.png)
A Family For Zoya
The True Story Of An Endangered Cub
Written by Debra Wolf
Illustrated by Annalisa Durante and Marina Durante
Published by Platypus Media | July 2025
Ages 5-9, Grades K-4
ISBN 978-1-951995-29-4
Hardcover, 40 pages
This is the heartwarming true story of Zoya, the only surviving cub from a litter of endangered Amur tigers born at the Philadelphia Zoo. After her mother rejects her, little Zoya needs to find a new family–and soon! The animal care team at the Philadelphia Zoo learn that Lola, a Sumatran tiger at the Oklahoma City Zoo, has just given birth to three cubs. Could Lola take care of Zoya, too? But Lola and Zoya are different types of tigers. Cross-fostering between tigers has never been tried before. The zookeepers decide this is Zoya’s only chance to have a real tiger family, and they transport her across the country to meet Lola. They anxiously wait to see how the mother tiger will respond to this unfamiliar baby. Will she and her cubs accept Zoya into the den? Will Lola have enough milk for all the babies? Will Zoya adapt to her new family? As Zoya grows, her story is marked by moments of uncertainty and hope. Zoya’s remarkable true journey highlights the profound bonds that unite all creatures and underscores the vital importance of wildlife conservation efforts. The story includes back matter with kid-friendly facts about Amur tigers and the Tiger Conservation Campaign, a program to reduce tiger poaching and help villagers build tiger-proof pens for their farm animals. Learn how scientists have created an Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan that could one day help make the wild tiger population healthier. Debra is donating 100% of her proceeds from A Family for Zoya to the AZA's Tiger Conservation Campaign.
Zoya's Latest Litter, Born May 2025
The book launch at the Philadelphia Zoo was featured on two TV stations!
Praise for A Family for Zoya
A FAMILY FOR ZOYA "shows how humans can work together to save wildlife. I believe sharing this story will inspire the next generation of conservationists to do their part to protect the natural world."
- Philadelphia Zoo President & CEO, Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman
"We at the Roosevelt Park Zoo hope that Zoya’s story inspires others to love and protect the natural world around them."
- Roosevelt Park Zoo Director & Veterinarian, Dr. Logan Wood
"A FAMILY FOR ZOYA beautifully melds compassion for endangered animals with their plight in the wild....We are grateful for the author’s contributions to conservation."
- Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Washington, DC
"A wonderful book to open up conversation about a myriad of topics, the conservation efforts and the plight of endangered species, of course, but also“found” family and other related topics."
- Melanie Dulaney, Educator
"Our students love animal books in general, but they especially love true stories about endangered baby animals. I would be thrilled to add this to our library!"