Safari West Book Club
A series of five personalized children's books as part of a Scribbly Book Club in partnership with Safari West, benefiting the Safari West Foundation.
Project Summary
Each child participating in this Book Club will receive one book at the start of each season, plus a special birthday book. As with all Scribbly Books, the child will be the protagonist: they will be illustrated into each page, and their name featured throughout, creating a personal connection to the story.
Each book will focus on the natural wonders that occur during a specific season at Safari West, highlighting the unique weather, plants, and animals found at Safari West and in the Mayacamas Mountains of Sonoma County.
Through engaging storytelling, these books will instill in children a love for the environment and animals while helping them see themselves as "keepers" of the natural world.
The books will accomplish this by:
  • Entertaining children with beloved stories featuring Safari West animals
  • Teaching children about plants, animals, and ecological concepts
  • Providing simple activities children can do at home to become "keepers"
With each book, the child will earn a badge (in the form of a sticker) to add to their map poster, which they'll receive with their first book. The birthday book will also include a ticket for a Safari at Safari West, creating a complete experience that bridges reading and real-world adventure.
Fall: Keeper of Trees
Nature Feature: Acorns and Oaks
Guide Animal: Warthog
Badge: Keeper of the Trees
This book will follow the child as they discover the crucial role of acorns and oak trees at Safari West during fall. The child will learn how acorns and oak woodlands provide habitat and sustenance for over 300 wildlife species and thousands of insect species. Throughout their adventure with a friendly warthog guide, they'll help collect and distribute acorns, understanding the interconnectedness of nature. As they observe animals foraging, they'll discover the outsized importance of even the smallest things in nature. The story will conclude with the child drifting to sleep, dreaming of growing a mighty oak from a tiny acorn.
Educational Elements:
  • The oak ecosystem as a biodiversity hub
  • Food web connections through acorns
  • Microhabitat creation beneath oak trees
  • Soil improvement through leaf decomposition
  • Erosion prevention by oak roots
  • Cultural significance of acorns to indigenous peoples
  • The oak ecosystem as a metaphor for conservation
Personal Development:
  • Small Beginnings: Every mighty oak starts small, just like the growing child.
  • Potential Within: An acorn holds all it needs to become an oak; the child has everything inside to grow strong too.
  • Making an Impact: One oak tree shelters many animals; similarly, one child can make a big difference, especially by helping other children around them.
Winter: Keeper of Water
Nature Feature: Rain and Rainbows
Guide Animal: Flamingo
Badge: Keeper of the Water
This winter book will focus on the rainy season at Safari West and the transformation of the landscape from golden to green. Through the eyes of a colorful flamingo guide, the child will discover how rain brings life to the preserve and creates beautiful natural phenomena like rainbows. The story will establish the child as a "Keeper of Water" – a steward who understands how water cycles and weather patterns support all life at Safari West.
Educational Elements:
  • The water cycle in action
  • How rainbows form through light refraction
  • Seasonal landscape transformation
  • Plant dormancy and regrowth cycles
  • Wildlife behavior changes during rainy seasons
  • Watershed protection and water quality
  • Drought adaptation and resilience
  • The interconnection of weather systems with all life
Personal Development:
  • Beauty After Storms: Just as rainbows appear after rain, children grow stronger after overcoming challenges.
  • Many Colors, One Rainbow: Different colors combine into a rainbow, just as different qualities make each child unique.
  • Small Wonders: Tiny rainbows exist in dewdrops if we look closely; likewise, daily life is full of small, delightful surprises.
Spring: Keeper of New Life
Nature Feature: Babies
Guide Animal: Giraffe
Badge: Keeper of New Life
This baby animal-focused spring book highlights the wonder and magic of new animal life at Safari West. Led by a gentle mother giraffe, the child discovers the joys of spring births, seeing how animal parents care for their babies and watching them grow stronger each day. The story draws heartwarming parallels between baby animals and the child's own growth, emphasizing nurturing, care, and gentle stewardship.
Educational Elements:
  • Animal parenting behaviors and nurturing
  • Milestones in baby animal development
  • Differences and similarities among young animals (giraffes, zebras, birds)
  • Importance of protected habitats for raising babies
  • How baby animals learn through play
Personal Development:
  • Gentleness and Care: Watching animal parents gently care for their newborns reminds children of the importance of kindness and gentle actions.
  • Courage to Explore: Baby animals bravely take first steps, teaching children to have courage when trying new things.
Summer: Keeper of Animals
Nature Feature: Adaptations
Guide Animal: Zebra
Badge: Keeper of Animals
The summer book will focus on how animals at Safari West adapt to the hot, dry California summer and the importance of water conservation. A striking zebra guide will show the child how animals manage during the challenging summer months when temperatures can soar and rainfall is scarce. This creates a perfect opportunity to teach children about water conservation and the amazing adaptations animals have developed.
Educational Elements:
  • Animal cooling adaptations and strategies
  • Water conservation techniques
  • The water cycle in summer conditions
  • Habitat microclimates
  • Drought adaptation mechanisms
  • Global water issues and their local impact
  • Conservation projects at Safari West
  • Individual actions for water conservation
Personal Development:
  • Adaptation and Flexibility: Animals adjust their behaviors to handle summer heat, teaching children the importance of being adaptable and flexible when facing changes or challenges.
  • Valuing Resources: Animals show how precious water is in summer, reminding children of the importance of valuing what they have.
  • Patience and Sharing: Animals patiently take turns at water sources, teaching children patience and fairness.
Birthday Book: Keeper of Self
Nature Feature: The Child
Guide Animals: Multiple
Special Feature: Safari Ticket
Badge: Keeper of Self
The birthday book will celebrate the child and what makes them special, just like the animals they love.
The book will feature multiple animal guides as the child goes on a personalized tour of Safari West and is celebrated at each stop.
It can also serve as preparation for the child's actual Safari West adventure, creating excitement and background knowledge before their visit.
Educational Approach
Each book will be crafted to balance two levels of educational content:
Ages 6-12: More detailed scientific concepts, ecological relationships, and conservation principles woven throughout the narrative.
Ages 2-5: Simpler concepts with emotional connections between the child and nature, using parallels between animal experiences and child development.
This dual-level approach ensures the books grow with the child, offering new insights and understanding with each re-reading as they develop.
Summary
The Safari West Book Club will create a year-round connection between children and the natural world through personalized, educational, and entertaining stories. By becoming "keepers" of trees, water, new life, and animals, and themselves, children will develop a lasting sense of stewardship for the environment while creating a personal connection to Safari West.
These loving, encouraging, positive, and beautiful books will inspire the next generation of conservationists while supporting the important work of the Safari West Foundation.
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