Zoe's Rescue Zoo
Author: Amelia Cobb
Date: 2026-05-15 00:00:00+00:00
Description: At Zoe's Rescue Zoo only the cutest, cuddliest animals need apply! Zoe loves living at her uncle's rescue zoo because there's always something exciting going on. And Zoe also has an amazing secret... She can actually TALK to the animals! When four playful cheetah cub brothers come to stay at the zoo, Zoe comes up with a brilliant idea to help them feel more at home. Have you read Zoe's other adventures? Check out: - The Busy Beaver - The Worried Wombat - The Rascally Raccoon - The Gentle Grizzly - and many more adorable animal rescue stories!
Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd

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Great-Uncle Horace opened the crate and a tumble of furry blurs came zooming out. Zoe gasped as they streaked through the grass. “What are they? They’re so fast I wasn’t able to see!”

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Look out for:

The Lonely Lion Cub

The Puzzled Penguin

The Playful Panda

The Silky Seal Pup

The Eager Elephant

The Lucky Snow Leopard

The Pesky Polar Bear

The Cuddly Koala

The Wild Wolf Pup

The Happy Hippo

The Sleepy Snowy Owl

The Scruffy Sea Otter

The Picky Puffin

The Giggly Giraffe

The Curious Kangaroo

The Super Sloth

The Little Llama

The Messy Meerkat

The Helpful Hedgehog

The Rowdy Red Panda

The Talkative Tiger

The Runaway Reindeer

The Adventurous Arctic Fox

The Rascally Raccoon

The Worried Wombat

The Busy Beaver

The Laughing Lynx

The Gentle Grizzly

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With special thanks to Siobhan Curham

For Madison A.

1

It was the first day of the summer holidays and Zoe Parker was hard at work. Most children would hate having to work during their summer break but not Zoe. When you live in a Rescue Zoo, work is fun!

That day, Zoe was working on an animal mural for the zoo café. She 2grinned as she painted a big smile on the face of a polar bear. The Rescue Zoo had been founded by her Great-Uncle Horace, a world-famous explorer who gave endangered, lost or at-risk animals a safe place to stay. Zoe lived in a cottage in the heart of the zoo with her mum, Lucy, who was the zoo vet.

“I bet you can’t wait for the café to open again next week,” Zoe called to Sally, the café manager. Sally was busy cleaning the counter. The café had been closed for months after a bad leak had caused water damage.

“I’m so excited!” Sally replied. “I’ve really missed serving food to all the zoo visitors.”

“What about serving food to mouse lemurs?” Zoe’s pet mouse lemur, Meep, 3chirped. He dipped his front paws in a saucer of yellow paint, then hopped on to a piece of paper Zoe had placed on the floor for him.

Zoe giggled. “I’m sure she’s missed serving food to you too, Meep.” Zoe had a special secret that even her mum and Great-Uncle Horace didn’t know – she could talk to animals and understand what they were saying.

Meep started making tiny yellow paw prints on the paper. “Look,” he chirped. “I’m painting a banana.”

Zoe stroked his silky grey fur. “Very good!” She glanced around the café. 4It was full of zookeepers all working hard to get the café ready for its grand reopening. Mark, the big-cat keeper, was hammering a new set of shelves to the wall. Michelle, the monkeys’ keeper, was hanging fun lampshades with animals on them, and Zoe’s mum, Lucy, was putting tiger-print tablecloths on each of the tables. 5

“Do you think Meep would like something to eat?” Sally asked.

“Meep always wants something to eat,” Zoe replied, smiling at the little mouse lemur. He was sitting on his back legs staring hungrily at his banana painting.

Sally brought a little dish of blueberries over. Zoe quickly cleaned the paint from Meep’s paws and set him down by the dish.

Sally brought a little dish of blueberries over. Zoe quickly cleaned the paint from Meep’s paws and set him down by the dish. 6

“I think we should have a party in the café for all the zoo staff before we reopen,” Sally said. “You’ve all been so helpful. It would be my way of saying thank you.”

The zookeepers smiled.

“A party is a great idea,” Zoe said.

“Party food is an even better  idea,” Meep cheeped through a mouthful of berries.

“Excellent plan,” Mark called. “I’ll let the other keepers know.”

“Zoe and I would be happy to help you prepare,” Lucy said.

“Absolutely!” Zoe put the finishing touch to her mural. As she put her paintbrush to soak in a pot of water, she heard the rumble of an engine outside. It was a sound Zoe instantly recognised. 7“That sounds like Great-Uncle Horace’s truck!” she cried.

“He must have a new arrival for the zoo,” Michelle said.

Mark smiled. “Let’s go and see what it is.”

Zoe scooped Meep up and popped him on her shoulder. She, Lucy and Mark hurried outside. Great-Uncle Horace’s rainbow-coloured truck was bumping along the track towards the big-cats’ area of the zoo.

“Looks like we’re getting some arrivals for the new habitat,” Mark said.

Zoe felt a burst of excitement.What big cats could they be? Tigers maybe? Or lions or panthers? They all followed the truck up the track. Great-Uncle Horace drove straight into a new grassy habitat at the end. Zoe and the others followed him inside. 8

“Hello, Great-Uncle Horace!” Zoe cried as the truck door opened.

“Hello, Zoe!” Great-Uncle Horace boomed, jumping out of the truck. His white beard was longer than ever, and his skin was tanned. He was wearing a parrot-print shirt and baggy khaki shorts.With a flutter of bright-blue feathers, his hyacinth macaw Kiki flew out of the truck window. She landed on 9Great-Uncle Horace’s shoulder with a cheery squawk.

“Who have you brought to live at the zoo this time?” Zoe asked excitedly.

Great-Uncle Horace shut the enclosure gate, went over to the back of the truck and started unlocking a large crate. “You’d better not blink or you might miss them,” he said with a chuckle. “Ready?” he asked, as if he was starting a race. 10

“Yes!” Zoe cried, keeping her eyes open wide.

Great-Uncle Horace opened the crate and a tumble of furry blurs came zooming out.

Zoe gasped as they streaked through the grass. “What are they? They’re so fast I wasn’t able to see!”

“They’re the fastest land animals on the planet!” Great-Uncle Horace announced. “Our very first cheetahs.”

11“Wow!” Zoe exclaimed as she watched the animals tearing around the enclosure.

“They can travel as fast as seventy-five miles an hour,” Great-Uncle Horace said. “Their long legs help them run, and their long tails help them balance when they make speedy turns. Their claws don’t retract like other big-cats’ claws do. Scientists think it helps them go even faster when their claws dig into the ground.”

“They can go from zero to sixty miles an hour in just three seconds,” Mark added. He laughed. “They’re going to keep me busy, that’s for sure.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure Zoe will be happy to help you.” Great-Uncle Horace gave her a twinkly-eyed smile.

“Of course I will!” Zoe exclaimed. She already knew that she wanted to be a 12zookeeper when she left school, and she loved helping out whenever she could.

“They won’t be staying for long,” Great-Uncle Horace said as the cheetahs raced around. “I had to rescue them because some people are building a town in their territory in the country of Namibia in Africa. But as soon as we’ve found them a new territory, I’ll rewild them. The world’s cheetah population is so small now that we have to support them in their natural habitats in the wild so they don’t become extinct.”

Zoe nodded. “How many did you bring? It’s hard to tell because they’re so fast.”

