zoo

Please welcome children’s book author and land conservation attorney Debra Kim Wolf to Frog on a Blog. Debra’s nonfiction picture book A Family for Zoya: The True Story of an Endangered Cub published this past summer by Platypus Media and features lovely realistic and detailed illustrations by twin sister nature and science artists Annalisa and Marina Durante.

I love that Debra chose to write about an endangered Amur tiger cub at the Philadelphia Zoo. My local zoo has Amur tigers (a favorite of my twin sister!) as well, and a male and a female cub were born there just last year. Let’s hear more from Debra about her special book and her passion for conservation and nature!

(All text and art from the book are the property of the author and illustrators.)

Congratulations on the publication of your beautiful debut nonfiction picture book A Family for Zoya: The True Story of an Endangered Cub! What inspired you to write this heartwarming story?

DW: I appreciate the chance to share my story with your readers, Lauri.

I was at the Philadelphia Zoo several years ago when I first learned about little Zoya, the only survivor from a litter of five critically endangered Amur tiger cubs. Zoya was rejected by her mother, which is apparently not uncommon for first-time tiger mothers. The zookeepers knew it would be much better for Zoya to be raised by a tiger rather than by humans. So they transported her to the Oklahoma City Zoo, hoping that a Sumatran tiger who recently had her own litter there would foster her. And, in fact, Zoya became the first cub ever to be “adopted” by another tiger subspecies! That heartwarming true story—and the cute photos of Zoya and her new tiger family—made me think it would be an inspiring book for children.

Why do you feel it’s important for children to learn about animals, nature, and
conservation?

DW: Even as a little kid growing up near the Appalachian Trail, I knew I wanted to be involved in protecting nature. I went on to become a land conservation lawyer, working to protect farms and creating trails and parks. But kids today are exposed to too much information about how we humans have messed up the environment. At a certain point, they may start feeling that nothing they can do will help or make a difference—which is absolutely untrue! I want to write stories that are entertaining but also show children how caring people can make a real difference for our planet. Zoya’s story highlights the incredible dedication of scientists and animal care specialists in three different zoos across the country. By saving this genetically rare tiger cub—who went on to have two healthy litters of her own—these caring folks kept alive fresh genes that one day could help make wild tigers healthier.

The ingenious way the publisher structured the book makes the story multi-layered: the main text focuses on Zoya’s fight for acceptance and love; the sidebars and back matter explain more about Amur tigers, genetic diversity, and efforts to protect wild tigers via the Tiger Conservation Campaign. So the book can appeal to a wide age range. I’ve even had adults tell me they learned a lot about tiger conservation by reading the story.

You’re also a songwriter! Do you write songs for children or for adults? And what
inspires your lyrics?

DW: For a long time, my creativity expressed itself via songwriting. I’d be driving or walking and a song hook or partial song lyrics would pop into my head. Sometimes I had to pull my car over to jot ideas down before they floated away! I was thrilled to win quite a few national honors and awards for songwriting. Unfortunately, my singing and guitar playing is mediocre at best, so I’m not a performing artist.

A few years ago, for some reason, ideas for children’s books started “coming through,” too. I’ve amassed dozens of decent ideas I keep in a file folder, but there’s simply not enough time to write or polish even a fraction of them!

Please tell us about One Little Earth, the nonprofit you founded.

DW: I started and ran a successful environmental film festival in Philadelphia for a number of years until Covid shut us down. We pivoted and turned into a nonprofit that supports nature access and nature literacy for underserved kids. We’ve sent underprivileged kids to nature summer camp, donated hundreds of environmentally-themed books to Title 1 schools and after-school programs, subsidized outdoor field trips and camps, and brought in authors and illustrators to talk to kids about the creative process. You can learn more at www.OneLittleEarth.org.

Can you share a bit about your next book?

DW: My next book—a humorous story about the food chain—will be published by Science Naturally in late 2026.

Debra Wolf is a land conservation attorney (under her married name, Debra Wolf Goldstein), author, an award-winning songwriter, and a tree hugger. She served as vice president of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park Commission for a dozen years, and co-founded the Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival. She directs One Little Earth, a nonprofit supporting outdoor programs, films, and books to inspire young nature lovers. Debra is the proud recipient of PennFuture’s “Woman of Lifetime Achievement in Conservation” award. The mother of two grown children, Debra lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and spunky cockapoo.

Learn more about Debra Kim Wolf and her books by visiting www.DebraKimWolf.com.

Book Information

A FAMILY FOR ZOYA: THE TRUE STORY OF AN ENDANGERED CUB

by Debra Wolf, illustrated by Annalisa & Marina Durante

(Platypus Media, July 2025)

Ages 6-9, Grades 1-4, ISBN 978-1-951995-29-4, Hardcover, 40 pages

https://www.platypusmedia.com/product-page/a-family-for-zoya

Debra is donating 100% of her profits to the Tiger Conservation Campaign.

Title: Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight

Author: Christine Mott

Illustrator: Ofra Layla Isler

Publisher/Year: Lantern Publishing & Media/2025

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Happy HELP ANIMALS DAY! I have a great book to share for the occasion.

Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight, written by Christine Mott and illustrated by Ofra Layla Isler, will officially be available May 6th from Lantern Publishing & Media, an American non-profit book publisher with a mission I can really get behind. It’s “to inform and inspire new generations of global citizens to create a healthy, compassionate, and resilient world for animals and humans alike.”

Free Bird is a fictional children’s picture book based on the true story of an owl named Flaco, a Eurasian Eagle Owl, which is one of the largest species of owl in the world, who escaped from his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Fifty percent of the author’s royalties will be donated to the Wild Bird Fund.

Flaco the owl dreams of flying free. So when an opening appears in the metal wire surrounding his zoo habitat, he carefully climbs out, opens his enormous wings, and jumps into the night sky. His flying skills are a little rusty, but with a bit of practice, he’s soon soaring over the zoo and into the bustling city where the lights and noise and cars and people are overwhelming. So he settles in the park where there are plenty of trees and food to eat. Before long, he’s exploring the whole city and making new animal friends. And, best of all, he’s enjoying his life of freedom.

Through lovely poetic text and Flaco’s own words, Free Bird offers an optimistic message to young readers about being brave, believing in yourself, and following your dreams. My favorite lines are the last two: Any dream needs a plan; there’s the “how” and the “when.” But the most important part of it is the “WHOOO”–and that “who” is you.

The illustrations are realistic and sweet, depicting many New York City sites as well as some of the animals who call the city home. Flaco is, of course, prominently featured soaring across the pages. A bonus “Fun Facts About Owls!” section can be found at the end of the book. Did you know there are over 200 owl species in the world?! And Flaco belonged to one of the biggest, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, with a 6-foot+ wingspan!

Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight is perfect for owl, animal, or NYC fans of all ages or simply for people you know who may need a bit of encouragement to follow their dreams.

The Central Park Zoo in Manhattan, NY, is home to hundreds of animals, including several bird species, like four distinct species of penguins: chinstrap, gentoo, macaroni, and king penguins.

“The Central Park Zoo is part of an effort to save wildlife that began 120 years ago with the creation of the New York Zoological Society, an organization founded on science and hope which has since grown to become the Wildlife Conservation Society.”