Product Description
Benjamin Mee decided to uproot his family and move them to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo on the English countryside, complete with over 200 exotic animals. It was his dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. There was much work to be done, and none of it easy. Tigers broke loose, money ran low, the staff grew skeptical, and family tensions ran high. Then tragedy struck. His wife had a recurrence of a brain tumor, forcing Benjamin and his children to face the heartbreak of illness and the devastating loss of a wife and mother. But inspired by her memory and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resovled to move forward. The Mee family opened the gates of the revitalized zoo in July 2007. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Wonderful tru story
This is a wonderful book.It is heart warming and at times heart wrenching. It was a little hard to keep track of who all the people are.I would recommend making a list of who's who.I think it is a wonderful book that all zookeepers or those interested in zoos or animals should read.I got a better understanding of what it takes to run a small zoo and even more, the hardships of getting a rundown zoo back up and running. Mee's experience was documented for animal planet and I wish I had seen it.

A little Dry
When I first saw this book I was extremely intrigued.I love animals and I enjoy memoirs.I have already read Terri Irwin's book and Jack Hanna's latest and enjoyed them immensely.My problem with this book was it was not about the animals in the zoo as much as I would have liked. This zoo they bought was full of interesting and endangered animals that could be a story in themselves, but besides escapes and other problems with them, I felt they were not a main character.The book is enjoyable but sometimes the author jumps around too much from past to present. If you really enjoy animals it is a decent read but there are others I would recommend before this book.

Ok book
This book was disappointing I guess I expected to read more about the animalsand the starting of the zoo rather than all the finanical aspects.
Too many stories about banks and inspections. Sorry about his wife dying.

The true story of a young family who bought a broken down zoo with 200 wild animals
This true story of a young family who bought a broken down zoo with 200 wild animals and how they managed to revive their family and the zoo makes for a powerful memoir to fascinate any interested in wildlife management. The zoo was located in the English countryside and author Mee, who specializes in animal behavior, had a dream to run it as a family business. His family efforts and the engaging stories of zoo residents who sometimes proved a challenge makes for fascinating reading. General-interest lending libraries will love it.

Powerful memoir
This was a pretty powerful memoir. It combines a family, a dream, hard work, and tragedy. I think for the most part all the elements are pretty well balanced. I was rooting for this family and the success of their zoo and dream. They worked tirelessly to make improvements for the animals and zoo while trying to remain a close-knit family as the author's wife passes away.

I loved reading about the author's wife and children, especially his love for his wife. I would have loved to learn a bit more about his other family members as well. The author's mother is mentioned several times but I would have liked to learn more about his siblings.

All the stories related to the zoo were pretty amazing. Multiple animal escapes, staff spats, and animal personalities. There was a great deal going on. And I loved it all! At times when the author was talking about the animal enclosers I had a hard time picturing exactly what he meant. I don't know if it was just me or if it's hard for a zoo outsider to understand these things. It was very rewarding to see the zoo's makeover from start to finish and see the staff form and come together to get the zoo ready for inspection.

This was a very original true story and I would like to learn more about this family and their zoo since this book was completed! ... Read more

Product Description

Welcome to the savage and surprising world of Zoo Story, an unprecedented account of the secret life of a zoo and its inhabitants, both animal and human. Based on six years of research, the book follows a handful of unforgettable characters at Tampa’ s Lowry Park Zoo: an alpha chimp with a weakness for blondes, a ferocious tiger who revels in Obsession perfume, and a brilliant but tyrannical CEO known as El Diablo Blanco.

            Zoo Story crackles with issues of global urgency: the shadow of extinction, humanity’ s role in the destruction or survival of other species. More than anything else, though, it’ s a dramatic and moving true story of seduction and betrayal, exile and loss, and the limits of freedom on an overcrowded planet—all framed inside one zoo reinventing itself for the twenty-first century.

            Thomas French, a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter, chronicles the action with vivid power: Wild elephants soaring above the Atlantic on their way to captivity. Predators circling each other in a lethal mating dance. Primates plotting the overthrow of their king. The sweeping narrative takes the reader from the African savannah to the forests of Panama and deep into the inner workings of a place some describe as a sanctuary and others condemn as a prison. All of it comes to life in the book’ s four-legged characters. Even animal lovers will be startled by the emotional charge of these creatures’histories, which read as though they were co-written by Dickens and Darwin.

            Zoo Story shows us how these remarkable individuals live, how some die, and what their experiences reveal about the human desire to both exalt and control nature.

Customer Reviews (26)

A brilliant book
I have read many books on zoos and animals and this is easily one one of the best.The book has several captivating and fascinating story arcs about interesting characters.The book also brilliantly lays out the issues that a zoo poses and places those issues in the even larger questions of how man relates to nature and our fellow creatures.I strongly recommend this book.

