The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, in partnership with the St. Louis Zoo, presents Israeli zoologist Avinoam Lourie, former head of the Haifa Zoo & Director of Israel’s Wildlife Conservation Department, and St. Louis Zoo President Dr. Jeffrey Bonner, as they share exciting stories of their adventures with animals – some funny, some frightening but all inspirational.

The event will take place at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5 in the Living World Theater at the Zoo in Forest Park. It includes treats for kids, live zoo animals as greeters, winter zoo activities; and the zoo’s Penguin Parade (weather permitting). A book signing will follow the presentation with books for sale at event.

In “A Bear In My Bed & A Jackal In My Oven: Adventures of an Israeli Wildlife Zoologist,” Lourie presents heart-warming, often hilarious, sometimes harrowing tales of his life as head of the wild animal protection sector of Israel’s Nature Reserves Authority; and director of the Carmel Hai Bar Nature Reserve, where he helped protect and bring back several of Israel’s endangered and near-extinct species.

Tickets are $20 for a family group (2 adults & 2 children). Individual tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children (6 years and under free). The Event is free for holders of the Festival Series PLUS Ticket. For tickets or more information, please call 314-442-3299. The event is co-chaired by Lori Sheinbein and Karen Smoller.