The Zoo
The Inside Story
Will be published approx. on 5. February 2026
Book
Hardback
64 pages
978-1-83899-341-2 (ISBN)
Description
Find out what goes on behind the scenes at a zoo in this illustrated non-fiction story by zookeeper and TikTok sensation Jawnie Payne. The perfect gift for kids who love animals or are going on a trip to the zoo!
Follow the story of several characters during a busy day - including zookeepers, a school trip, and some very mischievous animals! Along the way you 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.
Follow the story of several characters during a busy day - including zookeepers, a school trip, and some very mischievous animals! Along the way you 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.
Reviews / Votes
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 *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Priddy Books
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 5 to 8 years
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 291 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
532 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83899-341-2 (9781838993412)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Jawnie Payne is a zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo in the USA. Payne has more than a quarter of a million followers on TikTok (@zookeeperjawnie). She went viral 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, Nashville Zoo, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The Zoo is her first book.
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.
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.