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New at the zoo

Peter Lippman - Author

A tiny animal’s arrival brings a care puzzle: Joshua nibbles the letter before Mr Benjamin can finish reading its instructions. The opening centres on practical care and the zoo’s response to its new arrival.

More about this book

One afternoon the postman brought a package to the zoo. Inside the box was a furry baby animal with bright eyes. He was nibbling on a big envelope. "He's much too little to stay outside," said Mr. Benjamin. "He should stay in my office with me." While Joshua played, Mr. Benjamin opened the letter. Instructions for feeding and care of Joshua: 1. At breakfast, lunch, and dinner, feed one bottle of milk and three bags of peanuts. 2. Put in his basket one pillow, one blanket, and one small bone. 3. At bedtime, to get Joshua to go to sleep ... That was all he could read because the rest had been completely nibbled away. p. 3-5.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

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Animal care· ExplainedProblem-solving· ExplainedStory puzzle· Explained

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

animal careproblem-solvingstory puzzle

FictionIllustrated book

Themes in Context

A care letter with missing instructions

Joshua nibbles a care letter before Mr Benjamin can read it all, leaving some of the animal’s instructions unavailable.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The incomplete letter functions as a playful story device that creates a practical puzzle, without making a broader judgement about animal care.

Talk about: How will Mr Benjamin respond to the missing directions?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The damaged instructions invite curiosity about how Mr Benjamin will work out what Joshua needs. It may suit a shared read that pauses to notice clues and consider possible next steps.

What Deserves Attention

The opening includes a baby animal being kept indoors because he is considered too little to stay outside, alongside routine feeding and bedtime-care details.

A Conversation Worth Having

What details in the letter can Mr Benjamin still use, and what might he need to find out before caring for Joshua?

Reading Approach

Read the surviving care instructions together and invite your child to distinguish what the letter says from what remains unanswered. Keep predictions open as you consider what Mr Benjamin might do next.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

A care letter with missing instructions: The supplied opening does not show how the care problem is resolved or what happens to Joshua next.

New at the Zoo - Peter Lippman - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: General book context

New at the zoo by Peter Lippman | Open Library