Overview
Find out what goes on behind the scenes at a zoo in this illustrated non-fiction story by zookeeper and TikTok sensation Jawnie Payne. This gentle story is a perfect gift for kids who love animals or are going on a trip to the zoo. It follows the exploits of several characters over the course of a busy day - including zookeepers, a school trip, and some very mischievous animals! Along the way readers will discover how the creatures are fed and kept entertained, as well as what goes on once the zoo shuts for the day! Stunning illustrations by Susan Deming bring the world of a zoo to life - from the big cat enclosure to the penguin pool - with plenty of things to spot in the illustrations for eagle-eyed readers. By the end of the book kids will have a newfound respect for all of the work that goes on to make every zoo experience memorable.
Full Product Details
Author: Jawnie Payne ,
Neon Squid ,
Susan Deming
Publisher: Priddy Books
Imprint: Neon Squid
Dimensions:
Width: 22.30cm
, Height: 1.30cm
, Length: 28.50cm
Weight: 0.534kg
ISBN: 9781838993412
ISBN 10: 183899341
Pages: 64
Publication Date: 05 February 2026
Recommended Age: From 5 to 8 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
A zoo employee herself with a viral following, Payne leads young visitors through a typical day at a generic zoological park... Readers may be surprised at the amount of training zoo animals receive; some are taught to station (or position) themselves a certain way to be X-rayed, to present paws for inspection, or to open their mouths at a hand gesture for dental exams... A wide-ranging zoological overview. * Kirkus Reviews *
A zoo employee herself with a viral following, Payne leads young visitors through a typical day at a generic zoological park... A wide-ranging zoological overview. * Kirkus Reviews *
Author Information
Jawnie Payne is a zookeeper at San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the USA. Payne has more than a quarter of a million followers on TikTok (@zookeeperjawnie). She went viral in 2020 when she posted a video of her wishing a happy Thanksgiving to all the animals. She previously worked at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Fort Worth Zoo, and Nashville Zoo. Susan Deming is an illustrator based in San Francisco, USA. One of her favourite jobs was the several years she spent teaching art in public schools to children 6-11. Susan's favourite books are science or nature non-fiction and nature field guides. When she is not at her desk, you can find Susan taking long walks in the hills surrounding her home or in her garden.