Very Good but.....
Thomas French, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for the St. Petersburg Times has written an eye opening book about zoos, well at least one zoo in particular. In Zoo Story,French focuses his attention on the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida.Not only does the author reveal what life is like for the animals in captivity, but he also focuses of the politic and, power plays involved in zoo operations, which were not always in the best interest of the animals. The former CEO, Lex Salisbury, AKA El Diablo Blanco (White Devil), was forced to resign in 2008. This particular zoo in Tampa,was shut down in the 1980s due to horrific conditions. It was reopened and transformed years later, but one must ask the question -- at what cost to both the animals and the staff?

The story begins with (11) elephants from a herd in Swaziland, South Africa being air lifted in a Boeing 747. Traveling from South Africa to Tampa, Florida, the new home for the majority of this group, at a cost of $12,000 per elephant. Tranquillized and traveling in cages on this long journey alone stirred up much controversy from animal rights advocates, debating the merits of living in one's natural habitat, despite overpopulation, versus the new contained environment created at the zoo. Elephants from the herd are often slaughtered to contain overpopulation, andbecause of a shortage of food.

This book was very informative, and the six year's of research conducted by the author shows. I liked the fact that he told it as he saw it, and it is clear that he did not sugar coat anything.The book held my attention throughout, however, I felt the story was too focused on zoo operations and management for my taste. I did not realize this would be the case when I began the book. I was hoping to learn a lot more about the lives of the animals in captivity there, than I did.Despite this, the book is solid, and would probably appeal to most people with a genuine interest in animal welfare. RECOMMENDED

Phenomenal
There's not much to say other than this book is incredible. Tom French is a truly gifted writer, and he does a stunning job. The work he put into this story in apparent, and by the end, I fell in love with everyone involved -- including French. Read this if you have ever owned an animal, been to a zoo or wondered about either.

Top-notch research into a behind-the-scenes view of zoo life
There's no witty prose here or even any use of vocabulary that a reader would need to look up the meaning. What you do get, however, is top-notch research. I recall learning about how the book focused on the Lowry Park zoo in Tampa, Florida. However, author Thomas French really did his research here as the book spans several years and references events far beyond the Lowry Park zoo.

Some descriptions of the book have made it sound riveting, and yes, there are definitely some very exciting parts but the book as a whole is not necessarily a thriller. What it is, however, is a great study in the life cycle of zoo animals and the trials and tribulations of a zoo. Nothing is spared here, which includes the deaths of animals as well as keepers. French starts his tale by picking out a particular type of animal and following their journey from wild to captivity. By doing so, he helps the reader form an emotional attachment to animals while at the same time he provides enough neutrality in his writing to help the reader make sense of the idea of captivity.

While there are character portrayals of the head of the zoo as well as of a few keepers, the real stars of this book are the animals. French picks out the king and queen of the zoo to follow throughout the book. In this case, the queen is a tiger who is picky about a mate and a chimp raised initially by humans who has a thing for blondes who flash a bit of shoulder. It's hard not to get attached to these animals, and it's especially evident in the audio version of the book. During a particularly upsetting passage regarding one of the animals, the narrator's voice could be heard choking up. I'm glad that they didn't choose to re-record as it merely added to the weight of the story.

There's plenty of humor and excitement here as well, especially when it comes to stories of humans breaking into exhibits to be with the animals, animals too smart to be contained in their exhibit (or animals coaxed out of their exhibits), and a flood that inadvertently frees some of the animals who just happen to be particularly peckish. You'll be surprised at what their first choice of a meal is.

As someone into animal welfare who no longer visits zoos, it is at least refreshing to get the viewpoint of those who have chosen a career out of looking after the welfare of the animals in the zoos. If this book intrigues you, I highly recommend Karen Dawn's "Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals", one of my favorite books of all time and available on Amazon.

Still on the fence about Zoos.
Really interesting to learn how zoos work. The author doesn't really takes sides for or against them, but makes compelling arguments for both sides.I know I'll never walk into a zoo again without thinking about this book and the lives of the animals, which are forever changed.I never elephants were so much like humans, and it makes me sick to think of how many I've seen caged, at circuses, and in zoos.In the end there are no perfect answers, but I'm happy to have had a closer look. ... Read more

Product Description
USAFA'S CADET ZOORecipient of 2010 Colorado Independent Publishers Association Awards for History and Autobiography. A compelling story, masterfully crafted with striking historical insight, remarkable candor, and a rich serving of dark Cadet humor. USAFA'S CADET ZOO is a must read from the award-winning author of GUNNY, a 1969 Air Force Academy graduate. Tighten the seat belt and brace for an Over the Wall romp through the Dark Ages with Dawn Patrol Warriors, a telling legacy of Letters from the Zoo, and a daunting quest for the soul of a national icon during its Vietnam era. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Had to put it down...
First, thank you Mr. Gonzalez for your service.I respect that you served in our armed forces and truly appreciate it.

