The Zoo: The Inside Story

Ages 5 to 8

A gentle nonfiction story about a day in the life of a zoo, written by star zookeeper Jawnie Payne

Find out what goes on behind the scenes at a zoo in this illustrated nonfiction 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.

About the Author

Jawnie Payne is a zookeeper at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. 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. One of her favorite jobs was the several years she spent teaching art in public schools to children 6-11. Susan’s favorite books are science or nature nonfiction 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.