Erin E. Stead

A charming story with excellent wood cut and pencil illustrations that depicts a dutiful and caring zookeeper who accommodates the needs of each of the animals (he always lets the tortoise win footraces). When he is forced to stay home sick, the animals visit him at home, each proffering a kind remedy. A fine addition to my list of "sick books" which includes "Germs Make Me Sick" and "A Bad Case of Stripes."

Amos McGee takes his time. His routine is simple, and his friendships are true. When he gets a cold and doesn’t show up for his job as a zookeeper, his animals notice. They make a trip to his house to pay back the kindness he shows them every day. Erin Stead garnered a well-earned Caldecott for her work on Amos McGee; the shy, faded illustrations give this book the same personality as its main character: simple, sincere, sweet. Observant readers will find plenty of illustrated details that show more help them get to know Amos beyond the text.

By reflecting an element of Amos’s personality in each of the zoo animals, author Philip Stead manages more profound character development in 32 pages than most writers can achieve in as many chapters. By the time you close the book, you will have fallen in love with Amos McGee and his friends. And that’s okay – this is a book to savor; so go ahead, flip back to the beginning and take another amble with Amos. show less

This is such a lovely book. The detailed drawings exude the loving nature of the book, and the tasteful splashes of color add to the warm and fuzzy feeling. Within mere pages, the author and illustrator manage to impart the simple, ritualistic rhythm of Amos' days. His loving care for the animals and their dismay for his absence are also beautifully depicted in words and illustrations that complement each other. The wordless pages let the reader soak up the feelings and anticipate what the show more animals are going to do. I think this would be a great read-aloud for younger elementary students. It would be a great discussion of what it means to be a friend. Amos was a friend to each animal in a different way because he knew what each animal needed. Sweet book. show less

A cute Caldecott book in which a man who takes care of zoo animals finds the same care given back to him by the animals. I love how sweet this book is.