Okay, so I get this book because my son has just entered the Air Force Academy.I honestly could NOT keep reading it.I gave up after skimming the first two chapters, trying to find some redeeming quality that would keep me interested.It is absolute drivel and more of a memoirs making the author feel good about his past.The reader is CONSTANTLY reminded how great the author WAS.It is full of personal anecdotes of his pranks and just how obviously clever he was.He just couldn't stop laughing at his own jokes.Zzzzzzzzzzzz.Also, his stories are extremely out-of-date and irrelevant.Maybe if I stuck with it I would actually learn something.Alas, I did not, on either count.If you are looking for out-dated, self-inflated stories of upperclassmen hijinks, this book is for you.Well, at the least the first two chapters. ... Read more

Product Description
Book description to come. ... Read more

Product Description

Something strange is happening at the Clarksville City Zoo. Late at night, monkeys are scaling the walls and searching the neighborhood—but what are they looking for?

Noah, his sister Megan, and their best friends, Richie and Ella, live next door to the zoo. Megan is the first to notice the puzzling behavior of some of the animals. One day Megan disappears, and her brother and their friends realize it's up to them to find her. Their only choice is to follow a series of clues and sneak into the zoo. But once inside, will they discover there's much more to the Clarksville City Zoo than they could ever have guessed?

Customer Reviews (10)

review of the secret zoo
Hi my name is Sydney. I'm going into 4th grade and my dad got me this book over the summer. This book is definetly an adventure.This would be a good book for you if you like action,animals and freaky monkeys. :)
I can't wait until Bryan Chick comes out with his next book!

The Secret Zoo
I ordered this for a friend's child as a birthday present but never heard any comment about it.I read a little bit about this book before ordering it and I thought it's a great book to get.Thank you.

The Secret Zoo
This was a fun book! I am an teacher and bought this book to add to my library. I read it myself and really enjoyed it as an adventurous, unique animal story.

Kids with love it - even boys!
I lead a book club with my son's class each year. He is in 4th grade. Our group read The Secret Zoo this winter. All 7 kids loved it! I assigned pages each week and they complained every week about having to wait to read on. They stopped me in the halls to discuss what they thought was going to happen next.

They story is unique and very well told. While some parents may be put off by the "missing child" in the beginning of the story, we must remember that adult imagination is far more dark than a child's imagination when it comes to that topic - it never occurred to my group that she wouldn't be found, safe and sound. They were more excited about how she would be found. The vivid descriptions get the kids started in the right direction, but then let imagination take over.

The 4 heroes of book have traits with which every kid can identify. The characters bring a lot of humor to the books, especially Ella and Richie. My son was laughing out loud at times. The resolution is intense, but the humor and quick pace keeps it from getting too frightening.

The concept of the story really intrigued my group. I know when I took my son to the zoo a couple weeks after reading it, he found all sorts of potentials "secret zoo" entrances.

So, I have 7 kids anxiously awaiting the start of book club next year so they can find out what the Adventure Scouts are up to next. They've passed the book on to friends so my book club may be a little larger next year! Kids excited about reading - isn't that every parents dream?!

FYI - I also read The Secret Zoo aloud to my 1st grader and she loved it, too!

THIS IS SURE TO BE A HIT!
I am a third grade teacher who is still reading this book to my class...and we are ADDICTED to it!It is one of the best books I have read to my class in a long time. The book is filled with descriptive language, suspense, and a lot of action and adventure.My students beg me to read more and more each day.We have had a lot of great discussions and have applied the story to many of our literacy lessons...especially with vocabulary.I can only imagine that with more exposure, this book is going to be a hit.I can even see it becoming a successful movie!We are looking forward to the next book in the series! ... Read more

Product Description
A moray eel diagnosed with anorexia…A herd of bison whose only hope is a crusading female doctor from Paris…A vet desperately trying to save an orphaned whale by unraveling the mystery of her mother’s death…This fascinating book offers a rare glimpse into the world of exotic animals and the doctors who care for them. Here pioneering zoological veterinarians—men and women on the cutting edge of a new medical frontier—tell real-life tales of daring procedures for patients weighing tons or ounces, treating symptoms ranging from broken bones to a broken heart, and life-and-death dramas that will forever change the way you think about wild animals and the bonds we share with them.

From a root canal on a three-thousand pound hippo to one doctor’s heartbreaking effort to save a critically ill lemur, here are acts of rescue, kindness, and cross-disciplinary cooperation between zoo vets and other top scientists. We meet highly trained specialists racing against time and circumstance to save the lives of some of the most exotic animals in the world. Shoes designed for racehorses help a rhinoceros with a debilitating foot disease. A kangaroo survives spinal surgery performed by a leading human doctor. These unforgettable stories capture the bonds that develop between vets and their animal patients, the ingenious measures many vets have tried, and the remarkable new insights modern medical technology is giving us into the physiology and behaviors of wild animals.

