Meet the Crew at the Zoo by Patricia Reilly Giff
A powerful story from two-time Newbery Honor-winner Patricia Reilly Giff, Meet the Crew at the Zoo (Holiday House), the first book in a new chapter book series, explores the power of love, change and the fear of the unknown from the perspective of a child.
Meet Luke, a kindhearted young boy who finds out he is moving from Florida to New York when his dad, a zoo doctor, takes a job at a new zoo. He wants to please his father, but this move means leaving his friends and, more importantly, leaving his abuelo (his grandfather) who he has a deep connection with.
Luke’s abuelo worked at the zoo in Florida with his dad and taught Luke all about the different animals, their habitats and why zoos were important for endangered animals. It’s tough for Luke to say goodbye. He is sad and scared to leave everything he has ever known, but despite his fear and uncertainty surrounding this new city, he is not afraid to meet new friends.
After arriving in New York, Luke tries to get used to his new neighborhood and the zoo his dad is now working at when he is challenged with solving a mystery:
He has just arrived at the zoo and has begun to meet some of the workers when he spots a zebra-striped box in the bushes nearby. Right as Luke goes to grab the box, so does another boy named Mitchell. The two boys decide to open the mysterious box together. Inside is a small collar, a green leash, and a dollar bill along with a note that reads “For the First Day.” Neither boy knows who the box belongs to, but Luke decides to find the owner.
On his search, Luke quickly begins to meet other children in his neighborhood. No one recognizes the zebra-striped box, not the very talkative boy named Alex, or the little girl named Tori, but they are determined to help with Luke’s quest to find the owner.
Who could this strange box belong to and why was it hidden in the bushes?
While on his journey to find the owner of this mysterious box, thoughts of Abuelo creep into Luke’s mind. He misses the zoo in Florida and always being able to turn to his grandfather when he needed help. This change has caused heartache that is hard to overcome.
Despite these tough feelings, Luke continues his quest, helping his father and creating friendships along the way. And he never gives up until the mystery is solved!
In Meet the Crew at the Zoo, readers can easily make connections with the main character as he faces change and learns how to overcome fear when faced with new challenges. Readers who have ever moved away from family, had to make new friends or start new chapters in their life will relate to Luke.
Giff has created the perfect series for that beginning reader who is ready to transition into a chapter book series. Not only does she provide young readers a glance into the job of zoologists, but she creates a story that teaches about perseverance, friendship and overcoming fear in the midst of change.
I loved how Luke never gave up on trying to solve the mystery in the story, even though he was struggling to fit in and love the new life he was unsure about. Luke’s determination, acceptance of new friends and maintaining a positive attitude, even when giving up would have been a lot easier, make Meet the Crew at the Zoo a touching read.
