Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year Foreword INDIES Award National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) & Children's Book Council (CBC) ― Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People The story of Abraham Dee Bartlett, a nineteenth-century British man who helped create the modern zoo Abraham Dee Bartlett knew from a young age that he wanted to spend his life working with animals. But in Victorian London, there weren’t many jobs that provided an opportunity to do that. Still, Abraham spent years gaining knowledge and pursuing his dream until he eventually became superintendent in the London Zoo. Driven by his compassion for the animals, Abraham dramatically improved the conditions of the zoo to ensure that the animals could be happy and healthy.  With engaging back matter and charming illustrations, Cassandre Maxwell’s book brings to life the little-known story of the man who helped to create the modern zoo. Part of Eerdmans’ Incredible Lives for Young Readers series. Gr 1–4—Abraham Dee Bartlett's love of animals shines through in this captivating biography of the inventor of the modern zoo. As a boy, Bartlett visited a menagerie of caged animals, where he was allowed to play with some beguiling lion cubs. Fascinated with wild animals, he spent his time reading about "aardvarks and zebras and everything in between," and as an adult he found a job at the Museum of Natural History. His museum exhibits caught the attention of some men in the London Zoological Society, who asked him to run the city zoo. Bartlett, "the walking animal encyclopedia," took his new responsibilities seriously, and with the happiness of the animals as his top priority, he instituted forward-thinking innovations. As Maxwell reveals in explanatory anecdotes, "Papa Bartlett" created natural habitats for the zoo denizens, labeled the exhibits to educate his patrons, and ensured that the animals enjoyed the best food and care possible. Thanks to his devotion, the visitors to Bartlett's first modern zoo developed a deeper appreciation for the animal kingdom. Maxwell pays homage to the zookeeper's beloved charges with her softly colored, expressive cut-paper collage illustrations, making the animals the focal point of many of the spreads. Thorough back matter and delightful endpapers featuring zoological fun facts supplement the text. Pair this title with Toni Buzzeo's equally engaging A Passion for Elephants: The Real Life Adventure of Field Scientist Cynthia Moss (Dial, 2015). VERDICT A splendid choice for all readers and animal lovers in particular.—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA Publishers Weekly “A warm portrait of a man’s lifelong passion for animals.” School Library Journal “A splendid choice for all readers and animal lovers in particular.” Waking Brain Cells (blog), “Maxwell has written a captivating biography of Bartlett that focuses on the way that his personal interest in animals led him to revolutionize zoos. . . . The cut‐paper art has an old‐fashioned feel that beautifully conveys the 19th century time period. . . . A clever and fascinating biography of the man who created modern zoos, this book would be a welcome read for any class before a trip to the zoo.”   Cassandre Maxwell has written and illustrated six books foryoung readers and currently works as an adjunct professorat Cabrini College. She lives in Pennsylvania. Visit herwebsite at www.cassandremaxwell.net.