Colin Hogg: The Zoo - Meet the Locals

Random House

$24.95

When it comes to entertaining and educating the little people, Auckland Zoo is one of the finest assets the city has.

Hogg's simple but engaging text follows the path of the telly programme, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the animals and their caregivers.

Kashin the elephant receives a new pair of shoes. Larry the camel has a stomach upset and despite the best efforts succumbs during surgery.

Rather than a sanitised world, there's life and death here and the book is the better for that.