Zoo Overnight tells the story of Jenny and Ben, who win a special overnight stay at the zoo through the local library’s holiday program. While Jenny is nervous about being away from home, Ben finds a thoughtful way to support her, making this an uplifting story about friendship, courage, and problem-solving. The book includes clear, engaging instructions for creating a zoo diorama, blending narrative with procedural text. Featuring characters from Ready Set Go!, the story integrates dialogue, descriptive setting, and specific zoo-related vocabulary. Students are encouraged to practise inference, understand emotional responses, and follow multi-step written instructions—making this a rich and varied text for classroom use.
Educational Benefits:
- Develops inferencing and emotional literacy through character interaction.
- Supports understanding of procedural text with hands-on application.
- Enhances vocabulary related to habitats and zoo environments.
- Strengthens decoding skills using digraphs and blends.
Classroom Ideas:
- Have students create their own zoo diorama using the book’s instructions.
- Discuss feelings about sleepovers and create story maps showing emotions.
- Explore animal habitats and classify zoo animals by environment.
- Practise writing instructions for a different diorama or craft activity.
Safety & Information:
- Suitable for ages 6+
- Book size: 150mm x 210mm
- Includes instructions for a safe diorama activity (adult supervision recommended)
- Non-toxic, printed on child-safe materials
