So You Want To Be A Zookeeper (So You Want To Be A...)
About
RECIPIENT of the Mom's Choice Award® Gold — Honoring Excellence
The zoo opens at nine. You have been there since five.
Before the first family walks through the gate, before the first child presses their face against the glass, you have already fed, observed, recorded, and cared for animals that came from six continents and forty million years of evolution. They do not know what a zoo is. They only know you — your schedule, your voice, your presence. That is not a small thing. That is everything.
So You Want To Be A Zookeeper takes young readers ages 10–14 inside one of the most complex and most quietly heroic professions on earth — not the storybook version, but the real one. The daily routines that never vary because the animals depend on them. The specific knowledge of what each creature eats, how it moves, what its behavior signals on a good day and a difficult one. The team of keepers, veterinarians, nutritionists, and conservationists working together to sustain animals whose wild habitats are vanishing. The animal that thrives under your care — and the one that teaches you the limits of what care can do.
This is a book about what zookeepers actually do: the behavioral enrichment they design to keep sharp minds engaged, the health monitoring they conduct without the help of a single word from their patients, the conservation programs they support that extend far beyond the zoo’s walls, and the deep expertise they bring to creatures most people will only ever see from a distance. It’s also a book about what the work costs, what it gives back, and why the people who do it arrive before dawn without being asked.
Inside, young readers will discover:
- What a real zookeeper’s day looks like — from morning feeding rounds to nighttime checks
- The science of animal behavior and what it means to truly understand a wild creature in human care
- The physical demands and emotional depth the profession requires — and how keepers rise to meet them
- The vital role zoos play in global conservation — and the keepers who make that mission real
- What young people can do right now to discover if this might be their calling
Honest, specific, and genuinely illuminating, So You Want To Be A Zookeeper doesn’t talk down to young readers — it brings them all the way in. Because the child who wants to know what this work is really like deserves a real answer.
For readers who feel the pull toward something wild and necessary and alive. For the kid who lingers at every exhibit long after the rest of the family has moved on — and feels something shift.
The animals are waiting. They always are. And somewhere, so are you.
Ages 10–14 · Nonfiction · Careers & Professions · Illustrated
Praise for this book
"So You Want To Be A Zookeeper by Linda Soules is part of the So You Want To Be series. Most kids have visited a zoo and dreamed of being a zookeeper, but there's more to it than just being with the animals. Everything that happens in a zoo, from feeding to bathing to keeping everything clean, means there's a hard-working, dedicated person who made it happen. This book is an eye-opener, filled with facts, educating young readers on what it really means to be a zookeeper, the hard work, unsociable hours, and the joy they get as they build relationships and friendships with the animals in their care. This is the ultimate guide to being a zookeeper, designed to help kids understand that it's not just about looking after an animal; it's about protecting them, conservation, and ensuring that endangered animals are brought back from the brink.
So You Want to Be a Zookeeper by Linda Soules is a wonderfully illustrated book, filled with facts about what goes into being a zookeeper. It's written in plain, easy-to-understand language, and it takes readers through everything a zookeeper has to do. Most of us probably said this is what we wanted to do when we were younger, but few people realize how involved the job is. Readers will learn not just what zookeepers do when everyone can see them, but what goes on behind the scenes to keep the animals clean, happy, and healthy, and they'll also learn of the amazing work zoos do in conservation and protecting endangered species the world over. They'll learn about the research keepers do, about what a person has to do to actually become a zookeeper - a love of animals is a good start, but it isn't nearly enough - and what qualities a good keeper must have. In short, this is the perfect launching pad for any child who wants to turn their dreams into reality."
"How much do you know about zookeepers and the part they play in wildlife conservation efforts and the protection of endangered species? So You Want to Be a Zookeeper is a colorful picture book by Linda Soules, designed to help young readers understand how zookeepers oversee the care of animals in modern zoos and advance scientific research on wildlife. Whether it's preparing breakfast for a colony of penguins or cleaning up enormous amounts of animal waste, zookeepers play a wide range of roles in animal protection through their everyday work. In this book, you will learn how zookeepers are assigned to specific sections of the zoo depending on the specialization of the animals they oversee. They play an active part in behavioral training of animals, rescue work, animal enrichment activities, and much more.
So You Want to Be a Zookeeper is a fantastic guide to teach young readers about animal care. This picture book covers the everyday work of a zookeeper in great depth. Author Linda Soules has crafted an engaging narrative that educates as well as entertains. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a must-read for any parent who wants to instill a love of animals in children at a young age. Apart from the details of animal care, the book also delves into the various roles of a zookeeper, how they work as a team, and the physical and mental efforts required for the day-to-day management in a modern zoo. Learn about some of the famous zookeepers in history, as well as a few fun facts about modern zoos, zookeepers, and animals. Highly recommended."
