Zoo: An Award-Winning Picture Book About How Keepers Care for Animals for Children

by Gail Gibbons

A lively, behind-the-scenes look at just what it takes to keep a zoo running, perfect for sharing with the youngest zoo-goers. The zoo is a very busy place! From early in the morning until evening comes, a lot goes on to keep the animals safe and comfortable. There are kitchens where people prepare the special diets the animals need. And there are nurseries where zoo keepers raise baby animals until they are big enough to go to their exhibit areas. "Before the zoo opens each day a small army of keepers, vendors, and maintenance workers perform the daily tasks of cleaning and setting up. Then the crowds flock in The busy pictures are filled with details and action. The writing is crisp, clear, and informative." (School Library Journal) Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children (NSTA/CBC)

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Nature, Science

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

From gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.

Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute children’s book that describes what a zoo is like.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Retro. Will appeal to kids who like the zoo. Wish it were bigger so detailed illustrations could be better seen.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

10.06.1998 Good explanations - not much story.

[Aarvik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long read for kids!

[Jordan Schwab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoo shows a story behind what happens on a daily basis at the zoo and then goes into more detail about some not so "daily" occurrences such as a birth or the sickness of an animal. Another cool thing in the back of the book is how they explain that zoos have many conservation programs to protect the wild animals and their natural homes which is something that is very important and should be taught to kids at a young age.

The illustrations are pretty simple and remind me a little of "Where's Waldo?" in some places, which I liked. I would say that the pictures were done in paint, ink and with a little digital help. There are some double-page spreads as well as a lot of single-page spreads. There is some framing to present different locations in the same time frame with similar concepts. there aren't really any full-bleeds but there are some pages where the illustrations will go all the way to the edge of the page on some sides.

The text is simple but cute and easy to read. It is in an easy to read, black font on a white background. There aren't really any borders around them but they aren't necessary to be able to read the text.

I would read this book to my kids if we were studying animals or different places around the world and how we can experience them in our own town. I would also use this to help teach kids about how to be aware of what they do and how it effects the environment and animals like the ones in the book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually used for one of my observations in my placement recently. It is a good example of an "all about" text and the students were drawn in to all of the colorful photos! There were also many text-to-self connection opportunities in this book (i.e. have you ever been to the zoo? What did you see?) Great read aloud!