A new children’s book featuring 50 pages of animals is now available and all proceeds benefit the North Alabama Zoological Society. The hardbound book, “Andy’s Animal Alphabet Almanac,” highlights each letter of the alphabet with a coordinating animal photograph and fun-to-read poems.
Author Andy Crocker, who works as an engineering manager and lives in Madison, has visited more than 75 zoos and aquariums around the world and took each of the animal photographs featured in the book. Crocker combined his study of photography and his talent for writing poetry to create “Andy’s Animal Alphabet Almanac.”
Crocker says he has always enjoyed visiting zoos and after taking up photography had amassed quite a collection of animal photos.
“I started wondering if I have a picture of an animal for each letter of the alphabet,” Crocker says. “After I joined the North Alabama Zoological Society Board last Spring, we decided to put it all together and use it as a way to raise money for the society.”
The North Alabama Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization working to establish a world-class zoo and aquarium in North Alabama. Crocker says Huntsville and the greater metropolitan area deserve a zoo.
“If you look at all the cities our size, we’re the only one that doesn’t have a zoo. It’s a standard of living and opportunity for children to expand their horizons,” says Crocker.
Crocker stresses the importance of biological study, stating, “We’re such a space, engineering and tech community, a zoo provides a focus on biological sciences without having to drive hours out of town.”
A core mission of the North Alabama Zoological Society is to educate, which Crocker echoes in “Andy’s Animal Alphabet Almanac” with his more than 50 photos of animals.
“Cartoons of animals are cute and fun, but it’s important for kids, and people, to understand what these animals really look like,” he advises.
Crocker adds some of the letters of the alphabet proved to be a challenge in writing “Andy’s Animal Alphabet Almanac.”
He states, “X is one you have to get really creative with.”
Crocker says luckily there is an X-Ray Tetra fish that lives in the Amazon River.
“Andy’s Animal Alphabet Almanac” is available for purchase at the North Alabama Zoological Society website for $29.95.
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