Don Simon... Why was he in Zoo Island?

By: Emily :]

Don Simon


In the book Zoo Island, Don Simon, the old man had to take a "test" for the census. Maybe Don Simon was in the story because he was supposed to  make people think. Here are some of the questions the boys asked him,

" 'How old are you?' "

" 'Old enough' "

" 'When were you born?' "

" 'When my mother born me' "

" 'Where were you born?' "

" 'In the world' "

" 'Do you have a family?' "

" 'No' "

" 'How come you don't talk much?' "

" 'This is for the census, right' "

" 'No' "

Maybe these questions made the boys think. this made Jose think about him not just being part of the farm but that he was a part of the whole world. Maybe Don Simon named Zoo Island "Zoo Island" because everyone in it was different. Don Simon later said that he liked what they were doing and that by making the census count they were starting "everything." What did he mean by everything? Well, he meant that they were here to do more then plow the fields. That plowing the fields was work for a strong animal. If they wanted to do more than plow the fields their whole life, they could strive to do something else. Don Simon was kind of the lion of every one on the farm. "There was something in his eyes that made everyone jump." Maybe the people didn't want to bother him after the incident with Stumpy.


The name "Zoo Island" was brought up by Don Simon the old man. They called this that probably because each person is different and they represent different animals. Don Simon is tough and lives away from everyone else so you could probably consider him as a lion or a tiger. Maybe he could even be like an alligator, he doesn't talk much, he wants to be away from everyone else and he made people jump. The citizens of "Zoo Island" were probably like monkeys. they just talk, talk, talk all they please out loud while old Don Simon talks to himself in his head. When stumpy was antagonizing Don Simon he chased after him and slashed at him with an onion knife. Don Simon was an important character because he emphasized the importance of the census and gave the farm its name.