#Bookreview of Where Do Animals Go For Vacation? by Steve A. Erickson

Where Do Animals Go For Vacation?

Written and Illustrated by: Steve A. Erickson

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: November 7, 2023

ISBN: 979-8891320178

Reviewed by: Holly Connors

Review Date: November 16, 2023

We can all use a little vacation time now and then…a summer vacation, a winter vacation, maybe a long weekend too. But what about animals? Do they go on vacation? And if they do, where do they go? In author Steve Erickson’s delightful children’s book, Where Do Animals Go For Vacation? , we’ll find out where a wide variety of animals travel for fun.

After asking readers if they dream of a special place to go for a perfect vacation, author Erickson asks where animals might go, and what would they do, if they could get away for a little rest and relaxation. Turning the page, we meet a very happy turtle – where do you think he’d want to go on vacation? (Hint: Not where you’d expect.) He’s dressed to the max in a snazzy red hat and matching scarf, goggles, and green skis and poles. He’s dashing down a ski slope, zooming through the freshly fallen snow, a big smile on his face. What an awesome vacation he’s having!

There’s a lot of other animals to meet, from sharks and spiders to elephants and crabs. Each one has a unique vacation trip that will surprise and delight readers. A kangaroo taking a trip on a scooter or a giraffe in the big city? Each has a fun travel journey to share:

When you stand nearly twenty feet tall

Vacation choices are incredibly small.

But giraffes have learned their great height

Makes escapes to big cities totally right.

Where Do Animals Go For Vacation is a creative, unique story that will trigger a child’s imagination. Do animals really go on vacation? Get ready to have some fun discussions with young readers who will likely want to read the story again and again. The story is written in rhyme, and the story flows perfectly, with no strained lines – that’s not an easy feat! The playful illustrations, created by the author, really bring the story to life. Finally, there are “fun facts” about each animal, tucked away at the bottom of each page. The only issue is that these facts, while very interesting (I didn’t know spiders ate their webs), are in a very small font, and very close to the edge of the page. I suspect many grandparents reading the book won’t be able to read them. Other than that small issue, this book is a delightful, original, and incredibly fun book to read.

Quill says: Author Steve Erickson has penned a winner with his newest book Where Do Animals Go For Vacation? It’s fun, a bit goofy, informative, and activates a child’s imagination with musings about animals going on vacation.

For more information on Where Do Animals Go For Vacation?, please visit the author's website at: https://www.steveaerickson.com/