At once heart-quickening and clinically fascinating, the stories in this remarkable collection represent some of the most moving and unusual cases ever taken on by zoological vets. A chronicle of discovery, compassion, and cutting-edge medicine, The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes is must reading for animal lovers, science buffs, and anyone who loves a well-told tale.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The "Behind the Scenes" Heroes
This book is a wonderful collection of short stories of Veterinarians and their patients.The challenges and rewards of being a doctor to the various animals in Zoos and Aquariums. Language is more clinically oriented and would have been better for the layperson with a glossary.However, each story is quite touching.At the conclusion of each story, a mini biography of each veterinarian follows.There are full color photos of the patients featured in the stories.

This is a great book for any aspiring veterinarian, biologist or just plain animal lover.

I highly recommend it.

Enjoyable Read for Anyone!
I purchased this book while I was traveling for a vet school interview and found it to be very interesting.If you are not a vet/vet student, you will still find this book very interesting.It gives you an insight into the world of animal care in zoos that the average visitor probably NEVER thinks about.I found the stories to be interesting and insightful.......

Fascinating stories about treating animals
The San Antonio and the Austin zoos reflect very different personalities. San Antonio is sometimes called the "Riviera of the US"; its zoo is world class with "over 3,500 animals representing 600 species of animals on 56 acres. More than 1,000,000 guests visit the San Antonio Zoo annually - 13,155 of those being children participating in education programs and 80,000 school children coming on field trips."

The Austin Zoo is much more of a no-kill animal shelter, like those that shelter dogs and cats throughout the US. "The mission of Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary is to assist animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation and education. We currently have over 300 animals from over 100 different species at the Zoo."

The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients is a great resource for understanding animals in either zoo, but over 90% of the animals in Austin have serious problems of one kind or another: three badly abused lions (one from a cramped junkyard zoo, one discarded by a circus, one badly injured in a crash), a vulture without feet, dozens of others requiring imaginative care. At Austin, you can read their personal stories and see the patients apparently thriving under the keepers care.

Rhinotells the stories of other animals saved by imaginative and dedicated care by professional veterinarians; the other Reviews here on Amazon have done a great job of describing the contents of the book. It's heartening for an animal lover to read these stories and to see human compassion at work.

Of course, both the San Antonio and the Austin zoos have dedicated professional staffs. It's wonderful, though, to see the well cared for "patients" in person and to read about how others have been saved as well. We were inspired to increase our donations to two of the no-kill shelters in our area back home.

Robert C. Ross 2009

Really 3 1/2 s
This was a fun cute read. The stories were short and intersting. Nice wide variety of wild animal, reptile, and other aquatic creatures and the lengths the vets who care for them take to heal. I found myself thinking just the other day about the goldfish story- my own 'Spike' is 3 but I'm bit sure I would Fed-Ex him to give him chemo if he was sick. My cat would be different though. Overall if you like animals and are interested in the world of wildlife vets, this is a great book with cute pics in the middle and fun stories.

thought provoking

I devoured this book on a very long transcontinental flight, and found it absolutely fascinating. However, it also inadvertently highlighted an area of concern regarding the ability of zoos to create the appropriate habitat for captive animals. In fact, the question is whether they should be captive at all. The seahorses died because they were transported so they could be part of an acquarium's exhibits. The rhino suffered feet problems he would not have otherwise had in the wild. Some animals suffered injuries related to running into artificial barriers that they would not normally have encountered. The stories may be beautifully written, and it is clear the veterinarians involved are caring and compassionate people. But, I can't help noticing that the unspoken message within the stories is that we are not doing animals much of a favor by keeping them in captivity. ... Read more

Product Description

Zoos and animal rights seem utterly opposed to each other. In this controversial and timely book, Stephen Bostock argues that they can develop a more harmonious relationship. He examines the diverse ethical and technical issues involved, including human cruelty, human domination over animals, the well-being of wild animals outside their natural habitat, and the nature of wild and domestic animals. In his analysis, Bostock draws attention to the areas which give rise to misconceptions.

This book explores the long history of zoos, as well as current philosophical debates, to argue for a conservational view of their role in the modern world. Anyone concerned with humanity's relationship with other animals and the natural world will find this to be thought-provoking and rewarding reading.

Product Description

Customer Reviews (11)

No Smoking!
My kids and I love Curious George and we have about 10 of these books.However, I was extrememly disappointed to see a man SMOKING in Curious George Visits the Zoo!It's the page where a man and a woman are picnicing.I realize it's hardly noticable, but come on.What are we teaching our children?Let's update this book for the next printing, shall we?

Curious George
I love all the curious George books. Who Doesn't?

author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

avoid all these CG adapted from the film series.
the art is awful! just freeze frames from a poor quality film. the stories are garbage too. they jump to the conclusion, and only seem to be written to correspond to the bad pictures. forget these curious george titles, they are all being rewritten. the CG visits the aquarium used to be one of these crappy film adaptation but recently got rewritten and redrawn. better off with the higher quality titles not written from the film series.

Too Bad It Shows a Man Smoking!
Adapted from the stills of the Curious George film series, Curious George Visits the Zoo would be a decent addition to the CG books--except that it shows a man lounging on a blanket in the park with his wife and young child...while smoking a cigarette!