“There’s four of them,” Great-Uncle Horace replied, “and they’re brothers.”

“It’s so nice that they’re all still together,” Zoe said. 13

“Male cheetahs that are born in the same litter stay together their whole lives,” Great-Uncle Horace explained. “They’re called a coalition.”

“What about the female cheetahs?” Zoe asked.

“They like to stay by themselves,” Great-Uncle Horace replied. “Apart from when they’re taking care of their cubs.”

Zoe smiled. Another thing she loved about living at the Rescue Zoo was all the interesting information she learned about the animals there.

“Mark and I need to bring some food and enrichment toys for our new arrivals,” Great-Uncle Horace said. “Could you keep them company while we’re away, Zoe?” 14

“Yes, of course.” Zoe was excited. Once the adults had gone, she’d be able to talk to the cheetahs.Well, she would if they ever slowed down!

Zoe made her way into the centre of the large enclosure, with Meep still perched on her shoulder. She and Meep watched for a while as the cheetahs ran around, playing. They looked like they were having a great time. 15

Finally, the cheetahs noticed them and came running over. Zoe wondered if they might roar like the lions and tigers, but to her surprise they meowed just like pet cats.

“Hello, I’m Zoe, and this is my mouse lemur, Meep,” she said, crouching down to pet them.

One by one the cheetahs came over and nuzzled her, purring loudly. Now that 16they were still, she could see that their pale-brown fur was covered in black spots. Dark lines ran from the corners of their eyes down to their mouths like tears.

“This one’s Chip and he’s the fastest,” Zoe explained to Meep. The second cheetah jumped up high and nuzzled her head. Zoe giggled. “This is Cal and he can jump the highest.” She turned to the third cheetah, who was nudging her and purring. “Hello, Cooper,” Zoe replied. “Yes, I can tell you love to run!” The fourth cheetah suddenly lunged for Zoe’s pocket, and then darted away with her paintbrush in his mouth! “And this is Charlie!” Zoe said with a laugh as she grabbed the paintbrush back. “He’s the cheekiest!” 17

The four cubs took off again, racing around their enclosure faster and faster.

The lynxes and the lions in the enclosures nearby had gathered at their fences to watch their new neighbours play. Lucas the lynx meowed with excitement, and Leon the lion threw back his head and let out a mighty roar. Zoe grinned. It looked like the cheery new additions to the Rescue Zoo were going to be a lot of fun!

18

As soon as Zoe woke up the next morning, she smiled. It was going to be another great day! Great-Uncle Horace and Mark had asked her if she’d spend the morning playing with the cheetahs and their new enrichment toys.

“Time to wake up, Meep,” she called. She sat up and looked at the cushion at 19the end of her bed where Meep always slept. But the cushion was empty and there was no sign of the little mouse lemur. “Meep?” she said, looking around the bedroom. She heard a strange pitter-pattering sound coming from outside in the hallway. She got out of bed and opened the door. A tiny streak of grey fur zoomed past her. “Meep, what are you doing?”

Lucy opened her bedroom door and peered out. “What’s going on?” she asked sleepily as Meep whizzed down the stairs.

“Meep seems to be in a rush to get up,” Zoe replied as she ran downstairs after him. She found him in the kitchen, racing round in circles.

20“Am I as fast as a cheetah yet?” Meep chirped. “I’ve been practising.”

“I’m not sure if you’ll ever be as fast as a cheetah, Meep.Your legs are so much smaller,” Zoe said, kneeling beside him on the floor. Meep instantly looked sad. “But you are the fastest mouse lemur I’ve ever seen,” she quickly added.

Meep cheeped happily and leapt on to her lap. “Is it breakfast time?” he chirped. “I’m starving!”

Zoe giggled. “I’m not surprised after all that running about!”

Once they’d had breakfast, Zoe and Meep set off for the big-cats’ area. It was a beautiful sunny day and the Rescue Zoo looked brighter and more colourful than ever. Sally had put up posters on the enclosure fences advertising the reopening 21of the café next week.

“I can’t wait for the café party,” Zoe said to Meep.

“I can’t wait for the party food!” he chirped happily.

When they reached the big-cats’ area, Lucas and Lia the lynxes came running over to their fence to greet them.

“Hello, Lucas, hello, Lia,” Zoe said.

Lucas’s head drooped and he gave a sad meow.

“Oh dear,” said Zoe. “I’m sorry you were woken up so early. I’ll try and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Who woke them up?” Meep chirped as they continued along the track.

“The cheetahs,” she replied.

“How?” Meep chirped.

“I think that’s how,” Zoe replied as the 22cheetahs’ enclosure came into view. The four cubs were tearing around the place meowing at the tops of their voices.

“What are they doing?” Meep chirped. He scampered up on to Zoe’s shoulder to get a better view.

Zoe watched as the cheetahs charged around their enclosure, leaping over boulders and scampering along logs. “I think they’re racing each other.” 23

“I wouldn’t want to race against them,” Meep chirped.

“Why?”

“Because they’re cheaters. ‘Cheet-ahs’, get it?” Meep clapped his tiny paws together, looking very pleased with himself.

“Very funny!” Zoe giggled. She went over to the gate and felt for the silver paw print she always wore around her neck.

24Great-Uncle Horace had given her the pendant for her birthday and it opened the gates to all the enclosures. But just as she was about to open the gate, the cheetahs all went whizzing past.

“Careful they don’t knock you over,” Meep chirped.

Just as Zoe reached for the pendant again, she heard the clip-clip of shoes on the footpath behind her.

“Uh-oh!” Meep chirped, slipping down from her shoulder and into her pocket.

Zoe turned to see Mr Pinch, the zoo manager. As always, he was wearing his very neat and tidy uniform. His black shoes were so well polished they shone like jewels in the sunlight.

“Good morning, Mr Pinch,” Zoe called cheerily. 25

“Is it?” he replied crossly.

“Of course. The sun is shining and we have some new guests at the zoo.” She pointed at the enclosure. The cheetahs were racing even faster and meowing even louder.

“The sun is too bright and our new arrivals are too noisy,” Mr Pinch grumbled. “And why do they have to keep running about like that? Why can’t they just sit still in a neat and tidy row?”

The cheetahs zoomed past them. Charlie first, then Cal and Chip, and finally Cooper. Their meowing got louder than ever.

“Can’t you do something to make them stop?” Mr Pinch said crossly. “They’re making my ears angry.”

Zoe tried not to giggle at the thought 26of Mr Pinch’s angry ears. Then she spotted the whistle he wore on a string around his neck.

“Please can I borrow your whistle?” she asked. “Maybe I can get their attention.”

“This whistle is only for emergencies,” Mr Pinch said grumpily.

“Well, I think this is an emergency,” Zoe replied. “It’s an emergency for your ears.”

“That is very true!” he said. He took the whistle off and handed it to Zoe.

“Thank you. I’ll be right back.” Zoe let herself into the enclosure.

“What does emergency mean?” Meep chirped from her pocket.

“It means something very, very important,” Zoe replied.

The cheetahs were meowing at each other so loudly they didn’t even notice 27Zoe come in. Zoe brought the whistle up to her lips and Meep slid down into her pocket and covered his silky ears with his paws. Zoe took a deep breath and blew into the whistle as hard and as loud as she could. The cheetahs instantly stopped running and fell silent. They stared at Zoe, their eyes wide with shock.

