A very nice new review from Bookist for Zoola Palooza!

In this companion story to Dear Deer (2007), Barretta builds a picture book around homographs, words that look the same but have different meanings and pronunciations. Wild and crazy music fans from the animal kingdom gather for Loola Palooza. With one or two pairs of homographs on each double-page spread, the text introduces the musicians (“Carmen Chameleons ENTRANCE will ENTRANCE you”) as well as the rowdy crowd of music lovers. Although some bits of wordplay may fly over kids’ heads, they’ll enjoy Barretta’s wit and the atmosphere of controlled chaos in the high-energy watercolor illustrations.

– Carolyn Phelan