Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 09/01/2015 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 - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 09/15/2015 This engaging picture-book biography tells the story of Abraham Dee Bartlett, the supervisor of the London Zoo from 1859 to 1897. Bartlett’s lifelong interest in and empathy with animals brought him insights that led to revolutionary innovations in how modern zoos operate. His omnipresent care and compassion earned him the nickname “Papa” and gained him several admirers, including Queen Victoria. Well-chosen anecdotes show how Bartlett’s extensive research and close observations resulted in profound changes. He advocated for better health care, enhanced diets that included native foods, and larger and more natural habitats that allowed animals room to play. Bartlett also introduced the concept of annotated informational signs and guidebooks to increase the sensitivity of zoo visitors. The chronological presentation helps put Bartlett’s reforms into context, and the intricately detailed cut-paper and mixed-media illustrations add plenty of period details. This informative biography goes down easily and will appeal especially to animal lovers and zoo enthusiasts. Young readers who enjoyed Kathleen Krull’s What’s New? The Zoo! (2014) will also appreciate this more focused account. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

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