Merry Christmas Zoo! An interview with author Lola Schaefer

I’m very excited to share a very special holiday-themed book with you today. It’s Lisa Eickholdt and Lola Schaefer’s Merry Christmas Zoo (Chronicle), illustrated by Laura Watkins.

I don’t know about you, readers, but I had no idea that zoo employees and volunteers work hard each year to make winter holidays special for their animals. How? By creating and wrapping special treats appropriate to each species. From this book’s backmatter:

“…These treats are important because they stimulate the animals both mentally and physically. Finding holiday gifts and opening them–with fingers, paws, feet, legs, snouts, and–are great problem-solving activities that also help animals exercise different parts of their bodies.”

What a perfect topic for a picture book, right? And co-authors Lisa Eickholdt and Lola Schaefer (along with illustrator Watkins) have done a beautiful job of bringing this behind-the-scenes process to life in a way kids will find irresistible!

I know you’ll want to hear all about it from one of the authors, and Lola was kind enough to chat with me.

Jill: Lola, this is the kind of book I love – one that introduces a topic entirely new (at least to me) in an engaging way. What was the initial spark for this one?

Lola: The spark for this book happened while I was driving to a writers’ retreat. Ron Magill from Zoo Miami was speaking on NPR and sharing how they prepare stimulating treats for many of their animals during the holiday season. He explained how they wrap some gifts in non-toxic paper and ribbon since the animals, like us, sometimes enjoy those just as much as the surprise inside. I found it fascinating to learn how different foods, toys, or scents are selected for each animal. Then, close to Christmas Day, Santa delivers the presents to the animals in their habitats. Immediately I thought . . . What a great idea for a picture book! When I arrived at the writers’ retreat I asked Lisa Eickholdt if she would be interested in writing this manuscript with me. She, thankfully, said yes, and we began our research.

Jill: Did you and Lisa get inside access to a zoo to witness this process?

Lola: No. Lisa and I did not visit Zoo Miami or any of the other zoos around the world that prepare holiday gifts for their animals. Instead, Ron Magill graciously agreed to Zoom with Lisa and I. During that conversation we learned so much about the behind-the-scenes process that happens each year. Ron also emailed us several photographs of the animals enjoying their holiday surprises. From there we researched other zoos in the United States and around the world that also create stimulating presents for their animals. We spoke with zoo staff, emailed others, and found so many wonderful images. Finally, we were ready to select the most compelling information and write.

Jill: Wow, now that must have been enjoyable research! Did you and Lisa write passages together, via Zoom, or did you email bits back and forth? 

Lola: At first, we each wrote several initial pages on our own. We were exploring structure and pacing. We then chatted via Zoom and decided we didn’t like either of our approaches all that much. Lisa was the one who suggested using the rhythm of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. We immediately knew we wouldn’t strictly adhere to that pattern, but thought a few similarities would help readers connect to the holiday theme and the spirit of gift-giving. At that point, we began to work as a team, writing together. Once we knew the structure, the story spilled out of us. The same with the backmatter.

Jill: And there is SO much fascinating information here! Little readers/listeners will really feel like they’re in on the fun (and work) of preparing all those goodies. Wrestling that information into rhyming stanzas that flow naturally must have been … um, enjoyable? 

Lola: As you know, Jill, writing in rhyme can be challenging. Information and meaning can’t be sacrificed. So, we needed to rewrite and revise quite a bit before we were able to get the storytelling and rhythm we wanted. Sometimes we’d be delighted with a rhyme only to realize that we had used an almost identical one on another page. Or, the rhyme would work, but the rhythm was off. Yes, writing in rhyme is a constant trial and error process. At least it was for us. Eventually, we were quite satisfied. 

We also struggled a bit with repetition of terms like gifts, presents, and treats. We certainly didn’t want the reader hearing the same word again and again, so we needed to rearrange text to avoid their overuse. I think most picture book writing is like assembling a puzzle. Once you have the essential pieces, putting it together correctly takes time.

Jill: Well, as with most rhyming text that works, the finished product has made it look easy! And, oh, readers, Laura Watkins’ art will blow you away, as has no doubt happened with these few spreads I’m including here. The color saturation and playfulness pulls us right in, and these spreads, practically vibrate with energy. I’m imagining reading it to a group of preschoolers/kindergarteners. I think they’d all be up on their knees, watching for the page turn that will reveal their own favorite zoo animal. Here’s an easy question, Lola. Were you pleased with the end product?  

Lola: YES! The art is much more wonderful than Lisa and I could have ever imagined. I read this book daily to my 2.5 year-old granddaughter and she’s constantly finding more and more in the illustrations. One day it’s the butterfly house. Another day it’s the reptile house. She has identified one of the staff as an “oooh-la-la” lady because of her red eyeglass frames and pink boots. She finds their scissors, glue, tape and marvels at the animal pictures on the back of the jackets of the curators. We are totally gobsmacked by the intensity and detail of the art. So much to love!

Jill: For sure! I read it this week to my 6-year-old, animal-loving grandson, and he wouldn’t let me turn a page until he’d pointed out and named every animal on every spread. What’s coming next from you, friend?

Lola: Next May, I have another book of nonfiction debuting with the Christy Ottaviano Imprint at Little, Brown entitled If You Like Butterflies. Gabi Swiatkowska is the illustrator and a sneak peek showed breath-taking art. Excited for that book to reach children. Have two other books in the works at other publishers. More on those later.

Jill: Ooh, breathtaking is GOOD. Always feels great to have a couple (or any!) in the pipeline. Thanks, Lola, for sharing your book today! Readers, you can find more about Lola, Lisa, and illustrator Laura Watkins by visiting:

Lola’s website

Lisa’s X: @LisaEickholdt or her Instagram: lisaeickholdt

Laura’s website