KATE SIMPSON’s How to Move a Zoo is a picture book about the incredible true story of Jessie the elephant who walked from Moore Park Zoo to her new home in the Taronga Zoological Park at the beginning of the 20th century.

We caught up with Kate to ask her about the true story behind her book.

What sparked the idea for your book How to Move a Zoo?

A few years ago, my publisher told me about a wonderful exhibition she had seen at the Museum of Sydney called How to Move a Zoo. She knew that I loved historical stories and was hoping that the exhibition might inspire me to write a picture book. She was right! I grew up in Sydney and I had visited the zoo many times, but that was the first time I had heard about Jessie and her journey across the harbour. It was such a gorgeous tale and I knew that it had all the right elements for a fabulous picture book.

What can you tell us about the history of Moore Park Zoo and Taronga Zoological Park?

Moore Park Zoo was built in the 1880s. It was very popular, but the conditions for the animals weren’t great. Many animals lived in tiny cages surrounded by bars and concrete. By the early 1900s, many people believed that Sydney needed a newer, better zoo. Inspired by zoos in Europe, the zoological society decided to build a ‘barless’ zoo that gave animals more space and kept them contained using moats and pits instead of bars and cages. (The barless design wasn’t always perfect. When the rhesus monkeys were first introduced to their new home they soon escaped!) Taronga Zoo has changed a lot since 1916. There is more and more focus on the wellbeing of animals and on protecting species that are endangered in the wild. Taronga Zoo has recently announced that after over 100 years, its elephants will soon be leaving. They will be moving to the Monarto Safari Park in South Australia where they can live with a larger herd and have a bigger enclosure.

Your book is based on a true story – what was the most interesting thing you learned about Jessie the elephant?

I think the most interesting thing about Jessie is just how much the people of Sydney loved her. Over Jessie’s lifetime more than a million people took rides on her back and she became a very well known part of the city. People used to say that a person had ‘more hide than Jessie’ if they were outrageously cheeky or disregarded the rules.

What was your favourite part of writing this story?

Owen Swan and I were lucky enough to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of Taronga Zoo’s historical collection as part of our research for the story. We toured the original elephant house (which is still at the zoo today) and we saw old photos of Jessie and what the zoo looked like 100 years ago. We also saw some physical items from the zoo’s history. My favourite was a pair of bikes that used to be ridden by the zoo’s monkeys.

Where did you get your love of storytelling?

I haven’t always thought of myself as a storyteller. When I was about 30 I read a book that said that the key to happiness is doing something creative in your life. For some people the creative thing might be art or drama, for others it could be coding or gardening or building a boat. In my case, because I have always loved books, I decided to try writing. And I absolutely loved it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Simpson was raised on a diet of children’s books, but it was her fascination with science that led her to her first career as a chemical engineer. Following the birth of her children, Kate re-discovered her love of picture books and soon decided to try her hand at writing them. She was quickly hooked. Kate now juggles a full-time job as an engineer with her writing work. Her books feature Australian history, science, curious kids and powerful women. How To Move a Zoo is Kate’s fifth picture book.

Owen Swan is an award-winning Australian illustrator whose work includes Out by Angela May George (Picture Book of The Year CBCA Shortlist & winner of the AAFT Book Award for Children’s Literature), My Friend Tertius by Corinne Fenton (a CBCA Notable); the bestselling picture book Anzac Biscuits, along with Newspaper Hats by Phil Cummings (winner of the Chronos Prize for Literature in France).