by Philip C. Stead (author) and Erin E. Stead (illustrator)
Every day Zookeeper Amos McGee spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo: running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl.
But one day—“Ah-choo”—he wakes up with the sniffles and sneezes and decided not to go to work that day.
“Meanwhile at the zoo … The animals waited for their friend. The elephant arranged his pawns and polished his castles. The tortoise stretched his legs and limbered up. The penguin sat patiently, all by himself. The rhinoceros worried that his allergies were worsening. The owl perched atop a tall stack of storybooks, scratching his head with concern.”
Though he doesn't make it to the zoo that day, he does receive some unexpected guests.
“This gentle, ultimately warm story acknowledges the care and reciprocity behind all good friendships”~Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review.
This book won the Caldecott Medal (2011).
Published by Roaring Brook Press, A Neat Porter Book.