28“Thank you, Mr Pinch,” Zoe said, passing the whistle through the fence.

“No, thank you,” Mr Pinch said, rubbing his ears. “I think you should keep the whistle for a while, to help keep those noisy animals quiet.”

“OK!” Zoe replied, hanging the whistle around her neck.

“Right, now that I’ve sorted this mess out, I need to go to the café,” Mr Pinch said. “I must make sure Sally’s got everything nice and tidy for the opening. I just know those tablecloths aren’t going to be on the tables straight.”

“Good luck!” Zoe grinned. As Mr Pinch marched off down the path, she turned to the cheetahs. Charlie had started meowing again, and Chip and Cal were both looking really annoyed. 29

“What is all the noise about?” she asked.

Charlie meowed.

“Just because you came first in the race it doesn’t mean you’re better than your brothers,” Zoe said.

Chip and Cal started to growl.

“See? You’ve upset them,” Zoe said.

Cal and Chip came padding over and nudged her with their heads, meowing loudly.

“Is that true?” Zoe asked Charlie. “Did you cheat to win the race? That’s so cheeky!”

Charlie grinned and scampered off.

Cal and Chip meowed crossly to Zoe.

“OK, I’ll try and think of another competition that you could win,” Zoe replied, and they ran off to play in the grass. 30

Cooper came over and flopped down by Zoe’s feet.

“Oh dear, Cooper.Why do you look so sad?” Zoe asked.

Cooper gave a little whimper.

“Yes, it must be difficult to have fun when your brothers get so competitive,” Zoe said. She sat down beside Cooper and began stroking his fur. In seconds, the three other cheetahs came bounding over. They started nudging each other out of the way as they tried to get closer.

“Oh no.” Zoe laughed and shook her head. “Now they’re competing over which one of them I like best.” She looked at the cheetahs and smiled. “I like you all the same.”

Charlie jumped into her lap and licked her cheek. 31

“Even with that, I still like you all the same, Charlie!” Zoe chided him, laughing again.

“But you like me the best!” Meep chirped, so quietly that only Zoe heard him.

Zoe gave Cooper a comforting stroke. “Don’t worry, I’ll think of something to get your brothers to be less competitive.” But as she watched Charlie, Chip and Cal start bickering again, her heart sank. What could she do to stop the brothers quarrelling?

32

The next morning, Zoe was woken by Meep tapping her nose with his paw.

“Wake up, Zoe, there’s an emergency!” he chirped.

“What emergency?” Zoe sat up with a start. “Has one of the animals been injured?”

“No.We have to be at the meeting at 33the café.” Meep scampered over to a pile of Zoe’s clothes. He began dragging a T-shirt over with his mouth.

Zoe sighed. “The café meeting isn’t an emergency. It’s just to decide what kind of food we’re going to have at the party.”

“Exactly!” Meep squeaked. “It’s something that’s very, very important.”

Zoe laughed and got out of bed.

“And we have another emergency before that.” Meep scampered over to the door.

“Another one?” Zoe asked.

“Yes,” he chirped. “We have to have a very, very important breakfast!”

After a quick emergency breakfast, Zoe and Meep set off for the café. It was another lovely sunny day. Zoe skipped 34along the winding footpath with Meep scampering along beside her. A bird flew past singing cheerily, and in the distance she could hear the elephants trumpeting.

“I love the zoo first thing in the morning,” Zoe said to Meep. “It’s such a happy place.”

As they passed the hippos’ enclosure, she saw Henry and Hetty rolling contentedly in the mud. And when they got to the meerkats’ enclosure, Max and his little siblings were standing on top of the rocks basking in the sun.

“All of the animals look so relaxed,” Zoe said. “They’re really enjoying the lovely day.” 35

“Do you think the cheetahs will be relaxed too?” Meep chirped.

“I really hope so!” Zoe exclaimed.

Finally, they reached the little square in the centre of the zoo.

“This is going to be the most fun emergency ever!” Meep chirped, racing towards the café.

“It really isn’t an emergency, Meep,” Zoe chuckled. But as she got closer, she heard raised voices coming from the café. Zoe frowned. Perhaps it was an emergency after all. It sounded as if the zookeepers were arguing!

“Why is everyone being so noisy?” Meep chirped, looking confused.

“I’m not sure. Let’s find out.” Zoe opened the door cautiously. The café was full of zookeepers, all sitting at the tables. 36Mr Pinch was over by the shelves, making sure the cups and plates were perfectly straight. Sally was standing behind the counter, writing things in her notepad. She looked really stressed.

“I think we should have Japanese food at the party,” Vanessa, the zebras’ keeper, called. “I went to Japan for my holiday and the food was delicious.”

“No, we should have festival food,” Mark said. “It is a party, after all.We should have things like hot dogs and candyfloss.”

“Why don’t we have a Round-the-World party?” Lucy suggested. “We could have dishes from all the different countries the animals are from.”

“I really don’t see what’s wrong with sandwiches cut into lovely neat squares,” Mr Pinch said with a frown. “And 37perfectly round cupcakes.”

“Please, can you all slow down?” Sally cried. “I’m trying to write all your suggestions in my notepad but you’re going so fast I can’t keep up.”

But the zookeepers were talking so loudly they didn’t hear her.

“Oh dear,” Zoe murmured. The zookeepers squabbling over food was as bad as the cheetahs squabbling over which one of them was the best! 38

“Ask Sally if we can have fruit and flowers and insects at the party,” Meep chirped.

“I think she has more than enough suggestions to deal with,” Zoe replied, trying not to giggle at the thought of suggesting they eat insects.

“Please can you slow down?” Sally asked again. But again, nobody heard her.

“OK, now this meeting really is an emergency,” Zoe said, fetching Mr Pinch’s whistle from her pocket.

“Uh-oh!” Meep chirped, quickly covering his ears with his paws.

Zoe gave a sharp blow on the whistle. The café fell totally silent. 39

“Sally is trying to say something,” Zoe explained as everyone stared at her. “No one could hear her because you’re all talking at the same time.”

“Thank you, Zoe!” Sally gave her a relieved smile. “And thank you all for your suggestions,” she said to the others. “I’ll give them all some thought. Maybe I can figure out a kind of food that will make everyone happy.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Now, you’d better get going – it’s almost time for the zoo to open.”

The zookeepers headed off to work and Zoe and Meep continued on to the big-cats’ area. As they reached the lynxes’ enclosure, Zoe heard Lia and Lucas meowing happily.

“What are they doing?” Meep chirped 40as they went over to the fence to investigate.

“They’re playing a game of follow-the-leader,” Zoe said as she watched Lia encouraging Lucas to follow her. She thought of how Lia used to tease Lucas when they first arrived at the zoo. It was lovely to see how well they got on now and how much fun they were having.

“And they’ve given me an excellent idea!” she exclaimed.

“Does it involve a banana?” Meep chirped.

“No!” Zoe giggled. 41

“That’s a shame,” Meep chirped. “Most excellent ideas are about bananas.”

Zoe picked up Meep and gave him a cuddle. “Don’t worry, I’ve had the excellent idea to give you a banana later. But first we have an important job to do.”

“What is it?” Meep chirped as Zoe started hurrying off along the path.

“We are going to make those cheeky cheetahs play together nicely,” she replied.

