Travels with Zozo…under the Moonbow

Travels with Zozo…under the Moonbow is a wonderful children’s book illustrating the adventures of a grey and white bunny named Zozo and her human family. This book is just one in the Travels with Zozo… series by A.J. Atlas and illustrated by Anne Zimanski.

The first thing that caught my attention when I picked up the book was the wonderful cover illustration. The cover shows Zozo and many of the friends she meets in the book, along with a beautiful background showing a waterfall and moonbow. The well-detailed illustrations carry on throughout the book, and I could see how the pretty colors and whimsical expressions of the animals would really attract young children.

Atlas does a wonderful job with a letter to the readers that gives some insight into specific details in the book that might not be known otherwise. For example, in this book, the waterfall Zozo travels to is at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The name of the waterfall is Mosi-oa-Tunya, and it has been translated into English as The Smoke that Thunders. I really enjoyed all of the facts that Atlas includes in the letter, as it is a way for parents who are reading the book to children to include some educational facts about geography and animals. I had never heard of a moonbow before reading this book!

The simple story of the book will be engaging for children ages three to six, however, older children would also enjoy this book and perhaps be able to read and/or describe it to a younger child. Even as an adult, I went back and read the book a few times over because the illustrations were just so fantastic. In the full-spread picture that depicts Zozo’s plane flying and the huge waterfall in the background, I noticed the illustrator included the flags of Zambia and Zimbabwe. This picture was a lot like a Where’s Waldo picture to me, although a lot cuter, and as I looked carefully, I could see a den of lions, some floating hippos, little animals crossing the road with a crossing guard, and so much more!

I would recommend Travels with Zozo…under the Moonbow to children of all ages. Zozo and her friends are fun, adorable, and will help to teach children along the way. This is a collection that is sure to become a favorite on any bookshelf.