Meet the Crew at the Zoo

Solve mysteries at a city zoo with a diverse group of kids in this illustrated chapter book from a two-time Newbery Honor author.

Lions and tigers for neighbors? That doesn’t bother Luke at all. It’s making new friends that scares him. Not only has Luke had to move from Florida to New York because of his dad’s new job as a zoo doctor, but he’s also had to leave behind his best friend–his abuelo.

When Luke discovers that there are other kids also living on Zoo Lane and that one of them might be the owner of a mysterious zebra-printed box left outside his house, he wonders if just maybe he can make friends and solve a mystery in this wild new place.

In this first book of the series, two-time Newbery Honor author Patricia Reilly Giff has crafted a charming story about conservation, animal care, friendship, and problem-solving. In touch with the programs and initiatives that today’s zoos are undertaking, Giff provides readers with a fresh look at the work of zoologists. Charming line artwork by Abby Carter appears throughout and keeps the story upbeat.