42

As soon as they reached the cheetahs’ enclosure, Zoe’s heart sank. The four brothers were gathered by some logs in the centre, meowing at each other loudly.

“What are they arguing about this time?” Meep chirped.

“I’m not sure.” Zoe opened the enclosure with her paw-print pendant 43and they hurried inside. As they got closer, Charlie leapt on to a log and extended his long, flat tail. Cal and Chip instantly stretched out their own tails and meowed at him crossly. Charlie wiggled his tail, looking pleased with himself.

“I don’t believe it!” Zoe exclaimed. “They’re having a competition about who has the longest tail!”

44Meep’s whiskers drooped and he looked at Zoe sadly.

“What’s wrong?” Zoe asked.

“I’ll never win that competition,” he chirped sadly. “My tail is too short.”

“Oh, Meep. Don’t you start getting competitive too!” Zoe exclaimed.

Meep looked at his tail thoughtfully for a moment, then he started to smile. “But I would win the competition for the shortest tail,” he chirped.

Zoe nodded. “Yes.You are officially the shortest-tail champion!” She grinned as he scampered off happily.

As soon as Cooper saw Zoe, he came padding over through the grass. He nuzzled her leg and gave a sad yelp.

“I’m sorry your brothers are still being so competitive and arguing with each 45other,” Zoe said, stroking his head. “But I have an idea to help them get on better.”

Cooper instantly cheered up, giving a little purr.

“Come with me,” Zoe said, and Cooper and Meep followed her over to the three other cheetah brothers. “Good morning!” she said cheerily. “Who would like to play a really fun game?”

The cheetahs all meowed happily.

“Great!” Zoe said. “The game is called follow-the-leader.”

Charlie gave a loud meow.

“No, Charlie, you are going to let Cooper be the leader first,” Zoe said. “Then you can take it in turns.”

Thankfully, the brothers all agreed.

“The rules of the game are that you have to follow Cooper and do whatever 46he does,” Zoe explained. “It’s a game, but it’s not a competition.”

The cheetahs nodded their heads.

Cooper gave Zoe a grateful nuzzle  and then he set off through the grass. Zoe smiled as Charlie, Chip and Cal all followed Cooper as he bounded over a rock and raced across a log. Meep scampered up on to Zoe’s shoulder to watch. 47

“They’re having fun and being nice to each other!” he chirped.

“Yes!” Zoe exclaimed, and she gave a big sigh of relief. But then she heard an angry yelp. “Oh no!” she said as she saw Charlie try to push in front of Cooper. “Charlie, stop that!”

But Charlie didn’t listen. He pushed past Cooper and leapt through a tyre swing.

48“Oh no!” Zoe said again as Charlie caught his paw in the tyre and somersaulted awkwardly to the ground, landing in a heap. She and Meep raced over.

Charlie was lying on the floor whimpering. His brothers were so busy arguing over who should be the next leader that they didn’t even notice.

49“Charlie, are you OK?” Zoe asked anxiously.

Charlie gave a sad little yelp and held out his leg.

“Stop arguing.Your brother’s injured!” Zoe called. But the cheetahs were making such a noise squabbling they didn’t hear her.

Zoe took the whistle from her pocket and blew on it three times, as loudly as she could. The cheetahs instantly fell silent, looking over to see what the matter was.

“Thank you!” Zoe exclaimed. “You need to stop arguing. Charlie has injured his leg.”

Chip, Cooper and Cal hurried over and crowded around Charlie, looking alarmed. 50

“I’m sure he’ll be OK,” Zoe told them. “But he needs help.”

“Is everything all right, Zoe?” Mark called, hurrying into the enclosure. “I heard the whistle and I thought there might be an emergency.”

“There is,” Zoe replied. “Charlie has hurt his leg.”

“Oh no!” Mark exclaimed. “Can you go and get your mum and I’ll stay with him?”

“Of course,” Zoe replied. She picked up Meep and raced off.

When Zoe got to the zoo hospital she burst through Lucy’s office door. Lucy was writing up reports on the animals’ health, but she stopped as soon as Zoe ran in.

“Zoe!” Lucy exclaimed. “What’s happened?” 51

“We need your help. One of the new cheetahs is injured,” Zoe panted, out of breath.

“Oh dear.” Lucy grabbed her vet’s bag and they hurried back to the big-cats’ area together.

When they got back to the cheetahs’ habitat, it was very quiet. The brothers were all gathered around Mark and Charlie. They looked really worried. Charlie was whimpering from the pain in his leg.

52Lucy examined Charlie while Zoe stroked his head to comfort him.

“It looks like he’s sprained or broken his leg, but I’ll have to X-ray him to be sure,” Lucy said. “Mark, can you help me carry him to the hospital?”

“Of course,” Mark replied.

Mark and Lucy carefully carried Charlie out of the enclosure. Chip, Cal and Cooper all began to whimper too, watching as their brother was taken away.

“Don’t worry,” Zoe said, giving each of them a comforting pat on the head. “My mum will take really good care of your brother. I’ll be back soon to let you know how he is.” 53

She picked up Meep and followed Mark and Lucy out of the enclosure. The other cheetahs watched, not moving or making a sound.

54

Once they arrived at the hospital, Lucy took Charlie for a scan to make sure nothing was broken.

“Poor Charlie,” Zoe said to Meep as they sat in the waiting room. “I’ll have to get him some treats to try and cheer him up.”

Meep tilted his head to one side and frowned, then he tumbled on to the floor. 55

“Ow!” he chirped, lying on his back and rolling around.

“What are you doing?” Zoe asked.

“I’ve sprained my tummy,” he chirped. “I need some treats to make it better.”

Zoe giggled. “I don’t think it’s possible to sprain your tummy, Meep. I saw you jump down.You landed on your feet.”

Meep stood up. His whiskers were drooping and he looked very sad.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you a treat too,” Zoe said, giving him a cuddle.

Lucy came into the waiting room. “I’ve got good news and bad news,” she said.

“What’s the good news?” Zoe asked.

“Charlie hasn’t broken anything,” Lucy replied, “but the bad news is he has a sprained leg.”

“Poor Charlie,” Zoe said. “How can we 56help him get better?”

“Well, first of all, we’ll have to bandage his leg,” Lucy replied. “And I’ve given him some medicine, so his injury won’t hurt as much. Then he needs to rest. He’ll have to stay in hospital for a while. After that he can start doing some gentle exercise.”

Zoe tried not to groan. It was hard to imagine the competitive cheetahs being gentle.What if playing with his brothers when he went back to the enclosure meant that Charlie would get hurt again?

“Would you be able to keep him company for a while?” Lucy asked. “I have to go to the café for another meeting about the opening party next week.”

“Of course,” Zoe replied. 57

Lucy carefully carried Charlie into one of the hospital wards and laid him down on a special bed. She took a bandage from her vet’s bag and bound it round his leg while Zoe stroked his head. Meep hopped up on to her shoulder and watched.

“Don’t worry,” Zoe whispered in Charlie’s ear. “Meep and I are going to take good care of you.”

58Charlie gave a very quiet purr. He looked so sad and nothing like the cheeky cheetah he’d been when he’d first arrived at the zoo. Zoe thought hard about what she could do to help him cheer up.

“There, all done,” Lucy said, standing up.

Once Lucy had gone, Charlie looked down at his bandaged leg. He gave a sad little whimper.

