Kids’ Books for Your Future Zoologist
Growing up one of my best friends LOVED the zoo. We went to the Bronx Zoo every year for his birthday, and any weekend he could convince our moms to drive us there. Some of my favorite memories growing up took place walking around seeing all the different exhibits and learning so much about animals I would never see otherwise. He is now a zookeeper and works closely with the animals we once used to visit together! Needless to say, I know what future zoologists like! So, if you have a little one who is super curious about animals, the outdoors, or the zoo please foster that love! And to help you out here are some books you should put in their hands:)
Sparrow is always curious. She loves to go outside and search for animals, drawing her findings in her sketchbook. Today, she’s looking for reptiles that slither, creep, and crawl. But these camouflaged animals are not always easy to spot as they blend into their surroundings. Luckily, Sparrow is patient as well as eager to learn more about the lizards, turtles, and snakes that inhabit the park in her neighborhood.
Interactive and instructive, this companion title to Sparrow Loves Birds discusses the colors, patterns, shapes, and home locations of various reptiles. It’s a rich STEM offering perfect for classroom and at-home use—and contains a young reader’s guide to the reptiles spotlighted in the story.
In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war.
Harry Colebourn’s real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey–from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England…
And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin.
Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!
Do you know why a camel has a hump?
A Zebra has stripes?
Or why wombats have cube-shaped poop?
Find out the answers in this fun and beautifully illustrated book, and learn oodles of other intriguing facts about the animal world. It’s the perfect gift for any kid who loves animals and is always asking “Why?” because who doesn’t want to know why a flamingo stands on one leg?
Steve Jenkins and Robin Page have written and illustrated almost 100 nonfiction children’s books that have sold over 5 million copies between them. Masters at making nonfiction entertaining and visually engaging, their books have won numerous awards and are favorites of kids, parents, and teachers alike.
The butterfly rises and glides, traveling from flower to flower as it sips nectar and spreads pollen. But before its adult life can begin, each butterfly must complete a magnificent journey. Starting as a tiny egg beneath a leaf, the butterfly’s life is marked by change. The tender caterpillar hatches, grows, and molts. The chrysalis protects and transforms. Finally, the butterfly emerges, flapping its wings dry before lifting into the air for its first flight.
Lyrical and informative and with beautiful artwork, this stunning picture book highlights the wonder in each stage of a butterfly’s amazing life cycle, and includes informative bonus material about creating your own butterfly garden.
After some sleep,
sloth is ready to eat.
Go, Sloth, go!
In a world where the pressure to speed ahead seems relentless, now is the time to take a trip to the rainforest and cheer for the slowest mammal on Earth—a hungry sloth—who takes her time moving through thicket and vine in search of the tastiest leaves. Developed in consultation with The Sloth Conservation Foundation in Costa Rica, Toni Yuly’s exploration of the sloth’s habits and habitat springs to life, rendered in rich, colorful layers of torn paper and ink.
Once there was a river flowing through a forest. The river didn’t know it was capable of adventures until a big bear came along. But adventures aren’t any fun by yourself, and so enters Froggy, Turtles, Beaver, Racoons, and Duck.
These very different animals take off downstream, but they didn’t know they needed one another until thankfully, the river came along.
This hilarious picture book and heartfelt message celebrates the joy and fun that’s in store when you embark together on a ride of a lifetime.
Nature is full of naughty animals—from chimpanzees who pick their noses to pigs who play in mud. Children and mischievous adults alike will laugh out loud while learning some basic animal facts and realizing that, compared to the species depicted, they’re very well behaved!
This celebration of cheeky critters is perfect for fans of Butt or Face? and Does it Fart?
Did you know…
a praying mantis only has one ear?
a squid has three hearts?
a giant African land snail can have up to eighteen thousand teeth?
Toes, Teeth, and Tentacles celebrates and highlights the numerous unusual and strangely fascinating features and appendages of all kinds of animals, from horns to toes and stomachs to hearts. From the two-tongued loris to a scallop’s 200 eyes, readers will find joy in numbers with this latest book by these two masters of nonfiction. While not a counting book in the traditional sense, readers will enjoy learning all kinds of fun facts from the animal world as they look for fingers and fins!
