Zachary Z. Packrat and His Amazing Collections [Hardcover]

Brooke Bessesen (Author), Jenny Campbell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Meet Zachary, a playful packrat who never seems to have enough stuff. He loves art and heirlooms, swap meets and museums. Read along and join the fun as he carefully cares for his favorite collections and seeks out new goodies to stash in his cache. Written in rhyme for readers of all ages. This book also has a scientific prelude, plus Questions for Discussion at the end. 40 pages. Full color illustrations.

Grand Canyon Reader Award - 2011 Picture Book Nominee
Phoenix Public Library -- 2008-09 Project GOAL Book

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Believable characters are key to good movie-making and good books. Everyone knows a Zachary--some loveable collector--so, young or old, readers are sure to be entertained. A+" --D.J. Caruso, American Film Director, Disturbia

"... a fun read with tongue-twisters and intriguing sights for the eye!" --Deborah J. Gilpin, President & CEO, Children's Museum of Phoenix

"This wonderful book is filled with fun facts and fhymes that provide a delightful introduction to packrats for children and scientists of all ages."
--Camille Holmgren, Ph.D., Paleoecologist

"Once again Bessesen has crafted a charming story that you will want to read again and again."

--Jack Wishna, Las Vegas Entertainment and Real Estate Entrepreneur

"Charming and adventurous! An intelligent book where whimsical wordplay dances through the pages ... an inspiration to the collector in us all!" --Daryl Campbell, V.P., Goddard College

From the Author

Zachary Z. Packrat and His Amazing Collections is "based on a true story" because it's about packrat kids, sisters, brothers, uncles, grandmas and best friends--beloved human packrats who love to collect things! My mom is a packrat. And so is my dad. They have taught me to cherish special treasures. Some human packrats even protect things from the past that we all can learn from... just try to imagine a world without libraries or museums.
     But this book is also about the namesake animals who gather gobs of stuff for their nest piles, called "middens". Turns out, these wide-eyed rodents also protect things from the past. By collecting items from nature and sheltering them, furry little packrats help scientists study ancient landscapes. Some enormous packrat middens even date back over 40,000 years!
     So, when I say Zachary is a real packrat, do I mean a human packrat or an animal packrat? The answer is: BOTH! Their characteristics are interwoven in the story, which is part of the fun! I hope you enjoy reading the book.
     And I hope you enjoy looking at all the treasures and tidbits Jenny and I have put into this collection about the making of Zachary Z. Packrat and His Amazing Collections. --Brooke Bessesen

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Arizona Highways; 1 edition (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932082832
• ISBN-13: 978-1932082838
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 10.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,278,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As a naturalist, Brooke Bessesen studies wildlife and supports conservation. She's had many unique animal experiences and enjoys traveling to far-off lands rich in biodiversity. She worked at the Phoenix Zoo, both on the medical team and appearing on local and national television with animals as the zoo's on-camera naturalist and serves as a wildlife rescue volunteer for Liberty Wildlife. Join some animal adventures on her blog: www.brookebessesen.com/blog.

Brooke brings her tremendous animal experience and knowledge to the writing table. She is the author and illustrator of "Look Who Lives in the Ocean!" (2009)--a humorous nonfiction picture book about marine species, and a sequel to "Look Who Lives in the Desert!" (2004), which received the Glyph Award for Best Children's Nonfiction and Southwest Books of the Year Top Pick for Kids. Her vibrant artwork is created from pencil drawings and colored with fabrics.

Her book, "Zachary Z. Packrat and His Amazing Collections" (2008), illustrated by Flo & Friend's cartoonist Jenny Campbell, has been nominated for a 2011 Grand Canyon Reader Award. It was also the 2009 Phoenix Public Library Project G.O.A.L. book.

Also an award-winning television producer, Brooke worked many years in broadcast programming. Her credits include KTVK's weekly series "A Brighter Day with Jan D'Atri", and stories for National Geographic Channel, Style Network and Discovery Health.

Brooke now speaks at schools across the country, and keynotes for diverse audiences from renowned aquariums to the International Reading Association, sharing her passion for books and animals. As the founding member of the Authors for Earth Day coalition (www.authorsforearthday.org), she inspires young readers to use their own writing to help care for our blue planet.

Take a spin around Brooke's world of words and wildlife at www.brookebessesen.com or visit her public Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooke-Bessesen/105806588835.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my kids love this book!, August 21, 2009

By 

H. Baldwin (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zachary Z. Packrat and His Amazing Collections (Hardcover)

The first time my kids read this book, they promptly put on their backpacks, went outside and begin collecting things. Over the months, it has also inspired many discussions about who in our family is a packrat, why some people collect and save things while others do not, how people perceive value and more. Quite an accomplishment for one children's book! The prose is fantastic, the illustrations are beautiful and Zachary is so endearing, my kids wish he were real.

5.0 out of 5 stars Who would have known, October 4, 2009

By 

W. Schacht (Mars) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zachary Z. Packrat and His Amazing Collections (Hardcover)

Who would have known that a rat would serve as a time machine for looking so far back into our past. Another great example of Brooke's talent in amalgamating facts with fun. Clearly, I am a fan of her works. Very enjoyable, especially as I feel that all of us can probably relate on at least a minimal level to Zachary. When I was in 1st grade and lunch was 90 cents I would ask for the change in pennies just so that, on rare occasion, I would get an old 1 cent penny. This made my day regardless of how many classes I got kicked out off (that day). This leads to question if a rat and I can get equally excited about a penny, maybe we are not that far apart from each other....

5.0 out of 5 stars One book I don't mind reading over and over!, September 24, 2009

By 

A A "A A" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zachary Z. Packrat and His Amazing Collections (Hardcover)

My son requests Zachary Z. Packrat every night! The rhymes are so well written that I really enjoy reading it. This book is everything a kid's story should be: humorous, educational and entertaining!