This past weekend we visited a bookstore and my son wanted not one, but SEVEN Curious George books to add to his collection (he already had several at home). Curious George Visits the Zoo was one of the books we bought.

Because my son wanted 7 books--and because they were Curious George--I didn't feel a need to screen them. Imagine my surprise when I read the book at home and saw a man smoking on one of the pages!

Fortunately, the man holds the smoking cigarette in front of his body (while smoke curls towards the sky)--and his shirt is gray with dark stripes. I took a pencil and shaded out the cigarette and it blended OK. Because the stills of the animated series are sort of fuzzy anyway, I did a decent job of disguising it.

Still, images like this do NOT belong in a children's book!

Other than that, the story is fine--typical mayhem as George steals the zookeeper's bucket of bananas which causes a little boy to lose his red balloon (he ends up crying!)--sending his Mom into a panic. George saves the day, as usual, but really--he's just remedying a mess he caused in the first place!

This book is geared towards ages 4-8, but has less text than books like Curious George and the Puppies. If you don't mind books featuring smoking adults (!)--or are willing to shade out the image with a pencil--then it's a decent Curious George book. But why bother, when there are better books in the series that DON'T require such touch ups?

Another great George classic
Once again we meet George... as usual he's finding trouble but in the end it all works out. Rated 4 stars because although this book was written many years ago, some people might find the caged animals objectional. Thank goodness zoos have come a long way since this was written. My toddler loves both George and zoo animals so in the end it was still a great read. ... Read more

Product Description
A great visual book for teaching children that they aren't the only ones that have to take naps. ... Read more

Product Description
There are many imaginative and fun filled activities Cinnamon and her new friends engage in this particular book. The book motivates children to be more aware and involved with animals.It’s a great picture book to help your kids get over their discomfort with animals. Cinnamon takes a trip to the zoo and allows the reader to share the experiences with her. She goes as far as sailing the sea with the tigers, spinning around with the iguanas, and jumping on the belly of an elephants to show how far her imagination will go to enjoy adventure. ... Read more

Product Description
This title presents the adventures of Mike Thomas, former owner of The Seal Sanctuary and Newquay Zoo, and sometime Big Cats in the Wild Expert. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (17)

Excellent transaction!!
The transaction was completely smooth, shipped very promptly, book in excellent condition.Thank you!

His efforts to change the zoo from chaos to a peaceful park are simply riveting
Deserving of ongoing mention is BABYLON'S ARK: THE INCREDIBLE WARTIME RESCUE OF THE BAGHDAD ZOO, a chronicle deserving a permanent place in not just military collections but any general-interest lending library strong in animal interest. When the Iraq War began the conservationist author could only think of the Baghdad Zoo, located in the cross-fire of events. His efforts to change the zoo from chaos to a peaceful park are simply riveting.

A surprising detour from the horrors of war
The enthusiasm that Anthony, a South African conservationist, invests to care for an abandoned zoo thankfully makes up for the writing. He pairs with Iragi zookeepers and U.S. soldiers--who defy orders to deliver necessary supplies--to treat neglected animals helpless against war and looting. In the process, he exposes shady characters and conditions of an emerging black market for exotic pets. Details about Uday's vast exotic "pet" collection will both fascinate and repulse.

Babylon's Ark reminds that ordinary people do extraordinary things. And that war can unite divided camps, despite who is shooting and stealing. A surprisingly positive detour from the horrors of war.

Inspiring, how courageous individuals can make a difference
I had heard about this story and it seemed almost impossible that anyone would be brave enough to do what this man did - go to Iraq in the middle of the war to save the animals of the Baghdad zoo. I found this book at my local library and read it almost in one sitting - it's a good read, well-written, but it's the story itself that is amazing. The book tells the story in vivid detail, a sadder, scarier and more horrifying story than I had imagined, yet told with some humor, and with many examples of how the decency and courage of individuals does make a difference. Here's an average guy - just like you and me - ok, maybe not all of us run nature preserves in Africa - but still, not a soldier, not a person trained to survive in the chaos of war. He arrives in this chaos, recognizes it's worse than he had imagined, but instead of saying "big mistake, I'm getting out of here," he draws that line in the sand: "I'm here, I committed myself, I'm going to do something about it." And then carries through. If this were a movie, I'd be applauding.

A Solemn Glimpse of the Nature of Humanity and our Tendency towards Destruction
After reading the graphic novel "Pride of Baghdad," I was very interested in what happened to the zoo in Baghdad, so I tracked down this book by Lawrence Anthony.

From this book I learned a lot about what it was/is like in Iraq from an outsider's perspective at the heart of Baghdad just after the invasion - the hardships, violence, lack of sanitation, futility, and destruction. This one man's battle to save the remaining animals that were not stolen or killed in the zoo is an amazing documentation of courage, compassion, and determination. Lawrence Anthony has a big heart and an impressive amount of "liver," so to speak. ;)

I was struck by many things in this book - first the quick degradation of humanity in a situation where law and order has gone out the window. So many people rely on the innate good nature of mankind to somehow overcome and make our own peace, yet as soon as the police and established enforcement were gone in Baghdad, theft and vandalism took over. Left to our own devices, we are a sick sad species, bent on taking for ourselves at the expense of others. If you think your country would do anything less once the law was dispelled, you are mistaken. It makes me think of all the riots that have taken place in U.S. history. The inclination of the majority is to pillage and loot rather than organize and construct. It's no wonder the world is being increasingly destroyed. We are innately screwed up.

