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Sam Krupnik #4
Zooman Sam
It's Future Job Day at Sam's nursery school, and Sam decides to dress up as a Zookeeper. But he wants to be more than that... he wants to be important, interesting, and more than the Chief of Wonderfulness. Will he find a way to be the Chief of Wonderfulness as he teaches his classmates about all the different animals? Hilarious and charming, Zooman Sam is perfect for readers new and old, and for anyone who still asks themselves the "What do I want to be when I grow up?"
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
30 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lowry
144 books22.9k followersTaken from Lowry's website:
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 13, 2021
Fans of Ramona, esp. when she was young, might like the Sam books. Sam is the younger brother of Anastasia Krupnik, another series I'm sure some of you remember. This one is so adorable my heart feels squeezed. It's also funny, also these are real people who sometimes get impatient, naughty, whatever, but ultimately love & care for each other.
Highly recommended, especially to families who read together.
Highly recommended, especially to families who read together.
October 5, 2025
Another fun installment in Sam’s life, complete with life lessons and stretches!
March 29, 2020
This was absolutely adorable. I can’t believe I went all these years without reading books 3 and 4 in the Sam series!
Of course now I really wish there were more Sam books, and especially more Anastasia books. I just love the Krupnik family, and no matter how many times I re-read their stories it never gets old.
Of course now I really wish there were more Sam books, and especially more Anastasia books. I just love the Krupnik family, and no matter how many times I re-read their stories it never gets old.
July 26, 2017
They are having Future Career Day at Sam's preschool and he's having trouble finding a Zooman outfit. But with the help of his family, he has a uniform in time, including hats of all the animals he will be training.
September 1, 2021
This was cute, but like its predecessor, I’m not sure it warranted a whole book. I like the first two Sam books best. This one was still adorable and made my ten year old son and I giggle aloud reading it at bedtime together.
February 17, 2017
Another cute story featuring Sam. Category: realistic juvie fiction.
November 30, 2017
A cute story from the perspective of a little boy.
September 22, 2020
Maybe not the funniest Sam book but for sure the most gentle, with a very sweet ending. So sad to be done with this series.
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April 18, 2023I loved the Anastasia Krupnik books when I was a kid, and this seemed like a perfect book for Max to read! After he finished it, he asked me to read it too. I’m glad I did- it was so sweet!
February 26, 2017
I love the krupnik books but I hate that Sam could suddenly read fluently and sine difficult words. this was a cute book that has dog training in it. I have a niece who will enjoy this book extra for that aspect because she has a naughty puppy.
December 27, 2016
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
At long last, we come to the end of the Anastasia and Sam Krupnik series with Zooman Sam. When Sam's nursery school teacher invites each member of the class to dress up for the career they might like to have someday, Sam decides he wants to be a zooman. His mother makes him a zookeeper's jumpsuit, and Anastasia's boyfriend lends Sam a collection of baseball caps bearing the names of mascots of animal-themed teams. Quickly Sam realizes that he can't possibly talk about how a zooman cares for every single animal on one day, so he and his teacher devise a plan to present a few each day until he runs out of hats. Unfortunately, while some of the animals are easy to talk about, others are scary, and Sam isn't sure he'll be able to see his commitment through to the end.
As I read this last book, I couldn't help but think about my intense dislike for the Gooney Bird Greene books. If Lois Lowry can write Sam so well, how is it that she misses the mark so completely with Gooney Bird? I intend to revisit those books now that I've finished this series, in the hopes that my trained eye is sharper now than it was in library school and I might discover that they aren't terrible after all. (As nice as it is to complete a series, I will miss Sam and would love another young character to read about!)
In any case, Zooman Sam is especially impressive because it makes such a great, compelling story out of a small classroom event. Lowry has taken on big things (dystopian societies, the Holocaust, death), but her talent for writing effectively about little things is what has elevated her to a favorite author for me.
