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CHAPTER ONE

As the sun rose on another beautiful day on the Sunshine Coast, an enormous Burmese python slithered slowly into a bedroom. In the distance, the call of the ring-tailed lemurs signaled the start of a new day. Lying asleep in bed, the young girl didn’t notice the snake’s progress.
Hisssssssssssss. The snake took a leisurely route toward the bed, slowly winding up the bedpost until its head came to rest on the pillow. The snake’s tongue flickered in and out, touching the girl’s face.
The girl’s face twitched a little, but her eyes remained closed. The snake let out another quiet hisssssssssssss.
The girl’s hand reached out and slowly came to rest on the head of the snake.
“Hmmm. Feels…scaly?” Bindi Irwin opened her eyes and smiled.
The snake smiled back.
“Have you come to wish me a happy birthday, Basil?”
Bindi’s mum, Terri, and her brother, Robert, entered the bedroom, still in their pj’s, and started singing. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”
Bindi jumped out of bed, super-excited. “Yay!”
She rushed over to her mum and brother, and gave them both a big hug.
“Robert thought Basil would make a perfect birthday alarm clock,” Terri said with a smile.
“Good thinking, little buddy,” Bindi replied. “What’s for breakfast, Mum?”
“I think you might already know the answer to that, Bindi,” Terri replied.
“Woohoo, it’s pancakes!” Robert and Bindi high-fived. Robert moved over to the bed to pick up Basil, who looked like he would be quite happy to snooze on Bindi’s bed for the rest of the day.
“Come on, lazybones,” Robert said as he lifted the snake onto his shoulders. “We’ve got pancakes to eat!”
He zoomed out of the room toward the kitchen.
Terri looked down at Bindi and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Our little girl’s growing up. Your dad would have loved to have been here today, sweetheart.”
Bindi gave her mum’s hand a squeeze. “I know, Mum,” she said. “He’d have wanted it to be a fantastic day.”
“And it will be,” Terri replied, looking at her watch with a worried expression. “Oops. As long as we get a move on!”
Bindi and Terri headed off down the hallway. “You and Basil better have left some for us, Robert!” Bindi called out along the way.

“As a mom, I always like to see a extra educational value added to the books and toys I choose for my children. The Animal Fact Files included at the end of each chapter book are a nice little bonus that will pique your child’s interest in the animals they’ve just read about” - A Hen’s Next

“ This book is sweet- is a great book for kids between the grades of one through four. ” - Have Sippy Will Travel

“exciting and educational tale which promotes protection the planet and all of its furry, feathered, and finned creatures.” - Kiwi Magazine

“Trouble at the Zoo, a fast-paced story for young wildlife enthusiasts, teaches an appreciation for wildlife and shows children what they can do to help conserve and protect the world’s endangered animals.” - Tiny Green Mom

In Bindi’s exciting series of books, she and her friends go on adventures in a variety of places, from right at the Australia Zoo to South Africa! There are 6 books in the series, and each comes with amazing fact files in the back of the book. You can also read the next book’s first chapter... I recommend these books for kids ages 6 and up, especially those who love animals and want to help them.”

“This new series is great for your younger readers who love animals. It has cute storylines, loveable characters, and fascinating creatures. ” - Homeschool Buzz

“I was excited to receive these two books for my children. I have one son who is an avid reader and read both of these books in one sitting. He LOVED them!

Another son started reading one of them and is enjoying it as well. I could tell by the way he started talking to his older brother about things in the book.

Now our 8 year old daughter is wanting to read them too.

Since receiving the books just a few days ago, both of the older boys (ages 12 and 10) have read them. The 12 year old is actually reading them again now.

So looks like these books were a hit in our house!

Hope they will be in yours as well. ” - Laura Williams’ Musings

“these books were a hit in our house!” - Laura Williams’ Musings

“breezy and upbeat. Suspense and tension build to satisfying conclusions as the characters take on each tale's dilemma and convey effective but not-too-preachy points about environmental issues. Written in clear and descriptive language, occasionally sprinkled with a few more challenging words, the accessible narratives express enthusiasm for the subject matter and an inviting sense of wonder about the natural world. ” - The Crocophiles

““A call to action for fellow “Wildlife Warriors,” this light and fluffy tale in the Bindi Wildlife Adventures series might appeal to those who enjoy Ben Baglio’s Animal Ark and Dolphin Diaries books.” -Booklist” - Booklist

““Young wildlife conservationist and media darling Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, is as exuberant on the pages of this peppy early reader as she is on-screen… briskly paced and delivers its message with Bindi-worthy verve.” -Publishers Weekly” - Publishers Weekly