This book also showed me the hopeful side of humanity though - those willing to take a stand and brave the odds to bring order and safety back. Those courageous Iraqis who worked so hard alongside Anthony were an inspiration and an honorable representation of the human race. The risks all of them took to help the helpless should be lauded by everyone as an act of the utmost heroism.

There is so much frustration in this book - difficult to read at times as you experience yourself the sinking hope and exhaustion those few stubborn men (and women). But through it all they endure and ultimately succeed in their efforts.

I liked this book because of the insight into both the lightness and the darkness of humanity, as well as tangibly real descriptions of situations that make it easy to imagine you're there. Anthony also keeps things interesting by interjecting little snippets of his own history and other people's experiences into the flow of things.

The ending turns into a big lecture on global warming and the destruction of the planet, but I guess that's to be expected. And really, even if you are reluctant to run after the green bandwagon, you cannot deny that our planet does need our help. If not the weather (which it may very well be too difficult to change) the life we are continuing to mow down and extinguish (often permanently). We may like to think that this world is too big for measly old us to make a dent in, but that same logic is what made the bison and passenger pigeons go from populations of millions to extinction (or the verge of it for the bison).
It is important also, however, not to forget that people should not be ignored as we try to improve things. Just like Lawrence has to make sure the Iraqi workers were fed first, we should not put such a priority on ecological improvements that the poor and desperately starving are trampled or further impoverished by those efforts. There has to be a balance of compassion.

Thanks, Anthony Lawrence, for passing on your experience to the rest of us. I hope everyone who reads your writings learns as much if not more than I did, and takes inspiration from your kind and peace-making attitude. ... Read more

Product Description
Iris Oakley, pregnant and still recovering from her husband’s murder, wants only to carry on as a keeper at Finley Memorial Zoo in Vancouver, Washington. But she is confronted with a terrifying situation: alone and with no elephant expertise, she must rescue her boss, Kevin Wallace, from being mauled to death by Damrey, a zoo elephant.
No one understands why reliable old Damrey attacked the foreman. Rattled coworkers nominate Iris to find out what’s going on. She finds a surprising number of motives to kill the foreman, but the elephant doesn’t have one.
Despite the distraction of trying to construct her new life as a single mother, Iris discovers that the elephant keepers are locked in a bitter feud, the new veterinarian is keeping secrets, and an old flame still hates Wallace. Adding to the chaos, animal rights activists are picketing the zoo. They want the elephants sent to a sanctuary, but is that a better option for them than the improved exhibit that is on the drawing board? Why isn’t that exhibit under construction as planned? A new foreman shows up with alarming ideas, the police keep dropping by, and animals are disappearing into thin air…
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The Elephant Wuz Framed
Ann Littlewood's second Zoo Mystery is a winner, with characters straight out of real life, who speak like real people and behave like real people.Unfortunately, some of their behavior is not what it should be, and therein lies the tale.
The already-overworked staff at Finley Memorial Zoo, in Vancouver, WA, is stunned when Damrey, the old and much-loved elephant, apparently kills Kevin Wallace, the capable and admired foreman.But the identity of the culprit comes into question early, and soon, the zookeepers are looking around, wondering whether one of them is a killer.It falls to Iris Oakley, a dedicated zoo keeper, six months pregnant and recently widowed, to sort out the mess.
The fast-paced plot kept me turning pages, as suspicion moves from person to person, zoo animals go missing, and, under the direction of a new and very unpleasant foreman, disputes among staff members escalate into a multifaceted war.The whodunit kept me guessing throughout, and no, I didn't catch the killer before the climax of the story.
The author, a former zookeeper herself, provides background that strengthens the story, and with no didacticism, presents material to make readers think that at least some of the arguments by animal rights advocates about zoos being inappropriate places for wild animals may not be correct.All in all, a very satisfactory and enjoyable read.

An elephant-sized winner
I liked Littlewood's first offering - Night Kill - but this second in the series is even better. As a writer and storyteller, the author has honed her craft by leaps and bounds. Other reviewers have related details of the mystery, so I'll skip that. As one who has always felt that zoo animals are prisoners, I have to admit that I have a much better appreciation for the care they receive and I will henceforth be less harsh in my judgment! I am typically a reader of some fairly hard-hitting, but not gruesome, crime mysteries and "cozies" bore me. This novel has just the perfect balance and I loved every bit of it. I highly recommend it.

