Fur, Fins, and Feathers: Abraham Dee Bartlett and the Invention of the Modern Zoo

by Cassandre Maxwell

Overview

Abraham Dee Bartlett knew from a young age that he wanted to spend his life working with animals. But in Victorian London, there weren’t many jobs that provided an opportunity to do that. Still, Abraham spent years gaining knowledge and pursuing his dream until he eventually became superintendent in the London Zoo. Driven by his compassion for the animals, Abraham dramatically improved the conditions of the zoo to ensure that the animals could be happy and healthy.

With engaging back matter and charming illustrations, Cassandre Maxwell’s book brings to life the little-known story of the man who helped to create the modern zoo.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467463706
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	08/10/2015
Series:	Incredible Lives for Young Readers (ILYR)
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	34
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Cassandre Maxwell has written and illustrated six books foryoung readers and currently works as an adjunct professorat Cabrini College. She lives in Pennsylvania. Visit herwebsite at www.cassandremaxwell.net.

Editorial Reviews

07/20/2015
Maxwell highlights how one man helped usher in new ideas of what zoos could be in the 19th century. Three-dimensional mixed-media collages give the pages a sense of activity and depth as Maxwell plays with and studies animals as a boy, gaining a reputation as a “walking animal encyclopedia” and eventually becoming superintendent of the London Zoo. There, he pioneered the idea of including information about the animals for visitors, as well as giving the creatures better nutrition and larger enclosures. “They... need spaces to explore, places to hide, and things to play with,” Maxwell says in one of a handful of unattributed quotations. A bibliography, time line, and author’s note round out a warm portrait of a man’s lifelong passion for animals, a passion that he shared widely. Ages 5–9. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly
“A warm portrait of a man’s lifelong passion for animals.”

School Library Journal
“A splendid choice for all readers and animal lovers in particular.”

Waking Brain Cells (blog),
“Maxwell has written a captivating biography of Bartlett that focuses on the way that his personal interest in animals led him to revolutionize zoos. . . . The cut‐paper art has an old‐fashioned feel that beautifully conveys the 19th century time period. . . . A clever and fascinating biography of the man who created modern zoos, this book would be a welcome read for any class before a trip to the zoo.”
 

From the Publisher

★ 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

School Library Journal

2015-04-15
Maxwell presents a brief biography of Abraham Dee Bartlett, the self-taught animal expert who became superintendent of the London Zoo in 1859 and subsequently made significant improvements in the understanding, care, and treatment of animals in captivity. The combination of interesting details, attractive illustrations, and direct narration make this introduction to a (most likely) little-known historical figure accessible and appealing. Beginning with Bartlett's childhood fascination with animals, the text travels briskly through the events of his long life, picking out those most germane to the topic (his recognition of the importance of good nutrition and comfortable and stimulating environments for the animals and of the value of providing educational information for visitors) as well as those most likely to pique young listeners' interest (his treatment of animals who needed medical care, the zoo's purchase of Jumbo the elephant). Complex ideas are presented clearly, and personal details add depth despite the brevity of the text. The pictures feature pleasing textures and rich colors. Executed in cut-paper collage and mixed media, they range from cozy interiors, like Abraham's book-strewn childhood bedroom, to expansive outdoor vistas. Animals of all sorts decorate the pages, offering children the chance to identify familiar species and wonder over unusual specimens. Sure to spark the interest of animal-loving children, this engaging portrait will also please history buffs and Anglophiles. (timeline, author's note, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews