So You Want To Be A Zookeeper (So You Want To Be A...)

"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."

"A zookeeper isn’t just someone who wants to play with animals. It’s a job of protecting those animals which is thoroughly explained in “So You Want To Be A Zookeeper” by Linda Soules. As the zookeeper devotes their time, knowledge, and energy into taking care of a wild animal, a strong bond of trust and respect forms between the animal and keeper. A bond that is truly unique and special between the two. In this nonfiction children’s career book, young readers will learn about some of the pros and cons of becoming a zookeeper. Do you have the desire to become a devoted zookeeper?

This is another book in this delightful series, So You Want To Be…,and this one is special to me as an adult. I have a deep love for domestic and wild animals, and I was fascinated with all the amazing facts and informational tidbits Soules provided in yet another educational book children can use as a future career reference guide. I was learning right along with the young readers just how detailed a zookeeper’s job really is and how dedicated they must be to keep the zoo animals healthy and happy throughout their lifetimes. One fact that truly left an impression on me was the idea that a zookeeper’s ultimate achievement is to love and care for each individual animal to help them not become extinct in the world.

The detailed and interesting facts the author provided her readers with showed just how much time and research she had put into each book in this series so far. Children will easily walk away learning new facts, like I did, of things they didn’t know prior to reading this informative book.

The illustrations were plentiful throughout this book and fit perfectly telling the story in picture format. Each one was vibrant in color and eye-catching to the readers. You can’t help but stop to take in the complete scope of each illustration provided because it perfectly enhances the story the author has written.

Linda Soules is an award-winning author of the So You Want To Be…series of career exploring books. This is a continually growing series aimed at informing children of the various careers that might be available to them as they get older.

Overall, “So You Want To Be A Zookeeper” by Linda Soules is another career informing book that I think children will love. The information provided is meticulously detailed, allowing readers the full scope of what it takes to be a dedicated zookeeper. The illustrations are gorgeous in design and perfectly fit the written words provided. This is another winner in my eyes, and I feel readers will love it just as much as I did. I eagerly can’t wait to read more books in this educational and fun children’s series!"

"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."

"This book is so cute and super informative! My son wants to have his own zoo when he grows up, and he loved this book! The pictures are adorable and colorful and the book is full of information about being a zookeeper and everything zoo-related. Definitely recommend this book for animal lovers and zoo fanatics!"

"For all children - and adults! - out there who love wild animals, this book is for you! It explains in great detail what it takes to be a zookeeper. Topics include what exactly a zookeeper does; the best, hardest, and most surprising parts of this job; what a day in the life looks like; what qualities are needed to be a zookeeper; fun facts; famous zookeepers in history; and much, much more. You will be fascinated by all of the interesting things you’ll learn in this book!"

"Loved this book!! lots of information on zookeepers and it was kid friendly so my 9 year old was able to read and understand it. Loved the pictures and the fun facts at the end. Would definitely recommend to read!"

"The art work is so beautiful. And the truth of what zookeepers do is eye opening. It's amazing what goes into their day."

"I love her books! This particular book about zookeepers dives into the daily responsibilities of the job in detail. You will learn about the physical parts of the job, but also about what motivates people to do the job in the first place. This book reminded me that a zookeeper is the person who will first notice the most subtle sign that an animal is sick. It reminded me of the important work that zookeepers do; cleaning, feeding, and observing the animals are only part of the job. Zookeepers also spend time making sure that animals have the right nutrition as well as activities to keep animals engaged and active. The author researched the subject and showed a variety of people doing the job in the detailed, gorgeous illustrations."

"My grandson and I read this book together and really enjoyed it. It not only covers the things everyone knows about taking care of animals in the zoo, but some people don’t think of, such as how much an elephant waste needs to be cleaned out every day. Definitely not glamorous but still shows how wonderful this job can be."

"This is the second book I have read in this series. I love the beautiful illustrations and realism they provide. This book begins with a description of a zookeeper starting their day behind the scenes. It explains a keeper's job including the tools, techniques, location, environment, schedules, duties, needed skills, and expectations. It provides realistic expectations of the difficult chores and occasional losses, while also adding the amazing and important connections formed between keepers and the animals they care for. Readers learn why zoos are important for conservation, preservation, and animal advocacy. We get to learn about a few famous keepers, fun facts about animals, and how a young person can begin their journey towards a career in this field. The included glossary is perfect to allow the reader to gain some knowledge. I think this is the perfect book for a pre-teen interested in zoo keepers."

"This book is an honest and realistic look at what it is life to be a zookeeper, in a way that kids can understand. It stats by explaining that the job is about procuring animals and also that it takes a while sometimes to gain their trust, but that's very important. It talks about the sad part of the job when one of the animals dies and how hard it can be for the zookeeper who is attached to that animal. It also explains the importance of taking care of their health and educating the guests that come to see the animals."

"I had never read any of the books in the “so you want to be” series so I was unsure of what to expect. I began reading the book at bedtime with my 9 year old son. He loves to learn so I thought this would be an engaging book for him. He seemed interested in the content and found the information about animal poop the funniest…of course.

I finished the book myself after he had fallen asleep and it kept my interest as well. I feel like it gave a good amount of information without going too deep into details and losing the intended audience. I even learned some facts of which I was previously unaware! I’ll definitely be looking to pick up some more of the books in this series."

"Very informative! My daughter (10yo who already knows everything of course) said she was surprised to learn some of the info in this book. It definitely gave her a new perspective and respect for what zookeepers actually do!"

"This book provides a more detailed insight into the zookeeper’s profession. Excellent for a young child who has a strong interest in wildlife and caring for animals to learn more about what it really takes to care for animals at a zoo. It is broken down into easy to read sections, has a day in the life timeline, glossary and even some fun facts."

"This was a super fun and quick read! I feel like this book would be perfect for parents of young kids who are interested in becoming a zookeeper when they get older. The book details lots of different things that go into caring for animals at a zoo. I especially liked learning about the zookeeper‘s daily schedule and how zoos are largely for animal conservation. The images were a great addition and helped illustrate all of the aspects of zoo keeping. I would highly recommend this book."

"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."

"This is a short book with only 39 pages, but loaded with colorful illustrations and everything a kid will need to know on being a zookeeper. The book goes through what a zookeeper does, where they work, and any extra fun info one would expect. This is a fun and colorful book for any kid who loves going to the zoo and never wants to leave."

"This book was great. A full, in-depth look at what the work of a Zookeeper actually looks like. That it's hard work, not just playing around with special animals in enclosures. I like that it took the 'romance' out of the job and made it clear that it's rewarding, but also very hard physical work. It's cleaning out dung and cages, it's preparing special diets for animals, it's watching them and making sure they don't get sick, it's educating visitors about the importance of said animals and their habitats. This was a wonderful read as an adult, but my kiddo enjoyed it too. Definitely would recommend."