When a young boy’s imagination brings a group of wild animals barreling into his house, things will likely begin to get crazy. Eric Pinder’s new picture book If All The Animals Came Inside has an elephant tromping through the living room, a yak raiding the fridge, and even a kangaroo jumping on the couch! But what will happen when the day comes to an end and the boy just wants to get a little sleep?
Pinder tells the story in rhymes, ending each section with a repeating line that is universally appealing to young children:
“When all the animals played hide-and-seek,
I’d cover my eyes, but the monkeys would peek.
They’d laugh and they’d point. They’d swing and they’d run.
I’d hide with a hippo and have so much fun.
The walls would tremble. The closets would quake.
Oh, what a terrible mess we would make!”
The rhythm of the story, along with the silly progression of events, makes this a fun read aloud at home or in the classroom. Many people will recognize the name of the illustrator, Marc Brown, though the style of these illustrations differ greatly from his usual Arthur work. The collage style even incorporates real photos of familiar items, like a teddy bear, a toy truck, and a container of Tinker Toys.
When you pull out If All The Animals Came Inside be prepared for a noisy read aloud experience, for the rumbling, thumping, and roaring will likely be picked up by your young audience. It’s definitely a wild ride, just as the young boy concludes!
Picture books bring joy to Dawn’s world at home and in her classroom. This is just one love shared on her blog, my thoughts exactly.