In my capacity as Youth Services Librarian, a lot of books pass through my hands on a daily basis, and I'm knee-deep in picture books at almost all times. In such a crowded market, it's difficult for any one book to stand out, but Betsy Rosenthal and illustrator Jago have done it! Rosenthal has hit upon the perfect amount of text per page to hold a two-year-old's attention when reading a picture book aloud, and Jago's gorgeous illustrations provide an extra punch of color and whimsy. Rosenthal's use of rhetorical questions ("Does a cast of hawks get a standing ovation?") remind me of Jane Yolen and Mark Teague's fantastic "How do Dinosaurs ...?" series, as this style of questioning invariably encourages engagement among eager young readers. The end matter of this book provides useful facts and information for further reading. I could imagine this being the centerpiece of a fun Story Time program or a classroom activity on the African Savannah as well as the names for groups of animals. I love it!