Sophia and Ollie are best friends and have many things in common. Both love animals. Sophia wants to be a Wildlife Vet like her mum, who works at Taronga Wildlife Hospital. Ollie wants to become a Biologist or Zookeeper. His dad also works at the Zoo.
Two weeks of school holidays begin, and the friends
start their volunteer traineeship. They are given lanyards, but don’t know what
to expect. When told their first task is collecting poo from the animal enclosures,
they are initially shocked.
They are allocated to the koala Mateo, under supervision. Tthey know
all the animals’ names as they spend most of their spare time at the Zoo),
Each day they must collect and count all the koala
faecal. This is the way Mateo’s health is monitored. The poo is then taken to the lion
enclosure.
It’s ‘guess the poo’ time and the friends must
identify which poo has come from which animal. (An illustration shows the
different types of poo).
The two friends are determined to accept and undertake, whatever is expected, for them to become official volunteers.
Sophia and Ollie are dedicated and
enthusiastic. Even with the not-so-pleasant
tasks. They adapt and overcome all difficulties they encounter, as they head in
the direction of their dreams.
The friendship between Sophia and Ollie is built on an easy-going familiarity and light-hearted humour. Animal jokes are scattered through the text.
The story line includes the internal and external workings of the Zoo, the roles of the staff, happenings in the Wildlife Hospital, and the language used when referring to animals and their care.
Snippets of animal behaviour are included, and at the end, through Ollie’s Fun Facts, which are diligently recorded, are statistics regarding the animals released back into the wild.
The setting of this title is the Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
It’s Ollie’s birthday. His parents have organized a special day for him at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, in Dubbo. All Ollie wants is to have Sophia share the surprise with him, as she hasn’t visited that area since she was very young.
As volunteers at the Sydney Zoo, the children are given access passes. Max, Ollie’s dad, has rented bikes to enable them to explore the Zoo at their ease.
Sophia has ordered something special for her best
friend. But it hasn’t arrived yet. She becomes anxious and distracted.
Throughout the day, she keeps making excuses to
check at the office if the parcel has come.
Will Ollie think Sophia is keeping secrets from
him? This question buzzes through her head.
Sophia’s behavior is irritating Ollie, and she knows it, but can’t risk spoiling things by explaining why to him.
The day passes with them catching up with animals that have been transferred to Western Plains from Sydney.
Will Sophia’s parcel arrive on time?
Because of the character Ollie’s ability to collect
and retain facts, a great deal of overall information surrounding the animals’
lives: their habits, diet, and habitats, flow through his dialogue.
Readers will benefit from the wonderful new words
associated with the animals which will educate and expand their vocabulary.
This series opens a new avenue of interest for children regarding futures in animal care.
Title: Taronga Presents: Poo at the Zoo, Bk1; Party Animals, Bk#2
Author: Kristin Darell
Illustrator: Laura Wood
Publisher: Penguin, $14.99
Publication Date: 3 September 2024
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761347436; 9781761347443
For ages: 7+
Type: Junior Fiction
