Picture Books for Your Little Zookeeper

What is better than a heartwarming, true animal story? Nothing, that’s what. And what’s more, this inspirational picture book features an appearance by Cher. Yes, the Cher!

Kaavan grew up in captivity in a Pakistani zoo. For years, he lived in poor conditions with only one friend, an elephant named Saheli. After Saheli died, Kaavan was overcome by grief and his health worsened. When animal rights activists around the world were alerted to Kaavan’s deteriorating condition, Dr. Amir Khalil visited the elephant to see what could be done.

Thanks to the virality of Kaavan’s story—and with the publicity and fundraising efforts of pop culture icon Cher—Dr. Khalil was able to orchestrate moving Kaavan to the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary, where he now lives with other elephants. Because of the care and help of so many, Kaavan is no longer the world’s loneliest elephant. And that is the best news of all.

This poetic picture book is timeless and sure to become a storytime favorite. Dorien Brouwers breathtaking art will sweep you away to another land.

We are curious, strong, and fierce / We are creators, explorers, and seekers / We can climb, leap and run… We are WILD.

This gloriously illustrated gift book for all ages is an ode to the kindred spirits of children and animals. With socio-emotional themes woven throughout, Wild Beings celebrates our universal and unbreakable bonds with Mother Nature, igniting a passion for playing and exploring the outdoors. As with her stunning debut picture book Sail, Dorien Brouwers leads us on a transformative journey through the wilderness to find our voice.

Another real story of survival to celebrate! The urgency had never been greater for the animals of the Australian outback to find safety than when the wildfires took hold. Thank goodness for the wombat heroes opening up their underground homes!

Up on the hill, Wallaby licks a puddle’s last drop. Skink slips into the shade. Echidna hides in grass as dry as tinder. Under the hill, Wombat carves out a cave that’s all his own. Then—KABOOM!—lightning strikes.

Written in simple and concise language perfect for a read aloud, award-winning author Sarah L. Thomson invites readers to see through the eyes of a wombat as a fire rages through Australian outback. Nearly 3 billion animals were affected by the Australian wildfires of 2019-2020, and wombats played a crucial part in allowing their homes to transform as safe havens for other animals whose homes were destroyed in the fires. Paired with stunning and richly layered art by Charles Santoso, Wombat Underground teaches us that the time of greatest danger is also the time to open our door to those in the greatest need.

This book is perfect for your fact-loving animal fanatic. They’ll be itching to share everything they’ve learned from this silly book that answers all their wildest questions with friends at school.

Do camels really store water in their humps?
Do wombats have cube-shaped poop?
Do polar bears eat penguins?
Do you eat spiders in your sleep???

In this hilariously helpful guide to the facts and fakes of the animal kingdom, you might be surprised to learn what’s true…and what’s a big pile of poop. And speaking of poop, there’s a lot of that smelly stuff in this book, too — everything from how it’s made to which animals eat their own waste. (Yuck!) But will you be able to guess what’s real and what’s made up? Find out in this comical collection of weird habits, cool facts, and sneaky myths about all kinds of animals!

Okay, I’ll be honest, I’m a *little* scared of bugs. However, bugs hold a very important role in our ecosystem. If your kid runs straight to the bug building at the zoo, this book is for you!

Secret cities buzz and bustle
with itty-bitty hard work hustle.
Crouch down low—hush. You’ll see
how bugs build a community!

Ready with their magnifying glass, camera, and scrapbook, two young sisters head into nature to discover all the bugs they can. And these critters are hard at work! From carpenter ants chewing up old trees (like builders clearing a construction site) to butterflies spreading pollen (like gardeners planting seeds) to crickets making beautiful sounds (like musicians playing instruments), bugs belong to a busy world just like people.

With amazingly detailed photographic illustrations of realistic creatures and environments—created with coffee grounds, flower petals, foam footballs, and more—and a bouncy, rhyming text, Hustle Bustle Bugs will have young readers looking more closely at the grass, leaves, and trees around them—and appreciating the community they share!

Okay, sure, these cryptids might not actually be found in a zoo… but imagine if they could! I’d personally love to see a dragon.

From the vicious three-headed Chimera of ancient Greece to the peaceful Navagunjara of India— a creature made from parts from nine different animals—to the awe-inspiring dragons of Europe and East Asia, this exciting introduction to mythological creatures celebrates the wondrous beings featured in stories from all over the world. Including a vast array of fierce monsters, powerful spirits, ancient gods, and helpful beasts, Legendary Creatures is the perfect primer to engage young readers interested in the fascinating world of mythology.

Everyone who knows kids, know that there is nothing funnier than your bottom. This counting picture book features, as the title suggests, a full 101 animal bums!

Bums in the jungle, bums in the town — bums in the treetops, hanging upside down. Bums in the farmyard, bums in the park — lots of teeny-tiny bums glowing in the dark!

Follow the bouncy read aloud rhyme, count the animals, then join in with the jiggly, wiggly dance finale!

Giraffes are one of my top five favorite creatures on this planet. I’ve even gotten to feed one at a zoo in Arizona! If you or your kid love giraffes as well, this story needs to be on your bookshelf.

Everybody loves Leopold the giraffe. He inspires awe and wonder. His adoring fans gaze and cheer. Best of all, they feed him lots of deeeelicious snacks! But, one day, a shiny, bobble-headed new rival comes in and ruins everything…a giraffe-shaped balloon! Just how far will Leopold go to prove that he’s the hero of the zoo? Readers learn that actions speak far louder than looks in this laugh-out-loud face-off from Elise Parsley—the New York Times bestselling creator of the Magnolia Says DON’T! series.

Jane Goodall is undoubtably one of the greatest champions of animals of all time. This picture book is a great introduction to her story and inspires kids to make a difference.

In his characteristic heartwarming style, Patrick McDonnell tells the story of the young Jane Goodall and her special childhood toy chimpanzee named Jubilee. As the young Jane observes the natural world around her with wonder, she dreams of “a life living with and helping all animals,” until one day she finds that her dream has come true. With anecdotes taken directly from Jane Goodall’s autobiography, McDonnell makes this very true story accessible for the very young—and young at heart.

One of the world’s most inspiring women, Dr. Jane Goodall is a renowned humanitarian, conservationist, animal activist, environmentalist, and United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 1977 she founded the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), a global nonprofit organization that empowers people to make a difference for all living things.