Let’s go to the zoo! If you can’t head to the zoo, you can read about it! Grab one or more of these fun picture books about the zoo, and snuggle up with your favorite little monkey.
Many of my favorite preschool outings revolve around trips to the zoo. We love watching the monkeys swinging in the trees. The penguins habitat is another of our favorites. And, who can resist sneaking a peek at the polar bears diving deep in the water tank.
As you begin planning your preschool zoo theme activities, be sure to make time to read a few great books about the zoo and the animals who live there.
Picture Books About the Zoo
Embark on a literary journey that brings you face-to-face with the enchanting world of zoos in our curated selection of books. These books offer a unique blend of education and entertainment, introducing readers to diverse animal species, their habitats, and behaviors.
Whether you’re an animal lover, a budding zoologist, or simply a curious reader, these books about the zoo will captivate your imagination, fostering a deeper appreciation for wildlife and the important role zoos play in conservation and education.
A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper
This book follows a zookeeper through the work day, and describes the occupation and what the job requires.
What’s a zookeeper to do when the lions and tigers and bears refuse to roar and prowl and growl? And when little Sue, who has been waiting all year for this trip to the zoo, enters the gate, will the animals decide to give their strike a break?
The llamas won’t quit spitting, the giraffes are drooling, and the zebras aren’t happy at all with their stripes.Meanwhile, the zookeepers are scurrying this way and that, cleaning up poop, ringing mealtime bells, and trying to get the animals bathed. Will Zoo Day go off without a hitch?
As children page through this beautiful book, they will learn the names of many animals they meet at the zoo! Each page offers a short description of the featured animal and its habitat.
Curious George and the man with the yellow hat visit the zoo. A hungry Curious George snatches a pail of bananas from the zoo keeper.Though he shouldn’t have taken the bananas, George soon changes the zookeeper’s shouts to praise with his clever, helpful ways.
Joyously colored animals, riding on a train to the zoo, offer youngsters a first introduction to numbers, number sets, addition and counting in this paperback reissue of Eric Carle’s first picture book.
Join this zookeeper-turned-storyteller as he recalls the encounters that taught him so much about animals, people, the earth we share and the God who made all of those things. A trip to the zoo with Gary Richmond is one you will be glad you made.
Rhythmic verse leads you through a wild kingdom where animals burst from every page. Monkeys are scritch, scritch, scratchin’, and kangaroos are hop, hop, hoppin’, making every moment an adventure.
As morning dawns, the zookeeper makes his rounds, exhorting the animals to wake up, comb their hair, and stand up straight. Soon their human visitors arrive, and the observations begin to flow: My, what silly things they do, all these creatures at the zoo.Walking on all kinds of feet, dancing to an inner beat. Babies riding on their backs, on their bellies, snug in sacks. Hear the silly sounds they speak, as they howl and squawk and shriek! But just who is talking about whom?
“If anything ever goes wrong at the zoo, you can send the zebras to my house,” Leslie tells the zebra keeper. She also invites the monkeys and the elephants. None of them ever comes–until one wet, stormy night when the zoo floods and the zebra keeper remembers Leslie’s offer.
“Good night, Gorilla,” says the zookeeper. But mischievous Gorilla isn’t quite ready to go to sleep. He’d rather follow the zookeeper on his rounds and let all of the other animals out of their cages. Little night owls can sneak along with Gorilla and see who gets the last laugh in this riotous goodnight romp.
It’s Teddy Bear Day at the zoo, and Pinkalicious and Peter are having a pinkatastic time with their teddy bears.The day is perfect until a sneaky monkey with an eye for teddy bears scoops up Pinkalicious’s bear. How can Pinkalicious stop her from monkeying around?
Spot believes he deserves to be in the zoo with the other amazing animals. Spot shows two young friends all the exciting things he can do with his spots. From changing their color and juggling them to moving them onto everything around him, you won’t believe what Spot can do.
Before the zoo opens each day a small army of keepers, vendors, and maintenance workers perform the daily tasks of cleaning and setting up. Then the crowds flock in. . . .
How would you like to travel from a tropical rain forest to the African plains, and down into a deep canyon all in one day? Then get ready for a wild trip to the zoo and up close look at all kinds of animals!See snow leopards lurking on a ledge, zebras and ostriches running across the open plains, and a tiger splashing in a stream. Find out everything–from what elephants roll in after their baths to which bird might laugh at your jokes. Come take a visit to an amazing zoo!
What kind of pet would you like from the zoo? An elephant, a lion, a snake – or something a bit smaller, and cuddlier and playful? Lift the flaps and see what has been sent – it’s bound to be a surprise!
From craft templates to scavenger hunts and everything in between. Pique your little one’s interest in zoo animals with these zoo preschool theme printables.
Zoo Animals Ideas for Kids
Add some plastic zoo animal figures to your pretend play area for kids to explore. They’ll have so much fun using them to act out zoo books or other imaginative play scenarios.
Read Do You Know Hank the Hippo, and let your preschoolers act out the story with an adorable crocheted hippo toy.
Set up a zoo animals sensory bin with this kit! Filled with a mixture of textures, bright and vibrant colors, this kit will let your little one explore for hours.
This wonderful collection of preschool books about the zoo presents a fantastic way to engage your little ones in the exciting world of animals. Not only will these stories entertain them, but they will also inspire curiosity and foster an early love for wildlife.
The colorful illustrations, engaging narratives, and kid-friendly facts make these books the perfect introduction to the magic of zoos. So go ahead, pick a book from this collection and take your child on a literary safari.
Who knows, you might just spark a lifelong passion for learning about our planet’s incredible animal kingdom!
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
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