Belly Up

Name: Belly Up
ISBN: 9780545340939

by Stuart Gibbs

Teddy Fitzroy lives at FunJungle, America's biggest zoo, where his parents work. But when Henry the hippo, the zoo's beloved mascot, turns up dead, Teddy suspects foul play. He teams up with the owner

About This Book

Belly Up is the thrilling first book in Stuart Gibbs's FunJungle series, perfect for middle-grade readers who love mysteries, animals, and adventure. Twelve-year-old Teddy Fitzroy, whose parents work at the sprawling FunJungle zoo, finds himself embroiled in a whodunit when the park's star attraction, Henry the hippo, is found dead. Despite adults dismissing his suspicions, Teddy, with the help of the billionaire owner's daughter, Summer, embarks on a dangerous investigation. The book combines humor, suspense, and fascinating facts about zoo life, while exploring themes of justice, friendship, and perseverance. Parents should be aware of mild peril and animal harm, but these are handled appropriately for the age group.

Twelve-year-old Teddy investigates when a popular Texas zoo's star attraction--Henry the hippopotamus--is murdered.

Concepts

Curiosity & Wonder Justice & Fairness Friendship & Loyalty Resilience & Perseverance Teamwork & Collaboration Honesty & Integrity Fear & Bravery Love & Family Self-Confidence & Identity Good vs. Evil Empathy & Kindness Creativity & Imagination Making Friends Growing Up Being Different Animals Friendship & Social Family & Siblings

Heads up, parents

Character Death

peril_danger

animal_harm

Discussion Prompts

Why do you think the adults didn't believe Teddy at first? How did he show perseverance?

What are some of the challenges of living in a place like FunJungle, both for Teddy and for the animals?

Teddy and Summer work together to solve the mystery. What qualities make them a good team?

The book touches on animal welfare and smuggling. What are your thoughts on how animals are treated in zoos or in the wild?