Sea Lions in the Parking Lot: Animals on the Move in a Time of Pandemic

Curiously miscellaneous but likely to appeal to animal lovers.

Gr 2-4--This unusual title highlights 12 animals in their habitats, and how they were affected by the absence of people and human activities during the pandemic. These animals, from around the world, are described through their group name (e.g., a herd of deer) and location. Presented are one or two details about their diet and behavior before the pandemic and what has changed since: how their habitat has expanded, or how their behavior has changed. For example, lions in South Africa can walk the roads usually filled with tourists and rest anywhere in the sun. The accompanying illustration shows five or six lions covering a Jeep and sleeping. Deer in Japan are riding the escalators in the subway and eating out of garbage cans. Sea turtles in Mexico and Brazil are able to increase their numbers because of quiet beaches, without people. Brief notes at the end offer a few details about the habitat, biomes, and behavior of these animals. While the premise of this book is to highlight how human behavior affects animal behavior and how a change like pandemic lockdowns offer opportunities to rethink some of our interactions and effects on wildlife, this title does not offer enough information or ideas for pursuing these goals. VERDICT Animal fun facts and behavior during the pandemic, with often inappropriate illustrations, do not save this title. Not recommended.--Susan Lissim, Dwight Sch., New York City

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A Junior Library Guild selection

"In years to come, these will surely be some of the few joyous tales told about the pandemic . . . This moment in time is gloriously brought to life on the page with brief descriptions and stunning, double-page illustrations of animals — playing, exploring and napping in peace — that will resonate with young readers....[Sea Lions in the Parking Lot] stands as an important reminder that things were different for a while, and guides readers toward deeper environmental thinking, about species and habitats and the interdependence of it all." — Helen Scales, New York Times

"Captivating.... A must-have for all science and social studies collections at all grade levels." —School Library Connections, highly recommended

"Fascinating... an eye-opening book and makes you wonder how humans can continue to stay away from animals' natural habitats." —Charnaie Gordon, @hereweeread

"Thought provoking. Boasting beautiful illustrations, Sea Lions in the Parking Lot: Animals on the Move in a Time of Pandemic is a remarkable look at habitat loss and how wildlife can rebound if humans are more thoughtful of environmental issues." — Kendal Rautzhan, Books To Borrow, Books To Buy, syndicated column

"A beautiful tribute to the animal kingdom....a testament to how much people stand in nature's way, and everyone — including the animals — can use a little room to breathe." — The Book Wrangler

"The art is haunting and a great testament to the fact that a picture is worth a thousand words.....The text in Sea Lions In The Parking Lot is smart and loaded with adjectives, similes, animal facts, and a big overview of their life. It's impressive that author Lenora Todaro was able to accomplish this in just half a page in some cases." — Daddy Mojo

"Sea Lions in the Parking Lot is an amazingly timely and stunning account of how animals were impacted by the Pandemic. As educators we strive to encourage our students to become Global Citizens and this book points them in the right direction! If you are a teacher who covers Climate Change, Human Impact, Biomes, or Animal Habitats, this book is a great resource to enhance your unit!" —Sasha Swift, Science Teacher, Arts & Letters 305 United, Brooklyn, NY

"Reminds us that we share this planet with other creatures, and makes us think about how we can make sure they have safe places to live and raise their families." — Archimedes Notebook

"Timely, fascinating and informative! Sea Lions in the Parking Lot will make children laugh, wonder, and most importantly, see the interconnectedness between human life and wildlife. The short vignettes and beautiful illustrations make this book accessible to children of all ages. It lends itself perfectly to facilitating lively elementary classroom discussions about the pandemic, animal habitats and conservationism." —Rebecca McMurdie, Principal, KIPP Washington Heights Elementary School, New York, NY

"If you're looking for a book with wide appeal and broad curricular connections, look no further than Sea Lions in the Parking Lot! I teach grades K-5 and I try to incorporate the Global Goals into as many lessons as I can. I see this book fitting into several of those categories—Life on Land, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action, to name a few—making for a strong way to tie in a global focus and STEM themes." —Laura Luker, MLS, Library Teacher, Massachusetts School Library Association President

"In this series of delightful vignettes in which animal behavior and habitat change during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Todaro playfully captures some of the serious problems of coexistence between humans and wild animals." —Dr. Matthias-Claudio Loretto, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior