Bridge to the Wild: Behind the Scenes at the Zoo

Hear crisp sounds of the hornbill in the cool air.
     Listen to the morning symphony that greets you as you enter the front gate.
     Then, step onto a leafy path that leads to a secret world of animals, each of whom you won’t want to forget, here at Zoo Atlanta.
     Over five days we meet a menagerie of magnificent animals—pandas, elephants, gorillas, meerkats, flamingos and more—alongside the longtime animal lover, scientist, and researcher Caitlin O’Connell. With inside access to the guidance and knowledge of their beloved zoo caretakers and with stunning photographs, we are able to see the day-to-day marvels—and sometimes misfortunes—behind the animals’ enclosures that often go unseen by the everyday zoo visitor.
     In this example of narrative nonfiction at its best, O’Connell has created a bridge to wild, a rare chance to look beyond the zoo and to inspire guests to see for themselves just how special the animals we share our world with are. |

* "A solid offering to young animal lovers." – School Library Journal, STARRED review   "Readers should find the book’s facts and photos intriguing, and the collaborators’ curiosity and passion inspiring." — Publishers Weekly   "O'Connell presents the modern zoo in a clear light, acknowledging the challenges of replicating favorable conditions for the social, physical, and reproductive health of the exhibited animals... An important, engaging introduction to a modern zoo, its dedicated staff, and the fascinating animals in its care." — Kirkus   "O’Connell’s love of animals is undeniable, and young readers will identify with the personal details and warm observations she includes."  — Booklist   "Through her first-person narration, full of curiosity, enthusiasm, humor, and respect for animals, O’Connell exposes a biologist’s thinking process." – Horn Book Magazine