Phil Earle
Andersen Press
Age 9-11
It is 1941 and while most children are sent out of cities into country, Joseph is sent to London and into the care of Mrs F, a strong, caring, self-contained woman, preoccupied with her fight to keep her zoo with its remaining animals open. Joseph is angry and anxious about his dad who has left him to fight for his country. Gradually his feelings change, and he discovers what it means to connect, care, and be cared for.
Young readers meet an excellent cast of characters, including an appealing gorilla called Adonis in this moving and dramatic war time story which gives lots for children and adults to talk and think about together.
Watch a trailer
Talk about the story
Talk together about:
▪︎ Which character you find most interesting
▪︎ Which scene was most memorable?
▪︎ Something that surprised you
▪︎ The feelings of the different characters at different points in the story
▪︎ What would you both like to happen after the story ends?
Things to make and do
Draw a scene from the story
Suggest your child choose a scene from the story, which has stayed with them to illustrate.
Make a poster to save Adonis
Give your child a large piece of paper and pens. Imagining they are Syd or Joseph they could make a poster to save Adonis the gorilla when he is under threat in the story.
Be a reporter
With one of you as a reporter and another as of the characters from the story Mrs F, Joseph or Syd role play an interview about what happened to Adonis and the zoo or, alternatively what happened at Joseph and Syd’s school and his encounters with Bert the bully and Mr Gryce the head teacher.
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