Can't wait for the third Littlewood Zoo Mystery
I am enjoying every word of this new Zoo mystery by Ann Littlewood. I am a fan of her crisp, forceful, witty,and compelling writing style. Also, I love the fact that her mysteries take place in a zoo. As you are swept along by the story, you begin to learn more about all the fascinating creatures that we glimpse in the zoo, but cannot fathom. Her deep understanding of animals enlivens every page.

"Reading" time at the zoo
Ann Littlewood is a master mystery writer at par with Nevada Barr, whose bestselling Anna Pigeon series can have a handful of people in an unlikely setting and still be a complex mystery. She furthers her skills by making this second of the Zoo Mystery Series (following NIGHT KILL) a social statement about endangered species, the intricate beauty of nature, and the complicated workings of a zoo, without being esoteric. Littlewood astutely educates readers with a clever feast of phrases that is truly "reading" time at the zoo. The author is a former zookeeper. As a novelist, she is definitely a keeper.

"Finley Memorial Zoo is a small zoo near Vancouver, Washington." Protagonist Iris Oakley sees Kevin Wallace being mauled by Damrey the elephant---the only witness to what police subsequently investigate as a possible homicide. Iris is asked to conduct an informal investigation but keeps evidence info to herself, sort of a detective calculator tallying anomalies, instead of numbers. When zoo staffers ask if she thinks police can learn if Wallace was murdered instead of an accidental death, she says, "Sure they will. They do it in an hour on TV." Surprisingly, many have cause to kill likeable Wallace.

Oakley's "six-months pregnant belly" and her "husband's death six months ago" complicate an amateur investigation at Finley Zoo, as she rounds up the "zoosual" suspects. Pregnancy hormones know only two words: Feed me! "A chicken burger and carton of milk later, I came up for air." Co-worker Linda opines of the snarf: "Hyenas after they pull down a zebra." Or feeding time at the... No, don't go there!

When Oakley's co-workers load Rajah the tiger's body into a van, to take to the zoo's vet for necropsy, Raj pulls a Lazarus and alarmingly comes to life. The zoo crew "bailed out like your hair was on fire," and "explored the concept of undead tigers in a zombie zoo." Feeling safe in the commissary, with Oakley pregnantly craving comfort food "like piranhas and a wounded tapir," they discuss strange happenings and a newly appointed Prussian zoo-meister. When they return, the van is gone, Rajah too. With the bizarre goings-on at Finley, is it possible that a tiger hotwired the van? However, Damrey and the other elephant, Nakri, command the center of attention, sort of like an 8,000-pound gorilla in the room. The titular lack of survival indeed is a sad commentary about society, but many mysteries are solved by following the money trail.

Matters are complicated for the unlikely detective, when outspoken anti-zoo activist Bill "Thor" Thorson crashes zoo employees' celebration at their favorite watering hole, the Vulture's Roost. Office politics play out in surprising turns of events. Someone is setting up zoo employees to be fired, and each who is has cause to kill Wallace---six months after Oakley's husband was murdered at the same zoo.

This bestseller-quality novel is more than murder, mayhem and mystery. There's another M---message. Oakley recalls the painful memory of her husband's death and the life that grows inside her: "Damrey still tugged at her invisible chain, the chain that had scarred her leg. My chain had begun to fall away. I could imagine that someday the scar might fade."

With this Oakley installment readers learn more about zoos (and the complex human element that manages them) than those with annual zoo passes and daily visits. So, put on your pith helmet for this richly written safari through a profoundly excellent mystery that Littlewood calls a zoo-dunit.

ANOTHER GREAT ZOO MYSTERY!
When Iris Oakley finds her boss, Director of the Finley Zoo, dang near dead in the elephant cage, the most likely culprit is her good friend Damrey - who just happens to be an elephant. The police are convinced Damrey did it, as are some of Iris's fellow employees. But Iris - the only the witness to the event - isn't sure.Even if the boss survives, which seems unlikely, the consequences for Damrey will be dire.

Complicating matters are a mob of animal rights protesters, a pair of feuding elephant handlers and a spate of disappearing animals. Meanwhile, Iris has problems of her own. She's pregnant, and has not yet recovered, personally or professionally, to the murder of her husband in the first book, Night Kill (Yep, you'll want to read that too). But, being Iris, she can't leave trouble alone, and is determine to learn the truth - even at the risk of her own life.

Sounds good, eh? But wait, the best is yet to come. Relating this tale is none other than Ann Littlewood, one-time zookeeper and a writer of great wit and grace. Pick up Did Not Survive - or better yet Night Kill AND Did Not Survive - and prepare to be entertained, educated and amused all at once. That's what happened to me. ... Read more

Product Description
Excerpt:
Would cause each separate hair to stand
On end and sway and writhe and spit,--
She couldn't "do a thing with it."
And, being woman and aware
Of such disaster to her hair,
What _could_ she do but petrify
All whom she met, with freezing eye?

