Cubs in the Tub:The True Story of the Bronx Zoo's First Woman Zookeeper. Written by Candace Fleming with illustations by Julie Downing. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House. 2020. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Good thing she had 
a heating pad. 
She slipped it beneath 
their tiny bodies, and 
turned it to high.
Then she mixed a batch of 
warm formula and squeezed
it into their mouths."

Fred Martini was a zookeeper at the Bronx Zoo when he brought a lion cub home to Helen, his wife. The two had been longing for a baby of their own. Despite all the hopes and dreams, there was no baby. Until that fateful day, when a rejected lion cub needed loving care. Helen proved she was up to the task, naming the cub MacArthur and spending her days pouring her heart's love into assuring he had everything he needed to survive and thrive. The Martini house was filled with the joy only a 'baby' could bring. 

After two months, zoo officials moved him to a new zoo. 

"Then she folded up the baby 
blankets; stowed tub, crib, 
and bottles; and sank into
the rocking chair with empty
arms and an empty lap." 

Days filled with melancholy followed ... until the day Fred came home with three tiny tiger cubs. By now, Helen was an experienced care-giver and only too happy to begin the process all over again. Days passed, the cubs became mischievous and much bigger. They were already three months old when the time came for them to return to the zoo. Helen went with them. 

By staying quietly in the background at the zoo, she continued to nurture the tigers while also making a nursery space for them in an old storeroom. When officials caught wind of what was taking place, they arrived to put her out ... no woman had ever held a zookeeper job. Not until that very moment! 

Through Candace Fleming's captivating words and Julie Downing's constantly changing perspectives that bring the historical time period to life, readers will pay careful and cuddly attention to every facet of this story.  

In back matter, Ms. Fleming includes a note about Helen's unexpected career, and a welcome bibliography where interested readers will find more about her.