The zoo creates an incredible learning opportunity for little learners. Animals come from a variety of habitats, which makes them all unique, just like students. Take a look at my list of zoo books for little learners where kangaroos hop, turtles swim, and lion’s roar!
If you are planning on a zoo theme for your classroom, take a peek at my post on Zoo Centers for even more animal learning fun.
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Zoo Books for Little Learners
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother?
Help your little learners recognize letters, sounds, and words through a fun story about a kangaroo. This is also the perfect time to teach your students about the amazing pouch where baby kangaroos hide.
“Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth
It surprises me how thrilled students can be with sloths! Have your little learners practice acting like a sloth for some classroom laughs.
It helps to learn when your body is in motion, so get those little learners ready to move around with this book that is all about animal’s body parts, from the gorilla’s feet to a bird’s wing.
1, 2, 3 to the ZooA train full of animals traveling to the zoo makes the perfect opportunity to practice counting! I LOVE the colorful illustrations in this zoo book!
Or can they? Gerald the giraffe loves to dance but all of the animals make fun of him. A great zoo book that includes a sweet lesson on how to be kind and helpful.
Zoo-LookingTake a trip to the zoo in this story that is full of rhyming words and animals too! Have your little learners try to guess the rhyming word. It will help them recognize letters, sounds, and words.
Before you begin to read this zoo book to your little learners, let them guess why they should never shout in the zoo.
A little lion cub wants to have a little fun! But who would make the perfect playmate? It must be someone who roars!
The jungle is full of animals you can find at the zoo. From snakes, toucans, and more, little learners will love this zoo book, thanks to the part where they get to sing and dance.
A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper
Take advantage of the zoo theme with this book that outlines the career of a zookeeper. You never know, there could be a future zookeeper sitting in your classroom!
Counting by two’s at the zoo is a snap! Little learners can count the animals two by two!
This creative story is about s fearless girl who goes on a safari. She crosses wild animal paths with no fear! Do you think she’ll be able to be just as brave when it comes to handling scary noises at night?
Introduce little learners to the animals of the Savanna. This zoo book is full of real-life pictures to give kids a first-hand look at the unique animals of the Savanna.
Surprisingly there is a TON of life in the dry desert! Challenge your little learners to name one or two before you start reading this book.
The rainforest is full of some very interesting and colorful creatures. Perfect for your little learner’s library.
Sea creatures are animals too! This book is full of fantastic photos of the ocean along with a variety of fish, whales, and more. Check out all of those colors!
This zoo book takes little learners on an adventure through the Antarctic. From penguins to 
whales this book covers it all. For more habitat books for little learners, take a look at the rest of this FANTASTIC book series on habitats.
This interesting insect is sure to grab your little learner’s attention. The real life photos give readers a close-up look without the worry of any danger.
A day in the life of the magnificent creature, the Jaguar. The pattern on its fur is captured along with other facts in a book that have some pretty fantastic pictures of the jungle.
Here is another book that focuses on a day in the life of a sea turtle! Did you know that turtles can live to be over 100 years old?!
Those huge and fluffy bears draw the attention of little learners like no other! Especially the baby cubs…. they are SO cute.
What are your favorite zoo books for your classroom library? Share them with us all in the comments!
Take the ZOO theme all over your classroom with these FUN and engaging Zoo themed activities and centers. These are my students favorite and there’s a Desert Art Freebie for you too!
Then have students create zoo animal habitats (STEM) and create a Zoo in the dramatic play center.
LOVE these zoo books? Pin this image!
Want more to check out more of my favorite books for little learners? Check out my Book List Blog Series with over 33 different themed book lists (and growing)! If there is a book list for a theme you need just let us know so we can create it for you.
