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Staff Report

Jodie Campbell, a Jessamine County children’s book author and Registered Nurse, will be offering autographs for  copies of her debut book “There Was a Zookeeper”, at the Kentucky Pop-Up at Hamburg Market on Saturday, April 13.

The Journal has previously reported on Campbell, who started writing stories for her adult children when they were kids. In 2022, enlisted the help of illustrator Alexey Chystikov to finally share her stories with the help of his whimsical children’s illustrations. She would shortly learn Chystikov was living in the middle of a war zone in Kiev, Ukraine. 

During their year-long journey, Campbell has gotten to know Chystikov on a personal level and has gained insight into life inside Ukraine. 

Now, their project is hot off the presses and now available for sale. There Was a Zookeeper is available for kids in Kentucky and beyond, and copies can be ordered directly from Campbell’s website at jodie-campbell.com.  

“I couldn’t foresee how this journey of publishing a children’s book would go,” said Campbell,  “but I’m grateful for every twist and turn along the way. This book is special to me, Alexey, and so many others. I’m so thankful it can now be shared with children everywhere!” 

“There Was a Zookeeper” is a tale about decision-making, forgiveness and friendship. When an  elephant finds that his favorite snack is missing, he starts a chain of events that causes hurt  feelings, confusion and tears for many of the zoo animals. In the end, once good decision leads to  a happy ending for all! 

Individual orders, book donations, and bulk purchasing information is all online at jodie campbell.com. Her book is also available at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Kentucky. 

For those interested in meeting Campbell, she will be selling and signing books from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at the Kentucky Pop-Up at the Hamburg Market (1949 Star Shoot  Parkway, Lexington, KY). 

To learn more about Campbell’s work, visit facebook.com/jodiecampbellauthor.