The Zoo of Magical and Mythological Creatures
Bowring, Sam

RRP
A$14.99

An imaginative and hilarious fantasy from an exciting new voice in children's literature.

Twelve-year-old Zackary is the seventh son of the King and Queen of Solaris, and a most reluctant knight. He would rather put anchovies in the knights helmets or use his sword to cut sandwiches than learn courtly ways. In despair, the King and Queen assign him to the castle administrator, Barnabas, who sends him on an errand to the Zoo of Magical and Mythological Creatures, established by Zackary's grandfather.

Mistaken for a job applicant, Zackary starts working at the zoo with the resident sorcerer, Acacia. Powerful magic is needed to control some of the extraordinary creatures in the zoo: from the Stymphalian birds of Greek mythology and the nine-headed hydra, to manticores from India and the squonks - Drufflefuster, Gobblesnocks, Snivelsnork and Grimelgrout. These are the ugliest, most endearing, little creatures that will be encountered in a children's book in 2009.

But just as Zackary is settling in to his double life, a shadow is cast across the entire kingdom with the news that a strange creature is expected at the zoo - a creature which spreads evil and destruction in its path.

Author Information

Sam Bowring has been writing and performing stand-up comedy since he was 16 and since then has been on ABC 702 with Richard Glover, and on Triple J, including a regular spot on the breakfast show with Wil Anderson and Adam Spencer in 2004. In 2006 Sam was nominated for Best Emerging Comic at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and for Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Sam's television writing includes The Big Bite (Channel 7), Ronnie Johns Half Hour (Channel 10), The Mansion (Comedy Channel) and Rove Live (Channel 10). He has also written several plays.