Instituto del Libro - Contemporáneos (cover designer: R. Abela Alonso, interior designer: Esteban Ayala, illustrator: Fayad Jamís, author: Nicolás Guillén), "El Gran Zoo," December 15, 1967

The cover design by R. Abela Alonso features a whimsical hand-drawn illustration by Fayad Jamís depicting a stylized tiger with orange and black stripes and a purple head, rendered in loose, expressive brushstrokes on tan paper. The playful, childlike lettering of "El gran Zoo" adds to the book's accessible, irreverent tone. The tiger's exaggerated grin and simplified forms belie the sophisticated satire within, where Guillén transforms zoo animals into biting metaphors for contemporary political and social realities. The informal aesthetic reflects the book's anti-establishment spirit while maintaining visual charm.

"El Gran Zoo" (1967) stands as one of Nicolás Guillén's most celebrated and innovative works, published during "Año del Viet Nam Heroico." The collection presents satirical poems about imaginary zoo exhibits including "adolescent guitars," "living clouds," and "a cathedral monkey"—each serving as sharp social commentary on modern life, imperialism, and human folly. The book's humorous "AVISO" (notice) from the zoo director sets the irreverent tone, declaring the zoo was created by municipal decree for natives and foreigners as national pride. Published in the Instituto del Libro's Contemporáneos series, this edition was translated into multiple languages including French and Greek by poets René Depestre and Yannis Ritsos.