Books about the Zoo for Kids

Last Updated on September 10, 2022 by ellen

Celebrate National Zoo Keeper Week, July 20-26, with these books about the Zoo for kids. Check out my top picks for zoo books for kids.

Celebrates zoos as well as zookeepers and their dedication to animal care, conservation, and education. Your little ones are sure to go “wild” over these two books. They are great companions to your summer outing to your local zoo!

You may also enjoy these Zootopia trailers and free printables.

Books about the Zoo

Check out these zoo books for kids and learn why they are my favorites! If you have a trip to the zoo planned for this summer, these books are a wonderful educational add-on.

But, your child can learn more about the zoo just by reading even if you don’t have a trip planned. And, this is a wonderful way to learn more about zookeepers during National Zoo Keeper Week.

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The Zoo is closed today

The Zoo Is Closed Today!
Author: Evelyn Beilenson and illustrated by Anne Kennedy
ISBN: 978-1441315267
Genre: Fiction, Children’s
Release: June 5, 2014
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press
32 Pages

About the Book:

It was a warm sunny day
with not much to do.
So Sue and John walked
to the Kalamazoo.

But when John and Sue arrive at the zoo, they are in for a big surprise! What is wrong with all of the animals? From Edward the elephant to Marcel the monkey, the animals have tummy aches and toothaches, runny noses, and sore throats.

Pete the zookeeper can barely keep up with taking care of them and has to close the zoo. And the next day, John and Sue are in for an even bigger surprise! This charming tale, illustrated with humor and warmth, demonstrates the value of sweet friendship.

The Zoo Is Closed Today review

A charming short storybook about two children that visit a zoo. To their utter dismay, they find a sign hanging on the gate that says, “Be patient and wait ‘til all’s well at the zoo.†They are approached by the weary zookeeper who tells them about the sick animals.

The story is told in rhymes that not only entertain but educate young readers about compassion and friendship. The ending of the book has quite a surprising twist for your children to discover. I love the beautifully illustrated pages that are very bright and make you feel as though you are on their adventure. 

Check out the full list of books about the zoo for kids.

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Scratch and Sketch at the Zoo

Scratch and Sketch At the Zoo
Author: Lee Nemmers
ISBN: 978-1441305732
Genre: Activity, Children’s
Release: June 20, 2011
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press
64 Pages

About the Book:

This fun and easy Trace-Along art activity book allows budding artists (5 and up) to use the wooden drawing tool enclosed to trace the white outlines of favorite animals on black-coated scratch art pages.

Kids will be delighted to see lions, tigers, bears, seals, and more come alive in swirls of colors and glittery foil! They can also use the sketch pages in the back to draw their own pictures of favorite animals. This is one of our favorite books about the zoo for artistic kids.

Scratch and Sketch at the Zoo review

If you have never seen a scratch and sketch book before, it’s a book with black-coated art pages that you use a wooden drawing tool enclosed to trace the white outlines to reveal swirls of colors and glittery foil.

This book has a wire-o bound hardcover binding and includes 20 scratch-off illustrated sketches. Since we are big animal lovers, it was fun to see all the fun animal artwork. You can also use the sketch pages in the back to draw your own pictures.

I like that there are low “shavings†with this scratch and sketch book. If your child has done other scratch books then you might have come across some mess when scratching them off. It’s also small enough to take along anywhere.

A fun activity that you can do with any “artsy†child for hours of fun!

More books about the zoo for kids

• Dear Zoo book
• Put Me in the Zoo
• Curious George Goes to the Zoo
• Zoo Sounds Usborne Books
• Hullabaloo at the Zoo

This post was originally published in 2014. It has been updated to reformat and re-share with today’s readers. You may also like No Yeti Yet.

• Paper animal crafts