O’Connell, Caitlin. Bridge to the Wild: Behind the Scenes at the Zoo. photos by Caitlin O’Connell & Timothy Rodwell. 208p. ebook available. index. photos. HMH. Aug. 2016. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780544277397. Pop 

Gr 4-7 –O’Connell takes readers through five days of behind-the-scenes access to a number of different exhibits while introducing some of the amazing inhabitants of Zoo Atlanta. There is so much more happening at a zoo than just the proper care and feeding of the animal residents, and O’Connell shares a number of the projects and the people behind them. For example, researchers are looking for ways to increase the likelihood of panda reproduction in captivity, which has proven elusive and difficult. O’Connell also makes clear how important the veterinarians are to the zoo and how they keep a constant eye on all of their charges so that no small illness turns into a larger one or spreads to other animals. The author mingles her narration about her visits to the zoo with animal facts and explanations about behavior, which are often denoted with a different typeface and color. The highlight, and really the focus, is on the special access she was given, a chance to learn about the people who work with the animals, and the mission of zoos to protect species and help world populations of animals. Photographs are dotted throughout the book and give a visual immediacy to the text. VERDICT A solid offering to young animal lovers.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA