Lunch at the Zoo: What Zoo Animals Eat and Why - Hardcover

Altman, Joyce

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805060707 ISBN 13: 9780805060706

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2001

Synopsis

A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what zoo animals eat, and why.

How do you feed a hungry crocodile without becoming dinner yourself?
What do you feed a baby porcupine?
Do elephants need vitamin pills?

In the wild, animals can usually find the foods they need to eat. But zoo animals can't go out and search for their own meals. Instead, nutritionists must discover what foods each animal needs to stay healthy and happy. Whether serving lunch to poisonous snakes, making dinner for a thousand animals at once, or caring for babies who have lost their mothers, life for the zoo staff is never dull.

This fascinating and informative book looks behind the scenes at some of the largest zoos in the country to discover what--and how--they feed their animals.

About this title

About the Author

Joyce Altman is the author of Dear Bronx Zoo. She lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, with her husband, her daughter, and her two cats.

Rick Chrustowski grew up in Indiana and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is the author and illustrator of Bright Beetle. Mr. Chrustowski lives in a small farmhouse in Wisconsin.

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-A behind-the-scenes look at how zoos undertake the complicated task of feeding all of their different animals. Among the topics discussed are zoo nutritionists and how they determine which food is suitable for each creature. The text also examines how nutritionists find an appropriate substitute diet when the natural food is unavailable or impractical (e.g., live prey for carnivores). How the various foods are prepared and presented to the animals, and special situations that might require more attention (e.g., hand raising baby animals) are covered. This well-researched title provides many examples of specific zoos' practices, which makes for intriguing reading, such as the story of the Los Angeles Zoo's dilemma over the best method for feeding a two-headed snake. However, when the author gets away from the anecdotal material, the book becomes somewhat repetitive and loses some of its liveliness. Parentheses are used to explain unfamiliar terms, but the definitions are sometimes as difficult as the word being clarified (e.g., defining "subordinate" as "passive"). A chart that compares specific animals' zoo menus with their diets in the wild serves as a neat summary of the information. Black-and-white photos and pencil drawings provide a nice addition to the facts. This interesting offering is not likely to appeal to casual browsers, but it will find an appreciative audience among animal enthusiasts and teachers looking for something to supplement a field trip.-Arwen Marshall, formerly at New York Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0805060707
• ISBN 13: 9780805060706
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Chrustowski Rick