As a new, sillier version of the classic children's song, The Wheels on the Bus, this is the story of what happens when a city bus is overrun with various zoo animals. Kids will find the animal antics and the reactions of the human passengers to be hilarious and will also love learning the new verses to an already beloved song. The illustrations of the human-like animals, such as a tiger wearing a business suit, are superbly done with a humorous edge that will keep your child in giggles. This is a perfect book for entertaining an early-preschool age child who appreciates silly animal humor and loves singing songs.
While other books and songs focus on traditional animal sounds, this book features somewhat more exotic animals, including seals, vipers and skunks. Kids will love learning about the new noises that they can add to their ever-growing repertoire of baas, moos and oinks. Parents may even find themselves letting loose with their kids after a long day of work by reading this carefree story.
Before reading this story to Emily, the little girl I nanny for, we had been practicing singing The Wheels on the Bus. This story opened up to a lot more possible sounds and she now loves adding extra verses into the song. We've even thought of some other animals that we can add, such as an elephant or donkey.
--Abby
Because I use the Wheels on the Bus for back to school theme, I thought the Seals on the Bus would go well with children and I guessed correct! This is a new book I have never read so when the hard cover book arrived, I was amazed. Yes, it is the same tune but with comical pics. On the pages, a tiger rides the bus, and on another page, the passengers plug their noses when the skunk steps into the bus. It is sooo cute!
The children that I read the book to really enjoyed the Seals on the Bus. At first when I began to sing that familiar tune, some of them joined in. They liked the large pictures and it kept their attention from the onset to the end of the book. One of the children, who was much older, came up and started singing along as I turned the pages. It is sure a winner for children up to age 5 or 6 years old and for the readers!
--Marg Peart, Ontario, Canada