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Introducton
Hello! My name is Jodie Campbell. My children's book There Was a Zookeeper is available and ready to share with the little ones in your life. Publishing my book was a dream of mine for many years, and with
encouragement from family and friends, I am thrilled to see this sweet story of mine come to life for children everywhere to enjoy!
This journey has had its ups and downs, but I've had incredible experiences, a whole lot of fun, and met many amazing people along the way. One of those amazing people is a talented illustrator, Alexey Chystikov, who poured his heart and soul into the adorable imagery of the book while living in Ukraine.
I am glad you are here, and I appreciate your interest in my work. Please visit often to stay up-to-date on current happenings, school visits, book signings and more! Also, do not hesitate to reach out if you'd like to connect.
A STORY ABOUT DECISION-MAKING, FRIENDSHIP AND FORGIVENESS. In There Was a Zookeeper, a hungry elephant’s poor choice creates a negative ripple effect throughout the zoo. The alligator’s apples disappear! Blaire Bear’s honeypot is nowhere to be found! All is chaos until Harper Lou Kangaroo begins to cry - then, something amazingly beautiful happens!
Filled with vibrant illustrations and memorable zoo animals, There Was a Zookeeper offers a tale about decision-making, friendship and forgiveness. Readers will see that one good choice can lead to a happy ending for all. Children will recognize their favorite zoo animals, and parents will appreciate the subtle positive message.
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Includes colorful artwork and whimsical rhymes!
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Brings to life unforgettable zoo animal characters!
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Presents a timeless message, highlighting several moral and ethical lessons for young children.
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Includes discussion questions for parents, teachers, and caregivers to use with their children.
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Designed for toddlers and preschool- and elementary-age children.
TEACHERS / SCHOOLS:
Once you receive your Zookeeper in a Box classroom gift, click the link above to download Jodie's Introductory Video to share with the class! (This link is password protected.)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Estill County Book Festival
Irvine, KY
Saturday. August 30, 2025
Noon - 4PM
KY Artisan Center
Berea, KY
Saturday, September 20, 2025
10AM - 2:00PM
Midway Fall Festival
Midway, KY
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Noon - 4PM
West Virginia Book Festival
Charleston Coliseum, WV
Saturday. October 25, 2025
8AM - 5PM
Holiday Market at Hamburg
Lexington, KY
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Noon - 4PM
Meet
Alexey Chystikov, illustrator
Alexey was born in 1994 in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. In his early twenties, he moved to Kyiv to pursue his studies in Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. He has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and advertising and a master’s degree in design.
As a child, Alexey was always surrounded by picture books with different styles of illustrations, which he found fascinating! With love for art in his heart, he spent his days studying and observing these pictures. He now specializes in digital illustrations for children’s books and loves to trigger a child’s imagination through his works.
Meet
Jodie Campbell
Jodie Campbell resides in Nicholasville, Kentucky, where she works as a registered nurse for her local health department. A West Virginia native, Jodie moved to the Commonwealth to be closer to her two daughters and granddaughters. They were her inspiration for writing There Was a Zookeeper and often accompany her to book signings and library visits.
Obtaining a degree in graphic design earlier in life laid the foundation that would one day allow her creativity to resurface in the form of writing and creating delightful imaginary, with the goal of sparking a child's imagination. She claims her mind is constantly flowing with ideas and her second book is already in the works!
On a sunny spring day, Jodie enjoys being outside with nature. On a cool fall day, you can find her cheering on her favorite football teams. Most importantly, she loves spending time with her family and friends, be it a holiday cookout or a spontaneous weekend road trip!
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Jodie was one of a select number of authors invited to attend the 2024 Kentucky Book Festival in Lexington, KY. Her book is also available at the Kentucy Artisan Center.
Contact
In The News
Say Hello!
Exciting Things to Come!
There Was a Zookeeper will be coming to classrooms in 2025. Click here for details!
Upcoming Events? If you know of a kid-friendly vendor event or would like to hold a book signing at your place of business, just let me know!
How else can I help you? Just send me a message and say Hello!
Jodie's 60-Second Blog
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