I wasn't a fan. I think it just wasn't something that resonated with me, I couldn't get myself into this collection.

This one just wasn't for me. There wasn't anything bad about it in particular, and the illustrations we're absolutely beautiful. I just couldn't get into the writing.

Very beautiful book. The poems were relatable and well written and I was really able to lose myself in the writing.

Zookeeper by Douglas S. Haynes is a very short but sweet poem of life lessons and encouragement. Beautifully illustrated, it makes a wonderful graduation gift or Holiday gift for that special young person in ones life.

A clever use of images and text. This book works poetically, with very few words on each page. An enjoyable book for readers who enjoy verse, and a book that is accessible for all ages.

Wait, what did I just read? It was over almost as quickly as it began. It was extremely short, simple, and didn't seem to have much deeper meaning beneath each line except for the author telling his daughter what not to do in college. This lay somewhere between a children's book and a father telling his daughter "don't go out past 1 AM" through an owl.
Just not my cup of tea.

★

Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In the past two years I've really been getting in to reading poetry. And every once in a while I come across a collection that speaks to me.

This spoke to me.

It was beautiful, raw and empowering.

I found myself wanting to stretch out and savour every page. I loved the message and I'm looking forward to more from this author

The Zookeeper is a beautiful book with a positive message. The art is wonderful and while the words are sweet, I felt puzzled at the end of the book. It's a max of 22 pages, very few words and the writing is very plain. I saw that the asking price is around $25 for this and I truly cannot wrap my mind around that. This is a poem that I could see being typed up as a note to your child and hung on a wall. You are quite literally only paying for the art. This is the only reason the book gets a 3 star instead of a 1 or 2 star. Definitely not a book I would recommend, at least not at the given price.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free ebook copy.
This book had a positive message and was really cute. It was extremely short, and the artwork was mediocre. It would be a nice children's bookbut not one I'd purchase.

It is a beautifully written poem, using animals as symbolism. The amazing artwork adds another level to it and highlights the words.

I think it is a clever idea to wrap up all your anxieties and distill them into a few brief thoughts. To me it is part of the skill of writing and when done well we quote verses and whole poems that capture our own sense of place or emotion.
This writer became a poet when he wrote these simple words drawing on the animal world to convey a deeper meaning. Any parent has struggled with leaving their kids right from nursery. Imagine the realisation they are off to college or university, leaving home a trial run. Bedding down in halls or house sharing with limited sex discrimination.
A Father looking at his departing daughter can do no more. He’s growled at suitors and given the eye to the neighbourhood lads, players and lotharios.
She is on her own but still my little girl.
A humorous few words in a memorable form to shows she’s loved, missed and never forgotten.
Magical, sentimental and worth sharing to a wider collegiate.

The only reason I don't rate this book any lower is the illustrations and the positive message it gives.
It's not that it's particularly badly written: it's not! Though I'm not a head-over-heels fan of free verse, I knew what I got myself into, so that's not my problem: the wording is nice and there are thoughts behind it. Especially with the beautiful illustrations this book could be a nice gift to someone who appreciates this kind of things.
I think I simply expected a bit longer poem? I don't know. This 'book' was so short I didn't really feel like there was a point in making it a whole, separate book. It should've been either more little poems, or one significantly longer. At the end I was left with an odd feeling that I only read the beginning of a book.

I gave 3 stars to this book because of the idea and illustrations.

A very lovely little picture book with beautiful illustrations and poetic meaning. This is a real winner for college graduates.