title: The Zoo At Night
author:  Martha Robinson 
description: Robinson's first children's book puts a lilting spin on the timeworn "trip to the zoo" theme by asking, "What happens when they close the zoo/ And all the people go away?/ Do Animals lie down and sleep/ From sunset until dawn next day?" As depicted in her graceful quatrains, the diverse stars of this nighttime outing include such critters as rhino ("big as a couch") and eagle, who sleep peacefully, to spider monkey, raccoon and wombat, among others, for whom darkness means time to play, explore or just keep a quiet vigil. Frasconi's (If the Owl Calls Again) luminous, mixed-media woodcuts reveal a nocturnal world of brooding splendor. Placed against dark-often black-backdrops, his colors stand out in forceful relief. Text set in white typeface makes for easy readability and adds a distinctive design touch. Harmonious for both eye and ear. Ages 4-8. <BR>Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: The Land of Eternal Night 
  by Mike Combs 
  mikecombs@aol.com  
  Copyright © 1996 
          "So you're going to Nightworld?" Jeff Martin cackled. "Oh man, this might be the point where Gary
  Decker finally loses his virginity!" 
          "Bite me," I said. 
          "What? Why, how rude!" 
          "Sorry. Please bite me, sir." 
          Evidently Jeff had heard of Nightworld's reputation as a sexually uninhibited colony; the place where
  the nights never end, and the parties never stop. He had learned this was my latest assignment, and, of
  course, could not forego giving me a bit of grief about it. 
          "Well, I'm off to the spacedocks," I told him. "Try to keep the office from falling apart while I'm
  gone." 
          "Yes, sir," Jeff replied. "And I hope for your sake a report is all you come back with." 
          I'm with the HDSP: Habitat Design Study Program. My job is to tour the newer habitats with
  unconventional designs and write up reports on them. But you might need some history befo