There isn't much more to say about this book that I haven't already mentioned in a previous review; children's literature enthusiasts who haven't read the Sam books just need to see for themselves how sweet, charming, and timeless they are.
At long last, we come to the end of the Anastasia and Sam Krupnik series with Zooman Sam. When Sam's nursery school teacher invites each member of the class to dress up for the career they might like to have someday, Sam decides he wants to be a zooman. His mother makes him a zookeeper's jumpsuit, and Anastasia's boyfriend lends Sam a collection of baseball caps bearing the names of mascots of animal-themed teams. Quickly Sam realizes that he can't possibly talk about how a zooman cares for every single animal on one day, so he and his teacher devise a plan to present a few each day until he runs out of hats. Unfortunately, while some of the animals are easy to talk about, others are scary, and Sam isn't sure he'll be able to see his commitment through to the end.
As I read this last book, I couldn't help but think about my intense dislike for the Gooney Bird Greene books. If Lois Lowry can write Sam so well, how is it that she misses the mark so completely with Gooney Bird? I intend to revisit those books now that I've finished this series, in the hopes that my trained eye is sharper now than it was in library school and I might discover that they aren't terrible after all. (As nice as it is to complete a series, I will miss Sam and would love another young character to read about!)
In any case, Zooman Sam is especially impressive because it makes such a great, compelling story out of a small classroom event. Lowry has taken on big things (dystopian societies, the Holocaust, death), but her talent for writing effectively about little things is what has elevated her to a favorite author for me.
There isn't much more to say about this book that I haven't already mentioned in a previous review; children's literature enthusiasts who haven't read the Sam books just need to see for themselves how sweet, charming, and timeless they are.
October 1, 2015
Zooman Sam begins with Sam’s need to dress up for career day at preschool. After enlisting the help of his family, Sam is able to see his idea come to fruition. His zookeeper costume, Sam thinks, will allow him to achieve his dream of becoming the “Chief of Wonderfulness.” When Sam wakes up, he discovers that his sister has found an entire collection of hats, each featuring a different animal name. Sam’s preschool teacher tells him that he will not have time to present each animal to the class in one day and suggests he open the subsequent classes by telling about one animal of his choosing every day. Initially, Sam loves this task and the attention he gets from the class. Soon, however, the job becomes cumbersome and Sam wishes to change his mind about being a zookeeper. He grows sad by his apparent failure at being the Chief of Wonderfulness until he realizes what can actually gain him that auspicious title: his ability to read.
This book would be great for a class read aloud. Children could make lists or draw pictures of what being “Chief of Wonderfulness” would mean to them individually. A large portion of this book is spent with Sam’s family helping him sound out and learn new words to read. This could prompt a discussion on how each child learned to read or the various items we read every day. Because of the large focus on different types of animals, this book could also be used in conjunction with an animal/nature unit.
This book would be great for a class read aloud. Children could make lists or draw pictures of what being “Chief of Wonderfulness” would mean to them individually. A large portion of this book is spent with Sam’s family helping him sound out and learn new words to read. This could prompt a discussion on how each child learned to read or the various items we read every day. Because of the large focus on different types of animals, this book could also be used in conjunction with an animal/nature unit.
June 7, 2009
In Lois Lowry's Zooman Sam, a little boy decided to be a zookeeper for "Future Job Day" at his school. This is a boy after my own heart. As a child (and even sometimes as an adult,) zookeeper was my absolute dream job! I have been a zoo volunteer for the last 3 years, and I've loved the zoo for as long as I can remember. But back to the book...
This book is supposed to be appropriate for 9 to 12 year olds, but I don't know. Not having children of my own it's kind of hard to judge, but I have spent some time in a 2nd grade classroom recently, and I believe this book would make a better read-aloud pick for storytime in a classroom up to the 2nd grade.
The book itself was great! I really loved reading about Sam's passion for the zoo, and his respect for the job that Jake the zookeeper does at the zoo. Zooman Sam is funny and touching, and Sam was a wonderful character to read about.
