Behind The Book: Merry Christmas Zoo

Merry Christmas Zoo is a magical Christmas tale illustrated by Laura Watkins, and written by Lola M. Schaefer and Lisa Eickholdt. Published by Chronicle, the book takes young readers on a festive adventure, where Santa and his helpers surprise the zoo animals with special holiday festivities. We sat down with Laura Watkins to discuss her creative process, inspiration, and the joy of bringing this enchanting story to life.

What is Merry Christmas Zoo about?

Have you ever wondered what the animals do at the zoo during Christmas time? Merry Christmas Zoo explores how real zoos and zookeepers provide festive enrichment for their animals. Readers follow the animals through the zoo with Santa, experiencing the magic of Christmas through playful, rhyming text. It’s all about Christmas magic… and it rhymes! (Who doesn’t love a rhyming book?)

When did you first hear about the project and what were your first thoughts?

I was contacted by the lovely Alex Gehringer, who told me about a festive text written by Lisa and Lola that would be published by Chronicle. I’ve always admired the books Chronicle create, so I was really excited about the opportunity. It was nearing wintertime when I first heard about the project, which made me feel especially festive! I’ve been fortunate enough to work on several wonderful projects, but this one has definitely become a favourite.

How did you approach bringing Merry Christmas Zoo to life? What was your process?

As soon as I was given the project, I jumped right in! Chronicle sent over the story and a brief synopsis, which allowed me to start imagining the world I was about to create. My process always begins in a sketchbook – I find it’s the best way to brainstorm and develop my initial ideas before moving on to the computer to refine them.

I sketched everything from zoo logos and different areas to zookeeper uniforms and tickets. It was important to ensure that the zoo in the book didn’t resemble any specific zoo, so readers from anywhere in the world could relate to it. Research played a big role as well. I visited several zoos to gather inspiration, but I also made sure to include personal elements. For instance, I adore snow – in fact, I took inspiration from a snowy walk I went on in London a few years ago for some of the wintery scenes in the book.

Did real-life places, events, or people inspire your illustrations?

Absolutely! Living in London, I often visit London Zoo. We also have Longleat Safari Park here in the UK, which I love. I’ve also visited other zoos, such as Vienna Zoo and Central Park Zoo in New York. All of these places have influenced my imagery.

The authors, Lisa and Lola, even spoke with Ron Magill, a zoologist at Zoo Miami who became the inspiration for one of the characters. Their experience of seeing how zookeepers care for the animals during the holidays was incredibly valuable.

There’s also a special cameo in the book—one of the characters is based on my mum! Growing up, our trips to the zoo were always exciting, so it felt meaningful to include her. She was thrilled to know she made it into the story.

How did you decide on the colour palette?

Since most of the book takes place at night, I wanted to incorporate those cosy, festive pops of colour that make Christmas feel so magical. The dark sky, combined with warm, glowing lights, gives the book its heartwarming atmosphere. Without that light, the tone would have felt far more sombre.

Do you have a favourite spread from the book?

Definitely! One of the spreads resembles a zoo map, which I thought would be a fun addition for readers. It’s packed with details for them to discover—something like a Where ’s Wally book. I loved those growing up, so I wanted to bring that sense of fun into Merry Christmas Zoo.

Here’s even a little challenge for readers: Can you spot the kale ‘Ho Ho Ho’?

How much creative freedom did you have with Chronicle?

I worked with the wonderful Jill and Naomi at Chronicle, and they were such a joy to collaborate with. They offered some fantastic ideas and gave me the flexibility I needed to really explore the artwork. We went through several cover options before settling on the final design. Chronicle is a great team to work with, and they truly cared about making this book special.

Why is this project special to you?

I love that the story is simple yet so full of heart. The rhyme flows beautifully, and it has such a feel-good quality to it. There’s a lot of love, empathy, and care for animals in this book, which I think makes it really special.

What message do you hope readers take away from Merry Christmas Zoo?

I hope readers feel the joy of giving and the importance of thinking about others, whether it’s family, friends, or the animals we share the world with. The zoo family in the book reminds us how rewarding it can be to show kindness and celebrate the spirit of Christmas together.

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Merry Christmas Zoo publishes in the UK on the 24th October! Pre-order your copy here.

To work with Laura, get in contact here.