View from a Zoo

Two creative artists from different parts of the world, Ohioan author Knapp and Mumbaikar illustrator Kanjilal have collaborated to tell a delightful story about Thea, a happy but restless domestic cat that jumps at an opportunity to explore. In her search for adventure she learns from a wise zoo lion that reading can offer far more than venturing outdoors.

Set during the Christmas season in New York City, Thea’s adventures in the Big Apple eventually take her to the Bronx Zoo, where she meets a lion named Vern. Kanjilal’s meticulous ink and watercolor renditions of Thea’s contented surroundings contrasted with her restlessness and her adventures, succinctly capture Knapp’s simple and appealing narrative. Their collaboration has created a story that is both captivating and engaging for children, whether read aloud by an adult, or as a standalone.

Available in paperback and also earmarked for the iPad via Levar Burton’s Reading Rainbow media company, RRKIDZ, View From a Zoo sends a brilliant message to young readers, 3 and up, that the adventures in reading truly can open doors to the best adventures of all time.