This book is supposed to be appropriate for 9 to 12 year olds, but I don't know. Not having children of my own it's kind of hard to judge, but I have spent some time in a 2nd grade classroom recently, and I believe this book would make a better read-aloud pick for storytime in a classroom up to the 2nd grade.
The book itself was great! I really loved reading about Sam's passion for the zoo, and his respect for the job that Jake the zookeeper does at the zoo. Zooman Sam is funny and touching, and Sam was a wonderful character to read about.
November 21, 2008
Sam knows exactly what he wants to be for Future Job Day at school--a Zookeeper! Sam is excited to tell the class all about his future job and how he handles all the different animals. His Future Job Day turns into a Future Job Month as h has 30 different animals to talk about. Sam soon finds out that teaching and animal training aren't everything they're cracked up to be--they are HARD!
The final Sam book is as charming as the others. I still like the Anastasia books better, but this is a nice spin-off series and it's always nice to catch up with Anastasia again (she's a teenager now and has some boy issues!). A nice ending to the series.
The final Sam book is as charming as the others. I still like the Anastasia books better, but this is a nice spin-off series and it's always nice to catch up with Anastasia again (she's a teenager now and has some boy issues!). A nice ending to the series.
September 5, 2011
This week I read Zooman Sam by Lois Lowrey. It was an absolutely adorable book. The author did a fantastic job of capturing the heart of a child. I enjoyed the humor that came from Sam. I feel as if I can relate to Sam because I get overwhelmed easily and can feel like nothing is going right. As a child, like Sam, I craved the attention I got from my peers and teacher. It was funny how the book started with Sam digging through his closet and creating a pile of clothes on the floor. It was super realistic. I also liked how even though it was a chapter book, it still had some great pictures. Overall I thought that this book was fantastic and plan on reading it to my kids at work.
October 25, 2014
I read this out loud with my Sam. He still liked it, but mostly because he's attached to the characters. I thought it was a cute book, but once the show-and-tell stuff started, it was just too long. Really.... it was too much. Both of my kids were bored with it, but insisted that I keep going. So on one hand there's the fact that they were both tired of it, but on the other hand, their willingness to keep going attests to how lovable the characters are and how wrapped up they got in their lives. All in all it was a good series of books (still haven't read the 3rd one because it upset my little guy), I just wish it had ended better.
August 14, 2008
I'm a bigger Anastasia fan than I am a Sam fan. But I really liked this book. Sam's mom finds a great way to humor her child's love of animals. And Sam figures out how to read! I read the passage about learning to read to my 5th graders. They all nodded wisely and knowingly. We all have a story of how we began reading and this is a great way to kick off that conversation.
September 1, 2011
I thought this was a great book. I like how it is written from the boys point of view becuase it gives the reader a new perspective to read from. Also, the way "Zooman Sam" shows how he is a trainer of each individual animal is a very creative piece of writing. The illustrations are also great and it seems they were done with simple pencil and paper by Diane de Groat.
April 1, 2011
Sam Krupnik has to dress up for Future Job day at school. He decides to go as a zookeeper and gets to tell the other kids in the class about a different animal every day.
Sam is entertaining as usual, and young people will really enjoy this book.
Sam is entertaining as usual, and young people will really enjoy this book.
May 1, 2008
Another fun read.
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May 22, 2008JF Low
May 29, 2008
I loved this book. I'm actually reading it to Paige and she loves it also. Lowry does such an excellent job with the characters. Sam is just like the preschooler I taught in Ohio!! :0)
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January 28, 2009JAR4-Low
February 16, 2009
Great chapter book for younger readers. Although the main character is in pre-school I think all Elementary age kids would like it.
October 28, 2010
A good heart warming book to read
August 28, 2011
Cute story about a boy learning to read!
March 1, 2015
Tara and Rebecca Loved it Too!
January 1, 2016
This book made me happy as a parent that much was made by Sam's learning to read.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews