As the mom of a six-month old baby, I cherish our special time together before bed, cuddling up in the rocker and reading our favorite books. Over the past few weeks, I find myself reading more and more to him, as his attention span sharpens and I can actually see him listening to the stories and gazing at the pictures. (Whereas, the past few months he only showed interest in grabbing and chewing on books!)

A new favorite books for baby

Some of our favorite books fall under the animal category. As a devoted dog-owner and all-around animal lover, I find nothing cuter than a story about three little bears being put to bed, or a runaway bunny looking for her mommy.

A new addition to our animal book collection is ZooBorns, a showcase of the newest and cutest animal babies from accredited zoos and aquariums around the world. Based on the popular website at zooborns.com, the book illustrates the connections between zoo births and conservation initiatives in the wild.

I enjoy reading ZooBorns as it showcases photos and descriptions of real animals as opposed to those little bears previously mentioned! It also includes a few species I am not familiar with, so reading becomes educational for me while entertaining for my son. (My three-year old daughter also loves the book!) Each page contains a beautiful color photo of a zoo baby, along with cute and quirky facts, including their name to help form a more personal connection with them. My favorite babies include….

“I’m Kai, and I’m a spotted hyena. Don’t be fooled by my puppy-dog good looks – we hyenas are more related to cats than to dogs. Mom says I’m purrrrrrfect!”

“What do you get when you add a zebra’s leg to a giraffe’s body – and then throw in a long blue tongue? Me! My name is Kalispell, and I’m an okapi.”

The end of the book features an index with a summary of each animal and a “Conservation Status Key,” ranging from critically endangered to near threatened. That further helps to hit home the message (to us adults, that is!) of how important it is to help protect these animals. By allowing zookeepers to study the behaviors and actions of these newborn critters, it helps them learn how to protect their wild cousins who live in jungles, deserts, mountains and oceans around the world. Best of all, 10% of all revenue from ZooBorns goes directly to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Endowment Fund.

Special Giveaway for Mom Central Members!

One lucky Mom Central reader will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ZooBorns, as well its companion book, ZooBorns: Zoo Babies from Around the World! 

This giveaway is now closed.

Amy Turner is VP of Client Strategy for Mom Central, helping brands connect with Moms through cutting-edge social media campaigns. She is also a wife, proud mom of two and devoted owner of a Belgian Malinois. Connect with Amy at Amy@momcentral.com and follow her @amyjo917.

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Mom Central received one copy of ZooBorns and ZooBorns: Zoo Babies from Around the World for review and another set to give away to a reader.

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