The Siren

The Siren may be said to be
The Chorus-Lady of the Sea;
Tho' Mermaids claim her as their kin,
Instead of fishy tail and fin
Two shapely feet rejoice the view
(With all that appertains thereto).
When to these other charms we add
A voice that drives the hearer mad, ... Read more

Product Description
Engaging children's tale of a grandmother and grandchild visiting the bird zoo and learning how people are different just like birds are different.

Extensive illustrations by Seth Foley. ... Read more

Product Description
What a fun way to use the Kindle by packing it in your crochet basket. The Kindle is a great way to store and retrieve crochet patterns. If you love zebras, bears, koalas, elephants, tigers, lions, turtles, pandas and monkeys you will love this afghan.Each animal face is crocheted into the pattern and is NOT an appliqué, but truly a part of the blanket. Faces are adorned with stitching and separate crochet pieces. ... Read more

Product Description
Who would want the director of the Minnesota Valley Zoo dead?Everyone!Anthony Wright made a career of getting what he wanted, whatever the price.When he's murdered and ends up as a late night snack for the zoo's fifteen-foot crocodile, few are shedding any tears.After police arrest the lead crocodile handler, it's up to zookeeper Lavender "Snake" Jones to prove her friend's innocence.But is she really helping?Each lie she exposes only serves to strengthen the case against him, rattles her belief in those she trusts and, in the end, threatens her own safety.With the help of her Aussie husband, herpetologist Jeff Jones, mystery's first zoologist sleuth hacks her way through the shadowy underworld of illegal animal trading to uncover a snakepit of sordid deeds, secret pasts, and corruption.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

not so well written
While the zoo setting is interesting, and the wildlife information accurate, I did not find the novel well-written at all. It was rather repetitive in phrasing and dialogue, and the characterization is flat. The main protagonist's husband seems to be a direct copy of the late Steve Irwin.

Talk about taking a bite out of crime!
I like mysteries, but they are not a staple in my reading diet.The zoo setting was a big part of why I picked up "Death Roll."The book is filled with interesting tidbits about zoos, their animals and the animals' caretakers.But that alone would not make a good book.

The characters and their relationships with each other were very well developed.I can easily see this cast of characters holding up throughout a series.I don't think we'll be getting tired of Snake, Jeff or any of their friends and co-workers anytime soon.

The mystery is well thought out with plenty of secrets to uncover and many surprising twists and turns.I was kept guessing right up to the end.

When you add up the elements of setting, character and plot, all masterfully handled by Victor and Mallory, you get a great story that you won't want to put down until you turn the final page.

Behind-the-scenes zoo thriller

The most fun I've had reading a mystery in a long time!It's a mystery why no other author has given readers a zoo setting before -- lots of behind-the-scenes animal fascination and human intrigue here.A wow of a book!
--Connie Fletcher, Chicago, IL

Great mystery set in a zoo
Lavender "Snake" Jones is a zookeeper at the Minnesota Valley Zoo.Her husband, Jeff Jones, is a herpetologist from Australia and works with the crocodiles at the zoo.Plus he is the star of the show Zoofari.

When the director of the zoo, Anthony Wright, is discovered dead in the crocodile pit in the new Australia Walkabout Trail during the Beastly Ball at the zoo, zoo employee J. R. ends up the prime suspect.Snake sets out to prove their friend and colleague didn't murder Anthony.

But is she helping?She keeps uncovering lies that only serve to strengthen the case against him.This begins to throw suspicion on the people she trusts.Can she uncover the killer without putting herself in danger?

I loved the zoo setting for this mystery.Snake and Jeff are fabulous characters.The zoo really lent itself to the cozy genre with the "small town" feel of the employees and supporters.

There were plenty of secrets and corruption to keep me guessing at the killer's identity.And there were plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep me reading.

I found myself not wanting to put this book down.I can't wait to read another one in this series.I hope the writers write a little faster!

As I've said before, "a beastly good book!"

I am a mystery writer myself, and I read a lot of mysteries (to keep tabs on the competition, you know!), and I can honestly say that "Death Roll" is wildly distinctive--a ferocious pleasure to read. If you like unique, well-drawn characters, intriguing plots and subplots, and quirky, lovable, dangerous (sometimes lethal) animals, you'll enjoy every word of this zingy zoological novel. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Endangered Species Bulletin, published by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on December 22, 2008. The length of the article is 990 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The scientist within us all.(CHILDREN IN NATURE)(Connecticut Amphibian Monitoring Project)
Author: Jim Knox
Publication: Endangered Species Bulletin (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 22, 2008
Publisher: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Volume: 33Issue: 4Page: 56

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

Product Description
American zoos flourished during the Great Depression, thanks to federal programs that enabled local governments to build new zoological parks, complete finished ones, and remodel outdated facilities. This historical text examines community leaders' successful advocacy for zoo construction in the context of poverty and widespread suffering, arguing that they provided employment, stimulated tourism, and democratized leisure. Of particular interest is the rise of the zoo professional, which paved the way for science and conservation agendas. The text explores the New Deal's profound impact on zoos and animal welfare and the legacy of its programs in zoos today. ... Read more