My First Board Book: A Day at the Zoo

Go wild with My First Board Book: A Day at the Zoo, a lively bilingual journey through a zoo full of fascinating creatures from around the world. From the majestic lion (raiona) to the gentle elephant (arawhana) and the playful panda (pana pea), this book introduces tamariki to the exciting diversity of the animal kingdom in both English and te reo Māori. Illustrated by Donovan Bixley ONZM, whose joyful style brings animals to life with bold shapes and vibrant colour, this sturdy board book invites little readers to identify and name animals while building cultural and linguistic knowledge. Bixley's deep love for language and creativity-recognised by his 2021 national honour-makes this a valuable resource for developing early vocabulary and reading engagement. Whether shared at home, at the zoo, or in the classroom, this engaging title is sure to inspire conversation, curiosity, and plenty of animal sounds!

Educational Benefits:

• Expands bilingual vocabulary with globally recognised animal names.
• Fosters global and cultural awareness through animal diversity.
• Supports early categorisation skills based on animal groups or traits.
• Encourages verbal development through mimicry and discussion.

Classroom Ideas:

• Create a bilingual animal wall chart using words from the book.
• Use the book as a prompt for animal sound or movement games.
• Plan a zoo-themed role-play day where children œcare for toy animals.
• Introduce sorting activities by animal habitats (jungle, savannah, etc.).

Information:

• Ages: 0-3 years
• Format: Board Book
• Language: English and te reo Māori
• Author/Illustrator: Donovan Bixley ONZM