“I know you wish you hadn’t been so cheeky and silly,” Zoe said gently. “And the bandage looks strange, but it’s to help your leg get better.” Then she had an idea. “Meep, can you keep Charlie company? I just need to go and fetch something.”

“Is it the treats?” Meep chirped hopefully as he leapt up to stand on the bed by Charlie’s side. 59

“Yes, and something else to help cheer Charlie up.”

Zoe raced back to the cottage and packed a bag with some treats and her paint set.When she got back to the hospital she found Meep next to Charlie, stroking his head with his tiny paw. Charlie was smiling a sad little smile.

“I have treats,” Zoe announced, producing a banana from her bag and handing it to Meep.

“Should I let Charlie have the banana, since he’s hurt?” Meep asked, looking worried.

“That’s very nice of you, but cheetahs only eat meat,” Zoe told him. “I have special carnivore treats for Charlie.” 60

Meep clapped his paws together excitedly before starting to eat.

Zoe gave Charlie a handful of treats. Then she took her paints from her bag. “I’m going to decorate your bandage and make it look more cheery,” she said to Charlie. “What would you like me to paint on it? What would make you smile?”

Charlie meowed loudly.

“Did he ask you to draw a banana?” Meep mumbled through a mouthful.

Zoe laughed. “No. He asked me to draw an acacia tree.”

Charlie meowed again, more cheerfully this time.

“He says that there were lots of acacia trees where they lived in the wild. He and his brothers used to play together 61beneath them when they were younger.”

Charlie gave another meow.

“It sounds like you had a lot of fun back then,” Zoe replied. She dipped her brush into the brown paint and began painting the trunk of an acacia tree on his bandage.

Charlie nodded and meowed again.

62“What did they do to have fun under the tree?” Meep asked.

“They’d groom each other and find food together and protect one another from predators,” Zoe replied, adding some branches at the top of the trunk. “And sometimes they’d race, but they didn’t care very much who won.”

Charlie gave a sad yelp.

“I know you are sorry for the way you’ve behaved,” Zoe said to Charlie. “And I know you’re going to do your best to play nicely with your brothers from now on.” She cleaned the brush before dipping it into the green paint.With the wide canopy of branches at their tops, acacia trees reminded her of giant green umbrellas.

When Charlie saw the finished tree on 63his bandage, he nuzzled his head against Zoe’s leg and gave a contented purr.

“I’m so glad it reminds you of your home in the wild,” Zoe said. “If only things could be like that here.” She had a sudden thought and began to grin. “Maybe they can be,” she said excitedly, getting to her feet.

“How?” Meep chirped, sniffing the banana skin to make sure he hadn’t missed any.

“I have an idea,” Zoe said. “But it’s a very big idea so I’m going to need someone’s help.” She bent down and patted Charlie on the head. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon, and hopefully I’ll have some news that will make you very cheerful!”

64

Zoe and Meep skipped and scampered their way along the footpath. Thankfully the zoo had just closed so there were no visitors to get in the way.

“Is your big idea a big bunch of bananas?” Meep chirped hopefully.

“No! My idea isn’t to do with food at all,” she replied. “It’s something even better.” 65

Meep frowned. “Nothing is better than food.”

Zoe giggled, but as they drew closer to the café her smile faded. She could hear loud voices booming out across the square. They didn’t sound happy at all!

“Oh no!” she exclaimed. “I think the zookeepers are arguing again!”

“We should have Italian food,” Fabio, the nocturnal-animals’ keeper said as Zoe and Meep went inside. “There’s nothing more delicious than pizza and spaghetti!”

“No! No!” Mr Pinch cried. “Spaghetti is the untidiest food in the whole world. The sauce gets everywhere. It should be called spag-messy!”

Zoe saw Great-Uncle Horace standing behind the counter with Sally. For once his hyacinth macaw, Kiki, wasn’t perched 66on his shoulder. Instead, she was fluttering round in circles above him.

“Poor Kiki,” Zoe said to Meep. “I think all the arguing is making her anxious.”

“It’s making me anxious too,” Meep said, slipping down inside her pocket.

“I think we need to have a vote,” Great-Uncle Horace boomed above the din.

To Zoe’s relief, the keepers quietened down and listened.

“OK, Sally will read out the list of ideas and I want you to raise your hand for the idea you want to vote for,” Great-Uncle Horace said.

“Neat and tidy square sandwiches and perfectly round cupcakes,” Sally read. Mr Pinch’s hand shot up in the air.

“Japanese food,” Sally continued, and Vanessa raised her hand. 67

“Festival food,” Sally read out, and Mark’s hand went straight up.

Oh no, Zoe thought as she realised what was happening. No one was going to win because everyone had a different idea, and everyone was voting for themselves. Sure enough, by the time Sally had read out all the ideas every one of them had a single vote – from the person who’d thought of it. The zookeepers were just as competitive as the cheetahs!

Zoe thought of how happy Charlie had been remembering his life in the wild as a little kit. Then she had an idea.

“Before you all start arguing again, can I suggest something?” Zoe asked.

“Please do,” Great-Uncle Horace said.

“Yes, please!” Sally exclaimed. 68

“Only if it doesn’t involve mess,” Mr Pinch muttered.

“Why don’t we have a potluck where everyone brings a favourite food from their childhood?” Zoe said. “That will make it a lot easier for Sally too. And that way we can all learn about each other’s favourites.”

“Thank you, Zoe,” Sally said gratefully.

“That’s a great idea, Zoe!” Great-Uncle Horace said. To Zoe’s relief, the others all nodded in agreement.

“I’m going to bring jelly and ice cream,” Vanessa said with a smile.

“And I’m going to bring sausage rolls,” Lucy said. “I loved sausage rolls as a child.”

“I’m going to bring neat and tidy square sandwiches and perfectly round 69cupcakes,” Mr Pinch said. Zoe had to stop herself giggling at the thought of Mr Pinch as a super-neat and tidy child. Everyone started laughing and smiling as they remembered their favourite childhood food. Even Kiki settled down, flying back on to Great-Uncle Horace’s shoulder.

70“Well done, Zoe!” Great-Uncle Horace gave her a twinkly-eyed grin. “I was starting to think they’d never agree. I owe you a special treat.”

“Actually, there is something I’d love,” Zoe replied. “Although it’s more of a treat for the cheetahs.”

Great-Uncle Horace’s face lit up. “Oh, really? Tell me more.”

Zoe explained how competitive the cheetahs had been and how Charlie had 71been too competitive and so cheeky and then had been injured.

“I was thinking that maybe if we made their enclosure a bit more like their old territory they might remember how to behave. And be kinder to each other.”

“Go on,” Great-Uncle Horace said, nodding his head.

“I remember reading that cheetahs often have acacia trees in their habitats,” Zoe said.

“That’s right!” Great-Uncle Horace said. “Cheetahs like to climb the trees to feel safe from larger predators or to spot animals to hunt. Excellent research, Zoe.”

Zoe bit her lip to stop herself from grinning. She could hardly admit that Charlie had told her about the acacia trees. 72

“Would it be OK to buy an acacia tree to plant in their enclosure?” Zoe asked.

Great-Uncle Horace nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a wonderful idea.” He began striding towards the door. “Meet me at the zoo gates in five minutes,” he called to Zoe over his shoulder. “We’re going on an adventure!”

