Zombie Zoo: Adventures in Tub (Felix & Ninja, Book 1)
Date Published: 09-15-2026
Publisher: Oculus Print
threaten their island, mismatched investigators Felix and Ninja must combine
science and instinct to save Spinachi-before they’re next.
ZOMBIE ZOO is Book 1 in a five-book middle grade adventure series for readers
ages 8-13, blending paranormal mystery, zombies, unlikely friendship, and
STEAM-powered problem-solving.
orphans at Wayward Amok Orphanage are transforming into wood-eating zombies,
his quiet tree-fort observations are no longer enough. Someone has
deliberately unleashed a strange plague on Tub’s island town of Spinachi-and
they’re still out there.
To find a cure, Felix must team up with Ninja, a shadow-dwelling orphan who
trusts her instincts and never backs down. Intense and razor-sharp, she
notices what others overlook and lives up to her name as the island’s most
mysterious sleuth. With their eccentric mentor Doc Brunne compromised and the
town’s water supply contaminated by a glowing bioluminescent substance, the
two mismatched investigators must combine scientific observation with sharp
intuition to stop the outbreak before their island home is devoured.
naturally weaves in STEAM concepts-biology, chemistry, bioluminescence, water
systems, pattern recognition, and the scientific method-within an
age-appropriate supernatural mystery. Themes include unlikely friendship,
identity, trust across differences, courage, and finding your voice when
adults won’t listen.
Featuring diverse protagonists, quirky humor, spooky-but-fun scares, and
strong female and male leads. ZOMBIE ZOO is ideal for reluctant readers and
fans of Max Brallier’s The Last Kids on Earth, B.B. Alston’s Amari and the
Night Brothers, and Goosebumps. Comprehensive educator resources-including
discussion guides, vocabulary lists, STEAM extension activities, and printable
maps-support classroom use, library programming, book clubs, and make this
title ideal for cross-curricular lessons bridging ELA, STEAM, and SEL.
Author Guest Post
Zombie Zoo and Educational & STEAM Storytelling
Weaving STEAM into storytelling naturally.
I never set out to write an “educational” book. But because I love gardening and grew up enjoying science, those interests naturally flowed into the story through Felix’s character. Once I stepped back, I realized something exciting: ZOMBIE ZOO is filled with story elements that can serve as launching pads for real discussion and hands-on activity.
Biology & Bioluminescence: The mysterious green goo is inspired by real-life bioluminescent organisms called Noctiluca. Fun fact: I named my fictional creatures “Noctiluna” before I ever discovered what the real ones were actually called! That alone is a lesson plan in itself—perfect for exploring how living things create light in nature, or for playing with Latin word origins the way I did.
Chemistry: The plague’s cure opens the door to acid-base chemistry lessons. And for hands-on fun at home, parents can make slime with their kids to recreate the nefarious GREEN GOO!
Art & Math (Cartography): Felix’s detailed observations and tree fort maps invite hands-on map-making that blends creativity, measurement, and observation of the natural world.
Scientific Method: Felix and Ninja model observation, hypothesis-testing, and problem-solving throughout their investigation. It’s woven into their personalities—two very different ways of observing the world that ultimately arrive at the same conclusions.
I like to think of my quirky story elements as doorways to curiosity. ZOMBIE ZOO is a full STEAM playground disguised as a zombie adventure—but the adventure and fun always come first.
Child psychology meets storytelling.
My background in child psychology influences how I develop characters, tackle emotional themes, and speak to kids at their level. Ninja’s character, in particular, opens the door to powerful conversations around social-emotional learning (SEL)—trust, self-worth, standing up to injustice, and finding safe adults.
Engaging reluctant readers.
ZOMBIE ZOO is designed to hook kids who don’t think of themselves as readers—fast pacing, punchy chapters, silly humor, and characters they’ll actually root for. Even younger kids who aren’t quite ready to read it independently can enjoy it as a read-aloud.
Cross-curricular classroom and homeschool possibilities.
From STEAM extension activities to SEL discussion guides, this book provides several opportunities for teachers, librarians, and homeschool parents looking to bridge ELA, science, art, and social-emotional learning. Right now, I’m developing several distinct teaching guides for homeschoolers and educators so they can pick and choose how to integrate ZOMBIE ZOO into their lesson plans. It’s a massive undertaking that’s temporarily interrupting my writing on Book 2—but I truly believe it’s time well spent. Creating meaningful tools for the teachers, librarians, and parents who champion young readers is a priority I’m proud to invest in.
About the Author
dragons are real but hiding, and finds thunderstorms equally delightful and
terrifying. A tea-loving bookworm, she champions young minds and writes to
help kids discover their superpowers are real.
Instagram: @byMelanieAbed
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