What’s the book about?
When you live in a zoo – things can get wild!
Eleven-year-old Neeka Wilder has always loved animals.
She wants to be a vet one day, like her mum, who is the head vet at Wilder Zoo – where Neeka and her family live!
Neeka is a great help to the zoo staff in caring for the animals. And she also takes videos of exciting events at the zoo.
When the videos are nominated for a big award, Neeka wants to make one more video to help win it. But when Rebel, the cheeky red panda, won’t cooperate, her zoo key goes missing and she’s grounded for a month, it’s a race against the clock to create the new video in time for the awards.
Recommended for:
Ages 9+
Three reasons to read it:
- This book is packed with magic—well, not real magic, but the kind of magic that happens when animals, friendship and determination come together. Neeka’s journey to win a big award takes her through some wild twists and turns that will keep you hooked from the very first page. Every chapter feels like a new adventure waiting to unfold! Her determination and heart make her a true hero in the making.
- If you love animals and enjoy exciting stories full of surprises, Wilder Zoo #1: Neeka and the Missing Key is the perfect read for you. With its quirky characters, action-packed plot and fun illustrations, this book is the kind of story kids will love to read. It’s an ideal pick for anyone who dreams of life in the zoo!
- Meet Rebel, the cheeky red panda who causes all sorts of trouble! Rebel’s antics keep things interesting, especially when he decides not to cooperate with Neeka’s plans. Can Neeka get Rebel to help her with her video before it’s too late? Get ready for some giggles and surprises as this cheeky panda shows his true colors.
Buy a copy of Wilder Zoo #1: Neeka and the Missing Key here.
About the author:
Tina Strachan is a children’s book author who has spent twenty years working and studying wildlife conservation including through zoo keeping, vet nursing, research and as a conservation officer. These unique experiences provide fodder for her debut middle grade series, Wilder Zoo. Tina lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland with her husband, two boys and their cavoodle.
Max Hamilton has worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for over twenty years. She studied fine art at COFA, NSW, and went on to study graphic design and illustration at Enmore TAFE. Max is now, most enthusiastically, a maker of children’s books and enjoys noticing the little details in things and loves to get lost in the world of illustration and stories. Max illustrated Where the Lyrebird Lives by Vicki Conley that won the 2023 CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year Award and Tasmanian Devil, by Claire Saxby, which was awarded the 2023 RZSNSW Whitley Awards Children’s Natural History Book. Max lives with her family and their cuddly dog in Sydney, Australia.
*Wilder Zoo #1: Neeka and the Missing Key* is an exciting middle-grade adventure where eleven-year-old Neeka, living in a zoo, faces challenges to create a video for an award. With her love for animals and the help of Rebel, a mischievous red panda, she navigates humorous twists and turns. This story celebrates friendship, determination, and creativity in a delightful zoo setting. Perfect for ages 9+!
E-ZPass® Connecticut