

I feel that such cute stories are best suited as comics & this one just one of the best.

Was this review helpful?

This book is really cute! I love the illustrations and the story is really fun. My students love stories with animals and I love any opportunity to make them giggle.

Was this review helpful?

This was absolutely lovely! I liked the character development, I liked the rhymes and I like the animals.
I recommend it to all kids but if yours is scared of any animals: give them this book!

Was this review helpful?

Shoo! By Susie Bower is a very cute children’s book. She found out she loved having zoo creatures around. Zoo creatures made her life fun. Children will love the rhymes and bright illustration.

Was this review helpful?

This book has amazing art. It has all the bright colors. They have a positive impact on childrens minds. This book provides a fun way to learn animal names and identifying animals. It is informative and entertaining. I would recomment this book for children from 1 to 3 years.

Was this review helpful?

Shoo! follows Mrs. Golightly, who is anything but. She is pretty grouchy and set in her ways, she dislikes noise and disruption to her lifestyle. So when a zoo moves in next door, she is very, very unhappy. Then the animals begin to encroach on her space. She tries at first to get rid of them with a simple "Shoo!" but eventually she decides to barricade her home. Ahhhh peace and quiet...but it's a bit lonely now, isn't it?

This book has very cute wordplay, with rhyming and repetition. The illustrations are quite adorable.

I'd like to know how exactly the animals are escaping the zoo, that sounds like a bit of a safety hazard, doesn't it? And why doesn't Mrs. Golightly just talk to the zookeeper and make him do his job instead of being rude to the animals? I get that it's a silly little book but overall it did have a pretty cute little moral.

Was this review helpful?

This is a gorgeous children's book! I loved the illustrations they’re just so beautiful, the prose used is simply wonderful abd I think kids will love this

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for free copy in exchange for an honest opinion

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely feel like this character at times. The woman lives next to a zoo and the animals come over every day to use her things. I would also be irate if I were this woman, but that’s what makes the book funny. The fantastic part of this book: the animals use things in her home that rhyme including a kangaroo on the loo and bats in her hats. This will be wonderful for a lesson on rhyming where young students can use their imagination to think of animals and household objects. It sparks imagination and stretches their learning.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for this arc.

This is darling! The illustrations are fantastic and don’t just show the characters but the actions as well. The rhymes are silly and fun – alligators on radiators, armadillos on pillows, jellyfish in a satellite dish – and just the sort of thing that the age group its aimed at will probably enjoy listening to. Children outside of the UK might need to be told what a loo is. It’s also about not making snap decisions and that it’s okay to change your mind and make new friends. B+

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book and her author Susie Bower.

Mrs. Golightly is a woman who does not like animals, lesser in her house. A day the animals did something, it's changed her mentality.

Mrs. Golightly hated that animals, and then she missed them. Not only a kid tale but also a good story that kids can learn about our reality and being softly with our natural stuff such as animals or plants, we also have to build a better world with good thoughts and tolerating our environment.

4.5 rating

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book. It could be a new story time favorite. Miss Golightly does not like animals in her garden in her house anywhere, and she keeps telling them to shoo! However, when she’s had a week of complete quiet and no visitors she realizes she might have liked them a little more than she thought. The artwork is spot on it enhances the feeling of the story and all around it’s a sprightly rhyming cadenced great read. It will be a book I am recommending for a long time to come.

Was this review helpful?

Another one that will have your little ones cackling before you’ve even made it to the first page. Mrs. Golightly is NOT a fan of animals. So she is pretty unhappy when a whole zoo has moved next door. She tries and tries and keeps trying to shoo all of the animals away, but to no avail, as she finds a kangaroo on her loo, a giraffe in her bath, and even ants in her pants. Not only does this one rhyme, an added bonus to keep the kiddos entertained, but this one is bursting with bright colors, big expressions, hilarious scenarios, and wild animals everywhere. An absolute wild time for both the little ones and the adults.

Was this review helpful?

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Was this review helpful?

'Shoo!' by Susie Bower with illustrations by Francesca Gambatesa is a picture book about a lady who doesn't like animals.

Mrs. Golightly doesn't like animals and shoos them away whenever they show up. This was easier before a zoo opened next door to her house. Now there are animals invading her space and she doesn't know what to do.

Told in a fun rhyming manner with lots of great illustrations, this will be a good one for a giggly storytime.

Was this review helpful?

What a lovely book! This was full of beautiful illustrations and a wonderful story that kept my 4 year old very interested.

Was this review helpful?

The illustrations are definitely the strong point here. The characters are expressive and dynamic. That alone will appeal to pre-readers. And the story is a lot of fun too.

Was this review helpful?

What I learned from the book: when you're used to be alone, and got a raucous neighbor, of course it will bother you. But sometimes you need that change of scene and be merry. This is the story of grumpy Mrs. Golightly, and I'm sure you will adore it too.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: