Grade K–3Biography & Women in History

Cubs in the Tub

The True Story of the Bronx Zoo's First Woman Zookeeper

Written by Candace Fleming

In the early 1900s, Belle Benchley talked her way into a job at the San Diego Zoo — and became one of the most beloved zoo directors in American history. This true story follows a determined woman who broke barriers, bathed lion cubs in her own bathtub, and proved that passion and persistence can open any door.

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From the Library Director

Candace Fleming has a genius for finding the true stories that kids need to hear — and Belle Benchley's is one of the best. This book sparks conversations about women in history, animal care, and what it means to follow your passion against all odds. A natural pairing with any unit on biography or careers.

Big Idea

When you love what you do and refuse to give up, you can break barriers that others said were impossible to cross.

Discussion Questions

1
Why was it unusual for a woman to work at a zoo in the early 1900s? What barriers did Belle face that a man in the same situation would not have?
2
How did Belle get her first job at the zoo? What does that tell us about her personality and determination?
3
What does it mean to be a 'trailblazer'? In what ways was Belle Benchley a trailblazer?
4
Belle bathed lion cubs in her own bathtub. What does that detail tell you about how she felt about her work?
5
Have you ever wanted to do something that people told you was impossible or not for you? What did you do?
6
Why is it important to learn about people like Belle Benchley? What can her story teach us today?
7
How do the illustrations help bring Belle's story to life? What details did the illustrator include that aren't in the words?
8
If Belle were alive today, what do you think she would say to a young person who wanted to do something no one had done before?

Activity: My Trailblazer Profile

Students research a real trailblazer — someone who broke barriers in a field they care about — and create a profile page celebrating that person's courage and impact.

1
Choose a trailblazer: someone who was the first to do something important in a field you find interesting — science, sports, art, animals, space, cooking, anything. It can be someone famous or someone from your own community.
2
Research two to three facts about your trailblazer: What barrier did they face? What did they do to break through it? What changed because of them?
3
Create a 'Trailblazer Profile' — draw a portrait of your person and write their name, their field, one barrier they faced, and one way they changed the world.
4
Share your profile with the class. Tell your classmates: why did you choose this person, and what is one thing you want to remember from their story?

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.3 — Describe the connection between a series of historical events or steps in a biography.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.6 — Distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts naming a topic and supplying facts and definitions.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.4 — Report on a topic using appropriate facts and relevant details, speaking clearly.
Social Studies — Understand how individuals have shaped history and contributed to social change.
Social-Emotional Learning — Develop growth mindset, perseverance, and awareness of gender equity and opportunity.