Book Two
The Secret Code in the Zoo Walls
The Secret Code in the Zoo Walls
Join Luna & Leo on another wild adventure!
On a crisp autumn afternoon, Luna and Leo visit the world-famous Beijing Zoo, eager to see its rare and playful animals. But when a moment of curiosity leads them into a locked enclosure, the twins suddenly come face to face with real danger.
To escape, they’ll have to crack a mysterious animal code,and more importantly, unlock the true secret of teamwork.
© 2025 Joe Serio Enterprises · Author: Joe Serio, Ph.D.Illustrations by: Anfisa Brewer & Manifestive DesignISBN: 9781419774003 · Published: April 2025
A Special Message from the Author:
Why This Story Matters
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IN REAL LIFE
Beijing Zoo, China
Founded in the Qing Dynasty (1906) by Emperor Guangxu, The Beijing Zoo in Beijing, China houses over 5,000 animals from 430 different species, including the animals featured in our book! Visitors will see the Red Pandas, African Lions, Giraffes, and many more incredible species. Originally, the grounds where the zoo now stands housed an imperial manor during the Ming dynasty.
Connected by the Empress Dowager Cixi Watercourse to the Imperial Summer Palace, the Beijing Zoo is essential for preserving and educating the public about over 600 different species of animals, including Red Pandas, the Japanese Crested Ibis, and the endangered Siberian Tiger.
A hallowed ground for cultural history and endangered animals from all over the world, The Beijing Zoo sees over 5 million local & foreign visitors every year, cementing its status as a world-renowned educational center.
Photo Credit: BeijingChina.com
Photo Credit: Mapcarta
Photo Credit: Visit Our China
The Art of
Listening Intently
In The Secret Code in the Zoo Walls, we explore the Chinese character “ting”, which is made up of 5 individual characters, all of which represent a different aspect of the skills and tools we need to listen.
When Luna chooses not to listen to Leo, the children quickly find themselves in a terrifying situation—they then have to work together, and it is only by slowing down and using the various elements of active listening the children are able to crack the code of teamwork and make it out of the zoo together.
Listening requires more than just our ears, it requires our eyes, mind, heart, attention as well. When we choose to slow down and actively listen to each other, we get further than we would on our own.