73

Zoe watched as Meep scampered up the Rescue Zoo entrance gates. They were made of wood and covered in beautiful carvings of animals.

“I can see him!” Meep chirped excitedly.

“And I can hear him,” Zoe replied as the air filled with the rattle of an engine. 74

Meep raced back down and Zoe scooped him up. The next minute, Great-Uncle Horace appeared on his motorcycle. He was wearing his helmet and goggles and he had a long, rainbow-coloured scarf wrapped around his neck. Kiki was perched on the back of the sidecar, squawking happily.

“Get in, Zoe. Get in, Meep,” Great-Uncle Horace called as he pulled 75up beside them. “We’re going for a ride.” He handed Zoe a helmet.

“Thank you!” Zoe put the helmet on and climbed into the sidecar. Meep hopped in beside her. She put on her seat belt and held on to him tightly.

“Let Operation Acacia Tree begin!” Great-Uncle Horace called, and he drove slowly out through the gates.

76“Emergency!” Meep chirped as they sped along the street.

Zoe grinned. “Are you hungry again?”

Meep shook his tiny head. “How are we going to fit a tree in here?”

Zoe hugged the little mouse lemur to her. “Don’t worry, Meep.We’re only getting a baby tree.”

Finally, they arrived at the garden centre. As Zoe and Meep got out of the sidecar, a woman came over to greet them. She was wearing the garden centre uniform of green trousers and a shirt covered in flowers.

“Hello, Horace,” she exclaimed with a welcoming smile. “It’s so lovely to see you again.”

“Hello, Daisy,” Great-Uncle Horace replied before helping Zoe out of the 77sidecar. “This is my great-niece and very great helper, Zoe.”

Zoe beamed with pride as Daisy shook her hand.

Great-Uncle Horace smiled at Zoe. “Daisy is a very great help to me too. She supplies me with all the plants I need at the Rescue Zoo.”

“Have you come to get some more vines for the Rainforest Dome?” Daisy asked.

Great-Uncle Horace shook his head. “No, this time we’re looking for something to help some cheetahs settle in. Zoe, would you like to explain?” 78

“I heard that cheetahs like acacia trees,” Zoe said. “So I thought that if we planted one in their new habitat, it might make them feel more at home.”

“What a lovely idea!” Daisy said. “And you’re in luck because I’ve just had some saplings delivered.”

“That’s great!” Zoe exclaimed.

“Follow me,” Daisy said. She led them inside past rows and rows of plants and pots of sweet-smelling flowers.

“What's a sapling?” Meep chirped as he scampered along beside Zoe.

“A baby tree,” Zoe replied. Right at the back of the garden centre there was a cluster of baby acacias. Zoe smiled. They really did look like green umbrellas.

Zoe picked out the nicest-looking tree and Great-Uncle Horace paid Daisy. 79Then they returned to the motorcycle.

Great-Uncle Horace chuckled as he strapped the baby tree into the seat beside Meep and Zoe. “I’ve never had three passengers in my sidecar before!” Kiki swooped down and perched on one of the branches. “And now there’s four passengers!” Great-Uncle Horace exclaimed. 80

“I bet a tree’s never ridden on a motorcycle before!” Meep squeaked excitedly as they set carefully off.

Zoe giggled. “I know!”

As they drove slowly back through town, everyone stopped and smiled at the sight of a girl, a tree, a mouse lemur and a hyacinth macaw riding in a sidecar. 81Zoe saw her school friend Jack standing outside the bookshop with his parents.

“Zoe!” Jack exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

“I’ll explain later,” Zoe called with a grin. Meep waved his paws at Jack, and Kiki gave him a loud squawk.

82

When they got back to the zoo, Great-Uncle Horace drove straight to the cheetah habitat. Mark was waiting by the entrance, holding a spade.When he saw the baby acacia tree, he broke into a big smile.

“This was such a good idea, Zoe,” he said. “I’m sure it will help the cheetahs settle down and feel more at home.”

“Zoe’s full of good ideas,” Great-Uncle Horace said as he got off the motorcycle.

Mark nodded. “Oh yes, she saved the café party too.”

Zoe tried not to laugh. If only they knew that Charlie’s talking about his childhood had helped her come up with both ideas! 83

Mark dug a hole in the middle of the enclosure and Great-Uncle Horace planted the tree inside. Zoe helped to fill in the hole around the tree’s roots.

“Where are the cheetahs?” Meep chirped.

“I don’t know,” Zoe replied. “They’re being very quiet. Come on, let’s find them.”

They found the cheetahs lying in the far corner of the habitat. They all looked very sad. As soon as they saw Zoe they began meowing anxiously.

“Don’t worry,” said Zoe. “Charlie’s 84sprained his leg so he has to rest in hospital for a while, but he’ll be back soon and he’ll be as good as new.You’ll just have to play carefully with him for a while so he can finish healing.”

Chip, Cooper and Cal came and nuzzled her, and she crouched down to pet the brothers.

“Please don’t be sad,” she said. “I have a special surprise to cheer you up.”

She led the cheetahs to the centre of the habitat. Mark and Great-Uncle Horace had finished, and the branches of the acacia tree were waving in the breeze. As soon as the cheetahs saw it, they purred happily.

“I’m so glad it reminds you of home!” Zoe exclaimed. She couldn’t wait for Charlie to see it too. Hopefully then the 85zoo would have four calm and cheerful cheetahs, who would always remember that the most important thing was being kind to one another.

86

Zoe placed the last of the strawberries on the bed of fluffy whipped cream.

“I wish I could eat this right now!” she exclaimed, stepping back to admire her dessert. It was the day of the café reopening party. Zoe had made her favourite strawberry cake for the potluck. 87

“You won’t have to wait long,” Lucy said, coming over to take a look. “Wow, that looks delicious! My sausage rolls should be ready now too. I can’t wait to share our favourites with everyone else.” She went over to the oven and took out a tray.

“Mmm! They smell delicious!” Zoe exclaimed. “This is such a good day!” She smiled at Lucy. “It’s the café party and Charlie is well enough to go back to his brothers.”

“I just hope he doesn’t do anything to injure himself again,” Lucy said.

“Me too.” Zoe closed her eyes tight and wished as hard as she could.

“Why don’t you and Meep go to the hospital while I take the food to the café?” Lucy said, taking off her apron. 88“You can get Charlie ready for his return to his habitat.”

“Of course,” Zoe said. She couldn’t wait to show Charlie the acacia tree. Hopefully it would make him just as happy as it made his brothers.

When Zoe and Meep got to the hospital, they found Charlie pacing up and down. Zoe was relieved to see that he wasn’t limping any more, but he looked really worried.

“Hello, Charlie, I’ve got some good news,” Zoe said as she let herself in. “You’re going back to your habitat today. You’re going to see your brothers again.”

Charlie gave a loud meow and hung his head. 89

“Why does he look sad?” Meep chirped.

“He’s worried that when he sees his brothers again, he won’t be able to resist being cheeky and silly,” Zoe explained. She crouched down and gave the little cheetah a hug. “Don’t worry, Charlie. I have a special surprise to help you.”

Charlie gave a hopeful purr.

Zoe giggled. “No, I’m not holding a competition to see who’s the best-behaved cheetah. Hopefully I won’t need to.”

Soon, Mark and Lucy arrived. Mark put a collar around Charlie’s neck and attached a lead to it, like a dog’s.

