A fun adventure novel for middle-grade kids 8-14-and young-at-heart adults
An elderly zookeeper who can converse with animals, a pretty young veterinarian, a fugitive African teen, zoo animals, and kids from the American town of Lincoln join forces in a rousing rebellion to defend zoo animals' rights when a corrupt mayor and his cronies greedily attempt to turn the zoo into an amusement park.
The Lincoln Zoo Rebellion deals with animal rights and preservation in an entertaining and humorous way, making it an engaging read for kids from 8 to 14-and young-at-heart adults. It connects with today's kids, who are more aware than previous generations because of the internet and faster moving times. It makes learning more exciting and fun.
PRAISE FOR THE LINCOLN ZOO REBELLION"
The Lincoln Zoo Rebellion is amazing! The characters are well-developed, the storyline will draw you in, and the fantasy to real life connection is amazing. One of the best books I have read." -
Owen, age 10 (6th grade)
"I loved this wonderful tale. The hero, Reggie, is a positive Pied Piper. This exciting story helps to foster children's ability to handle tough competition and greed and learn about standing up for one's beliefs with grit, generosity, humor, and love. I recommend it highly and enjoyed it enormously." -
Judith Warren, PhD., Psychologist
"It's a terrific book! It will have broad appeal to both boys and girls, especially animal lovers (most kids like animals). It's a fast-paced story-very humorous with witty and wonderfully colorful descriptions. I loved Abby Sweet going into the lion's cage, Reggie learning animal languages, and the animals escaping from their cages." I had some good laughs in between holding my breath as the action accelerated." -
Alice Kaplan, Librarian
"
The Lincoln Zoo Rebellion was really creative with the animal voices and was cool that the kids wanted to help make a rebellion. Also, you feel a line of suspense growing and thickening, then it pauses, and a new suspense starts. I learned a lot about animals and especially liked Reggie the Zoo Keeper, Teeny Tiny, and Little Max, and the zoo animals-the Penguins, Rambo the Hippo, Leslie the Ring-tailed Lemur, and the Spotted Hyenas." -
Sophia, age 11 (5th grade)
Belling, Larry: - Larry Belling's creative history includes playwright and former writer/producer of Clio award-winning advertising campaigns for clients including American Express, Greenpeace (Save the Whales) and The African Wildlife Foundation (Save the Elephants). His first play, a dark comedy called "Stroke of Luck," was a success at the Park Theatre in London, which has optioned three of his one-act plays for next season under the title "For Art's Sake." Larry has also had several other careers including being Editor-in-Chief of internal communications for Europe's largest computer consultancy, manager of recording artists and record producers, including those of the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd, and a narrator of commercials and documentary films of the Discovery Channel, the BBC, PBS and National Geographic plus a few audio books. His most recent play-Love in the Time of Hacking-is about computer hackers, identity thieves, and romance.
Twain, Art: - Art Twain, childhood friend of Larry Belling, has written and produced over 3,000 radio and TV spots. He is a copywriter, author, musician, music composer and arranger. His award-winning voice work has been heard by tens of millions. Art took the Gap from one store to five hundred stores with his creative and marketing skills. He's won Clios, Emmy, International Broadcast awards and much more. He plays several instruments, which has helped him in the creation of his jingles and music tracks. He has written and produced musicals and performed humor on stage. He also wrote and produced a five-minute-a-day humorous radio series aimed at school-age kids. Art and Larry were together in a popular comedy music trio at UC Berkeley. Art has successfully worked with and advertised to kids of the target age of this book. He worked with the kids of Montera Middle School on a national Nike-sponsored ad campaign aimed at convincing kids to stay in school. They competed against a multitude of middle schools and high schools across America. His kids won! His Levi's Kidswear TV spot, aimed at middle school-aged kids, received the highest score ever given in scoring history up to that date. As a teen, Art had 26 assorted animals in his home zoo, including 3 skunks, 2 alligators, lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, rodents, a 'possum, and even a hand-sized tarantula. He's pampered Siski, the mountain lion and Lorita, a 64-year-old Amazon Green parrot. He says he's had conversations with all of them. Art loves to play and watch basketball.
