A cumulative rhyme featuring rebuses, in which a parrot, a tiger, a lion, a peacock, and other inhabitants of a city zoo wake up and startle each other.

A new edition of Lauren Beukes's Arthur C Clarke Award-winning novel set in a world where murderers and other criminals acquire magical animals that are mystically bonded to them. Zinzi has a Sloth on her back, a dirty 419 scam habit, and a talent for finding lost things. When a little old lady turns up dead and the cops confiscate her last paycheck, Zinzi's forced to take on her least favorite kind of job -- missing persons. Being hired by reclusive music producer Odi Huron to find a teenybop pop star should be her ticket out of Zoo City, the festering slum where the criminal underclass and their animal companions live in the shadow of hell's undertow. Instead, it catapults Zinzi deeper into the maw of a city twisted by crime and magic, where she'll be forced to confront the dark secrets of former lives -- including her own.

A fast-paced and exciting read for middle grade fantasy, mystery, and animal buffs. 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, they discover there's much more to the Clarksville City Zoo than they could ever have guessed... The author originally had the idea for The Secret Zoo when he was nine and wondered what would happen if zoo exhibits had secret doors that allowed kids to go inside—and the animals to come outside. He brings that sense of adventure and excitement to this story, making it a favorite for home and classroom reading along with such middle grade fantasy favorites as The One and Only Ivan.

In a brightly illustrated humorous tale that combines lively rhymes and rebus puzzles, one small mouse proceeds to wake up a entire barn, and a quiet night becomes raucous.

My own impression of the story is that it is a soap opera of peoples lives, set in a zoo, in a book. The story details the interactions of many diverse characters within the central theme, situated inside the walls of a passive city zoo, located in the warm areas of Coastal California. It entails the story of a young woman, heiress to the magnifi cent old zoo and her accounts of coping with the daily routines and lives, of not only the enormous amount of animals in her care, but also of the many people who are involved in running such a colossal and demanding enterprise. Jessica Williams faces her own journey of growing up within this intense atmosphere, while becoming aware of her deep love for one of her co-workers and mentors, an ex-army veteran who is plagued with emotional troubles, amid the concentration of her own dedication to the monumental task of keeping the zoo alive. The two devoted people cohere together to keep the giant enterprise running, surrounded by the many sagas involving the zoo staff and helpers, amid the shocking treachery of Jessies own father. Another character adding to the twisted tales of emotional roller coasters, is that of a young lion tamer Snow Reynolds, who aspires to become a world class prize fi ghter. Just a glimpse of the many colourful stories and realistic characters, evoking the vast array of lives, involved within the walls of the Grand Century Old Matacalli City Zoo.

Great spot book activities, combined with non-fiction settings, make for an informative yet exciting series! From fluttering butterflies to sliding penguins, there's so much to see at the zoo! With a hidden zebra to find in every scene and fun facts to discover throughout, step inside for hours of entertainment. Classic spot book activities, combined with non-fiction settings, make for an informative and entertaining series. Interesting facts add further educational value to the books. Look for hidden objects as you work your way through the book, taking in all the detail. This title is fully packed with things to spot and facts to discover!