“Would you like to walk him back to the habitat, Zoe?” he asked, handing her the lead. “It will do him good to get 90some gentle exercise.”

“Of course!” Zoe exclaimed. Meep hopped up on to her shoulder and they set off through the zoo. The visitors all loved the sight of the little cheetah being taken for a walk. Many of them took pictures and talked about how handsome and interesting he was. By the time they reached the cheetahs’ habitat, Charlie was smiling cheerfully.

“Now it’s time for your special surprise!” Zoe said. She opened the gate with her silver paw-print pendant and let Charlie off the lead.

At the sound of her voice, Cooper, Chip and Cal came bounding over. Zoe held her breath, hoping they would remember not to be cheeky and competitive. To her relief, they each took it in turns to 91gently nuzzle their brother and give him welcoming purrs. Charlie’s smile grew.

Chip came over to Zoe and gave a loud meow. “Yes, absolutely,” Zoe replied. “Show him the surprise.”

She watched as Chip, Cal and Cooper led Charlie to the centre of the habitat. As soon as he saw the acacia tree, he let out a happy purr. Then the brothers all started playing with a chewy ball, passing it to each other nicely below the branches of the tree.

“They’re playing so well together,” Zoe said.

“And so quietly!” Meep chirped.

A few minutes later, Charlie came running over, purring happily.

“I’m so glad you like the tree,” Zoe replied. 92

93Charlie gave another purr.

Zoe stroked him on the head. “And I’m so happy it’s reminding you of how you used to play together when you were kits.”

Charlie gave Zoe another cheery smile, then he ran off to play with his brothers again.

“It’s so nice to see the cheetahs all happy again,” Zoe said as she picked up Meep. “Let’s go to the café party!”

Meep cheeped happily and clapped his tiny paws. “Now I’m a happy mouse lemur!”

When they got to the café, Zoe breathed a sigh of relief. Instead of hearing arguing coming from inside, all she could hear was happy chatter and laughter. As she 94walked inside, she could see why. Every table and the whole counter was covered in delicious-looking food.

“Hot dog, Zoe?” Mark asked, offering her a plate.

“Or would you like some ice cream?” Vanessa asked.

“My pizza is really delicious!” Fabio said.

“Well, my sandwiches are delicious 95and they’re neat and tidy!” Mr Pinch exclaimed.

“I think I’ll try some of my strawberry cake first,” Zoe said quickly. She really didn’t want them to start competing over what she had to eat!

“Would you like a ruler, Zoe?” Mr Pinch asked, taking one out of his jacket pocket.

Zoe stared at him confused. “What for?” 96

“So you can measure yourself the perfect piece of cake, of course!”

“Oh, no, thank you, Mr Pinch.” Zoe turned away so he couldn’t see her grin. She took one of the strawberries from the top of the cake and gave it to Meep. Then she cut a crumbly slice. A dollop of cream dropped down on to her top and she quickly wiped it off before Mr Pinch could see it. “Yum!” she exclaimed as she licked her fingers.

Zoe looked around the café at the zookeepers eating together happily. Sally was standing behind the counter with a huge smile on her face. Zoe was so grateful to Charlie for giving her the idea for the potluck. The cheeky cheetah had made everyone happy! She took another bite of cake and wondered who 97Great-Uncle Horace would bring to the zoo next. She really hoped they’d be as much fun as the cheetahs.

98

99

100

101

It was a cold and cloudy Saturday morning, but Zoe Parker didn’t mind at all. She liked the rain, especially when there were puddles to splash in. She pulled on her wellies and followed her mum, Lucy, out to the garden shed. Zoe’s pet mouse lemur, Meep, scampered along beside her. 102

“I wish I had wellies to keep my paws dry,” Meep squeaked.

Zoe grinned and picked him up. “Don’t worry,” she whispered. “You can go in my pocket if you like.” Zoe had a secret that even her mum and her Great-Uncle Horace didn’t know about. She could talk to animals and understand what they were saying!

“The storm last night caused a terrible mess,” Lucy called as she pushed a wheelbarrow out of the shed. “Could you help the zookeepers by clearing the footpath next to the elephant enclosure?”

“Of course,” Zoe replied. One of the best things about living at her Great-Uncle Horace’s Rescue Zoo was that even helping to clean up was fun. Meep seemed to agree as he leapt into the wheelbarrow and clapped his paws excitedly. 103

“I’ll ride in this,” he chattered. “It will keep my paws dry.”

“Thanks so much, Zoe,” Lucy said. “I’d better get to the zoo hospital. I have a kangaroo with a sore paw to take care of.” Lucy was the Rescue Zoo vet and she looked after the animals if they got sick or hurt.

“OK, Mum, give Bouncer a hug from me.”

104Zoe began pushing the wheelbarrow along the path to the elephant enclosure.

“Faster! Faster!” Meep chirped excitedly from inside.

Zoe giggled and started to run. “Good morning!” she called to the penguins as she ran past their enclosure.

The penguins honked and flapped their wings.

“I’m sorry the noisy storm kept you awake last night,” Zoe replied. 105

“Faster! Faster!” Meep chirped again.

Zoe raced round the corner, but then she felt the front wheel catch on something.

“Oh no!” she cried as the barrow tipped to the side, launching Meep into the air. He landed with a splash in the middle of a puddle. “Meep, are you OK?”

“Why did you do that?” Meep squeaked. He hopped out of the puddle and shook the water from his fur.

106“I didn’t mean to.” Zoe looked under the wheelbarrow and found a branch lying across the path beneath its wheel. “The wheel got stuck on this branch. The storm must have blown it down last night.”

“Maybe I should go in your pocket after all,” Meep chirped. “It might be safer.”

“I think that’s a very good idea!” Zoe picked him up and dried him with the end of her scarf. Then she popped him into her coat pocket and continued pushing the wheelbarrow.

“Slower! Slower!” Meep called, gripping the edge of her pocket with his tiny paws.

Zoe smiled. “Don’t worry, Meep. I’ll be 107really careful now.”

When they reached the elephant enclosure, they found Oscar, the oldest elephant, standing by the fence. As soon as he saw Zoe he trumpeted loudly.

“I’m sorry the storm last night made your enclosure messy,” Zoe replied.

Oscar gave another trumpet and pointed his trunk at the ground. There were leaves and twigs everywhere. Meep wriggled out of Zoe’s pocket and hopped on to the handle of the wheelbarrow.

“Don’t worry, Oscar, we’ve come to clear the mess,” Zoe said as she looked around. A huge branch, much larger than the one they’d hit on the path, had been blown off a tree and lay by the fence. Zoe tried to pick it up to put it in the wheelbarrow but it was too heavy. 108

Oscar reached his long trunk over the fence.

“Oh, thank you for helping!” Zoe exclaimed.

Oscar curled his trunk around the branch. Then he slowly lifted it off the ground and dropped it into the wheelbarrow. Meep squeaked and clapped his paws.

“Well done, Oscar!” Zoe cried.

Zoe set about picking up the leaves and twigs and soon the footpath was clear.

“Look at that puddle!” Meep cried, pointing with his tiny paw. “It’s as big as a swimming pool.” 109

Zoe laughed. “For you, maybe. I don’t think I could swim in it. But I could definitely splash in it!” She marched over to the puddle and jumped in, sending water flying everywhere.