"Have you ever been to the zoo and wondered what zookeepers really do? So You Want to Be a Zookeeper by Linda Soules explores a day in the life of a zookeeper. Readers are invited to learn what they do every day, from preparing food to observing animal behavior. It also introduces the tools zookeepers use and the different wildlife that may be at the zoo. Plus, there are some surprising facts about zoo conservation efforts. Like any job, there are rewarding parts, like watching animals thrive, and challenging ones, such as working in all kinds of weather. A person who wants this role must be patient, responsible, trustworthy, and have a desire to care for animals. So, do you want to be a zookeeper when you grow up?
I really enjoyed reading So You Want to Be a Zookeeper by Linda Soules. It was packed with information, including facts I hadn't considered before, such as how they carefully measure and prepare diets tailored to each animal. I appreciated how the different parts of the job are broken down, making them easier for young learners to understand. As an educator, I would read it and then discuss topics such as responsibility and empathy for living things. I would also extend it by having students draw their favorite part of the job. The illustrations are detailed and have eye-catching colors. Each picture helps kids stay engaged from beginning to end. Overall, I highly recommend this thoughtful and interesting book. Animal lovers and readers looking for career-focused or nature-themed reads will definitely enjoy this one."
"So You Want to be a Zookeeper by Linda Soules is the book that every kid will want to read, and likely many adults, too. Zookeeping may be a dream job, but the book makes it clear that it takes hard work, dedication, and patience. With beautiful illustrations on every page, Soules takes you through a typical zookeeper's day, which includes cleaning the animals' living spaces, preparing their feeds, planning and carrying out enrichment programs, keeping daily records, and educating the public about the animals and conservation. Zookeepers also have to watch out for any signs of ill health in the animals in their care. The hardest part of the job can be losing them as they age or get sick.
So You Want to be a Zookeeper is highly educational as well as entertaining, with sections on the tools that zookeepers use to build a relationship of trust with the animals without taking away their wildness, the importance of modern zoos in conservation and protecting endangered species, and public education. The book is a delight on so many levels, giving readers a glimpse of life in an exciting world. Besides the visual appeal, Linda Soules provides very detailed information for kids who are just reaching the age when they begin to contemplate future careers. There are sections on famous zookeepers like Gerald Durrell, Joan Embery, and Jack Hanna, guides for further reading, a glossary, and tips on getting started through learning and volunteering. Highly recommended for animal lovers of all ages."
"In Linda Soules' So You Want To Be A Zookeeper, a zoo opens the door to what it really means to care for animals, where each one is met with patience and respect, and given the space to choose how they participate. The work begins before visitors arrive, as the keeper studies each animal's behavior, prepares food designed for its needs, and maintains habitats that support its well-being. Through close observation, the keeper learns to recognize the small changes that indicate illness or stress and works with a wider team to respond. The book follows how this care connects to global conservation, showing how animals in human care represent species facing loss in the wild and how keepers help protect their future.
Linda Soules' So You Want To Be A Zookeeper is a wonderful guide, and it stood out to me because of the age-appropriate and informative aspects of a job many children dream of doing. The author emphasizes the trust between the keeper and the animal and discusses care as daily work molded by patience and informed choice. The author uses plain, confident language that explains the real work in ways a child can follow. A young hippo receiving a routine medical check shows how observation supports health, while a zebra's striped body is used to explain how animals are built for their environments. Soules is also the illustrator, filling each page with full color, welcoming scenes that place the reader beside the animals, all artistically created in a contemporary animation style. This is the perfect book for young readers interested in animals, science, and hands-on work, especially children who want to understand what caring for wildlife truly involves. Very highly recommended."
"Would be especially good to read before a trip to the zoo, to help the kids know how much the zookeeper does to keep the animals safe, healthy, and happy."
"It gave a very in depth look at the job on a daily basis, highlighting the good with the bad, the fun with the difficult."
"Though these books are meant for a bit older children, the series is fantastic. These books go into detail about different career paths, or what some would think were just hobbies. It's amazing to know there is so much more to something than meets the eye."
"I was looking for some new books to add to my classroom library and found this series. Wow! Am I impressed. The pictures are beautiful. The information is very thorough."
"This is such a great book for children. The images are colorful and the simple, easy to read text will give children a glimpse into the life of a zookeeper. The book was not only fun to read, but also educational. The author provides age appropriate detail on the many jobs of zookeepers and how they care for animals of all kinds."
"This book gives a lot of good information for young readers about what all goes into being a zookeeper. From what they do through the day to how they interact with different animals. If you have a kid who thinks they may want to be a zookeeper, it would be a great read for them."
"I love this book. It goes into great detail about being a zookeeper and just all the amazing things zookeepers do. I like the fun facts and all the illustrations."
"Great book to introduce some of the fun and challenging aspects of being a zookeeper. I appreciate a book that (age) appropriately addresses the difficult areas of a profession without diminishing the wonderment of said profession. My 8 year old has voiced wanting to work in a zoo, so this is a great book to give her a glimpse into that lifestyle. She has enjoyed other books in this series and usually asks many follow-up questions, so I am sure she will enjoy this book as well."
"I got this book to read with my kids after a trip to the zoo. They absolutely love this book and want to now follow a zookeeper for the day to learn more. The details in the book are amazing and done in a way where kids will learn and be excited to share what they read."
"Wow! The illustration is absolutely beautiful. What an amazing gift for a little one who loves the zoo. Well thought out book and again the art was beautiful. Could have probably told the story with the pictures."
"Loved reading this to my daughter, who loves the zoo. Illustrations and text and fun and easy to understand. My daughter enjoyed the different parts of the zoo and the different animals. Haven't found a 'So you want to be' book that we haven't enjoyed."
"I was so impressed with the Veterinary book in this series, I decided to check this one out as well... From the daily routine to the terminology, the author really researched and wrote this book well."
"Filled with the benefits and dirty truth (cleaning up elephant poop!) about being a zookeeper. It provides details needed for kids to make a realistic decision about whether this job would be a good fit for them."
"Being a zookeeper can save an entire species from extinction... not all of the work is glamorous, but it all directly impacts the animals and therefore the world."
"Looks at a zookeeper's day, showing all the important work that happens behind the scenes from what visitors see at the zoo. It shows how zookeepers manage diets, waste, enclosures, and enrichment so animals stay healthy, stimulated, and comfortable around guests."
"Engaging book for young readers. Very relevant information for young people learning about future careers and what it may take to become a zookeeper... a wonderful book to add to a classroom library."
"This book introduces children to the awe and wonder of the life of a zookeeper. It details the qualifications needed to pursue a career in caring for animals and gives them insight on what they can do now to prepare for their future as a zookeeper. It even includes a section on famous zookeepers in history. I love the colorful illustrations and easy to understand definitions. This was my third book in the series and I enjoyed each one."
"This is an amazing look into what it takes to be a Zookeeper!! Anyone who is considering becoming this should be given this good read!"
"Absolutely love all the books by this author. Beautiful artwork helps to convey the information within the pages. This is a very child friendly way to learn about zoo keeping. Written simple yet full of tons of vibrant information."
"I have read multiple of the other books in the 'So You Want to be a...' series and have loved them all, and 'So You Want to be a Zookeeper' was no different. This engaging text included information about what a zookeeper actually does as well as the multitude of places a zookeeper can work. I love that this series does such a great job explaining what a day in the life of a zookeeper looks like and an explanation of the tools one would need to be prepared to use in this profession. This book does not stop at telling the reader about the best, more 'glamourous' parts of the job, but also explains the hardest parts which is just as important to know about a profession before choosing a field. As with others in this series, I would definitely include this series in my classroom library, especially if you teach a unit on career potentials."
Very informative about the everyday day life of a zoo keeper. Explaining their tasks and responsibilities with key terms and definitions. Lots of pictures giving a good visualization. Daughter loved it! Highly Recommend for kids!
"This would be a great book for give to a kid that was fascinated at the zoo! It has plenty of information on zookeeping like a day in the life and skills that are needed."
"I am currently loving this series of books. They are so informational, inspiring, and enjoyable to see. It is the perfect starter book series for middle schoolers to research what they want to be in life. In the zookeeper book, my favorite section is the famous people who went against what others said and made a difference in the animal world."
"Soules delivers a brilliant, behind-the-scenes look at the daily life, hard physical labor, and scientific responsibilities of a modern zookeeper. Without shying away from the gritty realities of animal care, she highlights what the job actually takes while offering practical advice on what to study and how to start volunteering."
"Quick, to the point read about what it takes to be a zookeeper. Although geared toward kids aged 10-14, I enjoyed it as an adult as well. I appreciate the author's ability to tap into the nostalgia of being a child visiting a zoo, experiencing animals from many different areas of the world and the magic behind it. I enjoyed learning what goes into this profession as a life long animal lover and found it very interesting to learn all of what goes into caring for these animals."
"Great read! A must before or after taking your kid to the zoo for the first time.
A lot of questions about the habitats and general care will come up anyways-this book covers it all-from the hard work and grueling hours and literal dirt dirty work these individuals do everyday.
This book is realistic in the amount of work and observations needed to care and protect all the creatures in their care as well as separating this type of care for endangered wold animals vs a pet.
Solid and informative read! Great artwork! Great resources and realistic perspective offered."