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NEWS RELEASE

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press Books Receive Top Honors from Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards™

Two Engaging Books That Highlight Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation Win National Recognition

SAN DIEGO (May 18, 2023) – Two books published by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press were honored with awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) at their 35th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™ ceremony on May 5. Author Georgeanne Irvine’s Hope and Inspiration collection children’s book “Raising Don: The True Story of a Spunky Baby Tapir” received a Gold Award in the Young Reader: Nonfiction (8–12 years) category, and author Rolf Benirschke with James Lund received a Silver Award in the biography and autobiography category for  “Saving Wildlife: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Dr. Kurt Benirschke.”

Celebrating excellence in book editorial and design, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards are among the highest national honors for independent publishers. The awards are administered by the IBPA, with help from over 160 book publishing professionals including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, publicity managers and editors. Winners were recognized for setting the standards and pace for the publishing industry.

“We are honored to be recognized by with these prestigious awards and to share our authentic stories of wildlife and conservation with the world,” said Paul A. Baribault, president and chief executive officer, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. ”Conservation starts when we can reach the heart and take people on a journey that creates connections with wildlife. These books help budding conservationists, of all ages, find their connection with nature and inspires them to join us as allies for wildlife.”

 “Raising Don: The True Story of a Spunky Baby Tapir” is the true story of Don, a tapir who not only survived a rocky beginning to life, but also learned to thrive. Don showed that with a confident, spirited attitude, anything is possible, including bringing hope to the future of endangered Baird’s tapirs. It is one of seven books currently available in the Hope and Inspiration collection from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press.

The Hope and Inspiration collection also includes “Fabulous Floyd: The True Story of a Flamingo Who Never Gave Up”; Benjamin Franklin Gold Award 2019 winner “Ruuxa and Raina: A Cheetah and Dog’s True Story of Friendship and Miracles”; Benjamin Franklin Silver Award 2019 winner “Karen’s Heart: The True Story of a Brave Baby Orangutan”; Benjamin Franklin Gold Award 2020 winner “Mosi Musa: A True Story About a Baby Monkey Raised by His Grandma” and Benjamin Franklin Gold Award 2021 winner “Saving Moka: The True Tale of a Rescued Tiger Cub. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press’ latest addition to the Hope and Inspiration collection by Irvine, “Teaching Tornero: A True Story of a Sloth Superstar,” debuts May 23. The Hope and Inspiration books present heartwarming, real-life stories about animals that have overcome major challenges in their lives, and show how dedicated wildlife care specialists at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park gave them the opportunity to thrive.

Irvine, a San Diego native and a 45-year San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance team member, has dedicated her career to raising awareness about animals and wildlife conservation. She is director of publishing for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and is the author of more than two dozen children’s books about animals.

“Saving Wildlife: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Dr. Kurt Benirschke” is the story of the inimitable Dr. Kurt Benirschke ― a trailblazer passionate about gathering and sharing knowledge to make the world a better place for both people and wildlife. This engaging memoir, written by Dr. Benirschke's son Rolf Benirschke, describes his fascinating life and many adventures. With vivid detail, it captures Dr. Benirschke's accomplishments, from his early years as a young doctor learning English in a new country to his world-changing role as the founder of the San Diego Zoo's research division, which established the wildlife conservation movement in zoos as we know it today.

As a zoology major, Rolf Benirschke worked summers at the San Diego Zoo’s research center. It was Rolf’s athletic skills, however, that led him to a 10-year career in the National Football League (NFL), where he earned numerous honors. While playing, he launched Kicks for Critters to raise funds and awareness for the Zoo’s conservation efforts. He then went on to a career in healthcare. He currently is a member of the Board of Trustees for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

Other books published by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press include works geared toward adults, covering both business- and conservation-related subjects—including “Upside-Down Leadership: A Zoo Veterinarian’s Journey to Becoming a Servant Leader”; and “Heart of the Zoo: How San Diego Zoo Director Chuck Bieler Earned His Stripes.”

Illustrated children’s books written by author Carrie Hasler are also part of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press collection. These books include Benjamin Franklin Gold Award 2020 winner “Ty the Quiet Giraffe”; A Wish for a Pangolin”; Benjamin Franklin Gold Award 2021 winner “Tashi—A Snow Leopard Tale”; “Koala Crossing”; and “Sloth’s Treehouse Inn.”

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press books are available online at ShopZoo.com, and through selected book sellers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Every book purchase makes a positive impact on wildlife and helps San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance achieve its mission to create a world where all life thrives.

The San Diego Zoo is celebrating Endangered Species Day at Wild Weekend: Amazonia, May 20 and 21. Guests visiting the Zoo on these dates can learn more about the important work San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance does in the Amazon and how a visit to the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park helps save endangered rainforest wildlife. Two species of wildlife that will be highlighted are sloths and tapirs, subjects of three San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press books. Activities include opportunities to meet book authors Georgeanne Irvine and Carrie Hasler, and listen to a book reading of Don the Tapir, Teaching Tornero and Sloth’s Treehouse Inn—about species that call the rainforest their home.

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About IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards^TM
Named in honor of America’s cherished publisher and printer, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™ recognize excellence in independent publishing. Books are grouped by genre and judged on merit by industry experts including buyers at wholesale and retail levels, librarians, book critics, design experts, and independent publishing consultants. Panels of 162 judges evaluated over 1,500 submissions in 54 categories to create the list of this year’s finalists and winners.

About IBPA, the Independent Book Publishers Association
With more than 3,100 members, the nonprofit IBPA is the largest trade association representing independent publishers in the United States. Founded in 1983, its mission is to lead and serve the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success.

About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press is the book publishing division of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and working toward a world where all life thrives. Through its publishing efforts, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press seeks to motivate and inspire multiple generations to care about wildlife, the natural world and conservation. The work of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance extends from San Diego to eco-regional conservation “hubs” across the globe. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports cutting-edge conservation and brings the stories of its work back to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action.

About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and working toward a world where all life thrives. The Alliance empowers people from around the globe to support their mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports cutting-edge conservation and brings the stories of their work back to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The work of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance extends from San Diego to eco-regional conservation “hubs” across the globe, where their expertise and assets—including the renowned Wildlife Biodiversity Bank—are able to effectively align with hundreds of regional partners to improve outcomes for wildlife in more coordinated efforts. By leveraging these skills in wildlife care and conservation science, and through collaboration with hundreds of partners, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has reintroduced more than 44 endangered species to native habitats. Each year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s work reaches over 1 billion people in 150 countries via news media, social media, their websites, educational resources and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming, which is in children’s hospitals in 13 countries. Success is made possible by the support of members, donors and guests to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, who are Wildlife Allies committed to ensuring all life thrives.