Oscar waved his trunk wildly and trumpeted with laughter.

“Again! Again!” Meep cried.

Zoe took a few steps back and ran towards the puddle. She leapt into the air and came splashing down, sending even more water flying.

“Ow!” someone cried from behind her. At first Zoe thought it was Oscar. “Ow! Ow! Ow!” they cried again. Zoe turned to see Mr Pinch, the Rescue Zoo manager, hopping up and down, clutching his knee.

“Uh-oh!” Meep chirped, before hiding 110inside the wheelbarrow.

Uh-oh, thought Zoe. Mr Pinch was normally quite grumpy, but now he looked really angry. “Are you OK, Mr Pinch?” she asked.

“Atishoo!” he sneezed, still clutching his knee. “You careless girl!” he yelled. “You made me bang my knee.”

Oscar flapped his giant ears over his face as if he was too scared to watch. 111

“How?” Zoe asked. “I was over here splashing in this puddle.”

“Exactly,” Mr Pinch replied. “And I was worried you’d get dirty puddle water on my uniform so I had to jump back. I banged my knee on this wheelbarrow.”

Zoe’s heart sank. “I’m sorry,” she said. Then she had an idea. Mr Pinch liked everything to be neat and tidy. Maybe if she told him that she’d been cleaning up 112the path he wouldn’t be so cross.

“I’ve been helping tidy up the footpath. Look,” she said, pointing to the twigs and leaves in the wheelbarrow.

Mr Pinch took a tissue from his pocket and blew his nose. It was so loud it sounded like an elephant trumpeting, and Oscar looked at him in surprise. “The only thing you’ve helped do is hurt my knee, mess up my uniform and make my cold even worse. Atishoo!” he sneezed again, causing Meep to jump out of the barrow and into Zoe’s pocket.

Zoe looked at Mr Pinch’s uniform. It was spotless, as usual. “I don’t think that’s fair,” she said. “Your uniform looks fine and  how can I have made your cold worse?”

“Uh-oh!” Meep muttered from deep inside her pocket. 113

“You don’t think it’s fair!” Mr Pinch yelled. “I’ll tell you what’s not fair – children working at a zoo. They’re nothing but trouble. If I had my way, it wouldn’t be allowed.”

Zoe felt terrible that Mr Pinch had hurt himself, but she hadn’t meant for it to happen! And she wanted to be a zookeeper when she grew up and loved helping out. If she wasn’t allowed to work at the zoo any more it would be terrible.

“Anyway, I don’t have time for this,” Mr Pinch muttered, “especially with the new animals about to arrive.”

As soon as he said this, Zoe felt a thrill of excitement. Her Great-Uncle Horace was a famous explorer and he’d started the Rescue Zoo to give animals who were endangered, lost or at risk a safe home. 114Where in the world had he rescued animals from this time? And what kind of animals would they be?

Mr Pinch stomped off along the footpath and Zoe heard a whirring sound in the sky. She looked up to see Great-Uncle Horace’s helicopter hovering above. It was getting lower and lower. The wind from the blades made the branches of the nearby trees blow from side to side. 115Great-Uncle Horace waved cheerily at them from his cockpit.

“Is it safe to come out?” Meep asked, poking his head out of her pocket.

“Yes, and look!” Zoe pointed to the sky. “It’s Great-Uncle Horace. He has some new animals.”

116After saying goodbye to Oscar, Zoe raced along the path. The helicopter was coming down in a clearing by the beavers’ enclosure. As Zoe reached the clearing, she saw Mark, the large cats’ zookeeper, guiding the helicopter down.

Zoe watched, her heart pounding with excitement. The helicopter had landed right next to an empty habitat. But who was going to be living there?

117

The door of the helicopter opened and Great-Uncle Horace jumped out. His white beard was longer than ever and his eyes sparkled. He was wearing his leather flying jacket, and a colourful stripy scarf was wrapped around his neck. Kiki, his bright-blue hyacinth macaw, flew out behind him and perched on his shoulder. 118

“Goo! Goo!” Meep chattered excitedly, scrambling out of Zoe’s pocket. Goo was his name for Great-Uncle Horace.

“Hello, Zoe! Hello, Meep!” Great-Uncle Horace cried. “It’s so good to see you. We’ve flown a very long way to be here. All the way from China, in fact.”

“It’s so good to see you too!” Zoe exclaimed. She quickly thought of all the animals she knew that came from China. Could he have brought another panda to the zoo? Or maybe another snow leopard?

Mark helped Great-Uncle Horace take two crates from the helicopter. Zoe was so excited to see what was inside that she could barely breathe.

“Can you open the enclosure gate for us, Zoe?” Great-Uncle Horace called as 119he and Mark carried the crates over.

“Of course,” Zoe replied, reaching for the silver paw-print pendant around her neck. Great-Uncle Horace had given her the pendant, which opened all of the enclosures in the zoo. She pressed it to a pad beside the gate and it swung open.

120Once they were all inside and the gate was safely shut behind them, Great-Uncle Horace and Mark opened the crates. Zoe watched excitedly as two little wild cats came tumbling out. They had light-grey fur with faint spots and short tails.

“What are they?” Zoe asked.

“They’re lynx kittens,” Great-Uncle Horace replied. “Sadly, their parents were killed by hunters.”

“That’s so horrible!” Zoe exclaimed.

“I know,” Mark said, shaking his head.

“They’re still too young to live on their own,” Great-Uncle Horace continued. “So I’ve brought them here to live for a while. 121When they’re old enough I’ll take them to a wildlife refuge where they can roam free.”

Zoe watched as the slightly bigger kitten scampered up on to a rocky area at the side of the enclosure.

Great-Uncle Horace chuckled. “She seems very eager to explore.”

The smaller kitten seemed more cautious, sniffing the ground nearby.

“I love the tufts of fur on top of their ears,” Zoe said.

Mark smiled. “Have you noticed how wide their feet are?”

Zoe looked at the little kittens’ feet. “Why are they like that?”

“It’s to help them walk in the snow,” Mark replied. “Wider feet help them keep their balance.” 122

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Copyright

First published in the UK in 2026 by Nosy Crow Ltd
Wheat Wharf, 27a Shad Thames,
London, SE1 2XZ, UK

Nosy Crow Eireann Ltd
c/o Fieldfisher Ireland LLP
45 Mespil Road,
Dublin 4, D04 W2F1, Ireland

Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd

Text copyright © Working Partners Ltd, 2026
Illustrations © Sophy Williams, 2026

The right of Working Partners Ltd and Sophy Williams to be identified as the author and illustrator respectively of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978 1 80513 922 5
eISBN: 978 1 80513 921 8

A CIP catalogue record for this book will be available from the British Library

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Nosy Crow Ltd.

The publisher and copyright holders prohibit the use of either text or illustrations to develop any generative machine learning artificial intelligence (AI) models or related technologies.

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Table of Contents

- Look out for:
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Chapter One: Furry Blurs
- Chapter Two: Mr Pinch’s Angry Ears
- Chapter Three: Emergency Meeting!
- Chapter Four: Cheeky Charlie
- Chapter Five: Good News and Bad News
- Chapter Six: The Messiest Food in the World
- Chapter Seven: A Tree  Riding a Motorcycle!
- Chapter Eight: Four Cheerful Cheetahs

- If you enjoyed Charlie’s story, look out for:

- Copyright