A Walk Through the Zoo

Publishing November 13th, 2026 | Hardcover | 32 pages

What makes someone a good person? Let’s take a walk through the zoo and see what the animals can teach us.

Led by their curious companion, Adam the Alligator, and Cocoa, their adorable pup, Caleb, Gabe, and Abigail set out on an adventure in which every exhibit offers a new lesson in character. As they explore, they begin to recognize familiar behaviors and surprising wisdom in the creatures around them. They discover that strength isn’t just about being powerful, that confidence doesn’t have to be loud, and that character isn’t defined by one big moment but by small, everyday choices—especially the ones made when no one is watching.

Warm, playful, and designed to spark meaningful conversations, A Walk Through the Zoo invites children and the adults who love them to explore the values that shape a life of character. Inspired by the author’s real-life storytelling tradition with his grandsons, this read-aloud picture book emphasizes that kindness, courage, honesty, responsibility, and respect are shining qualities among all animals.

About the Author

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mark Hertling, with his wife, Sue, spent nearly four decades in the US Army. Since retiring from the military, he has continued to study, teach, and write about leadership, character, and service while working with a variety of organizations.

Recently, Mark published If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal, which began as a journal written for his two young sons while he was deployed in combat. Decades later, he expanded his thoughts and turned the journal into a best-selling, award-winning book about leadership, character, emotion, family, and the lessons we hope to pass from one generation to the next.

A friend suggested that the lessons Mark had spent years sharing with adults might be just as valuable if introduced to children as they begin forming their own character and values. That suggestion inspired this book, which contains lessons that take a lifetime to understand—but it is never too early or too late to learn about how they contribute to being a good person.

About the Author

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