![Our Zoo](/assets/artwork/1x1-42817eea7ade52607a760cbee00d1495.gif)
![Our Zoo](/assets/artwork/1x1-42817eea7ade52607a760cbee00d1495.gif)
![](/assets/artwork/1x1-42817eea7ade52607a760cbee00d1495.gif)
![](/assets/artwork/1x1-42817eea7ade52607a760cbee00d1495.gif)
Our Zoo
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4.7 • 11 Ratings
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- £2.99
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
'With characteristic self-effacement, she puts the escapades of charismatic animals ahead of her own feelings.' The Guardian.
When George Mottershead moved to the village of Upton-by-Chester in 1930 to realise his dream of opening a zoo without bars, his four-year-old daughter June had no idea how extraordinary her life would become. Soon her best friend was a chimpanzee called Mary, lion cubs and parrots were vying for her attention in the kitchen, and finding a bear tucked up in bed was no more unusual than talking to a tapir about granny's lemon curd. Pelican, penguin or polar bear - for June, they were simply family.
The early years were not without their obstacles for the Mottersheads. They were shunned by the local community, bankruptcy threatened and then World War Two began. Nightly bombing raids turned the dream into a nightmare and finding food for the animals became a constant challenge. Yet George's resilience, resourcefulness and tenacity eventually paid off. Now over 80 years since June first set foot in the echoing house, Chester Zoo has achieved worldwide renown.
Here, in her enthralling memoir, June Mottershead chronicles the heartbreak, the humour, the trials and triumphs, above all the characters, both human and animal, who shaped her childhood.
Customer Reviews
Amazing!
What a wonderful tale!
A lovely read
How wonderful to read about my local zoo. The pictures were lovely, it helped visualise what the zoo looked like all those years ago. Although it has changed now from when i was a little girl it is such a magical place to visit and me and my family are members to which we very much enjoy every single time we go.