Dear Zoo Happy 30th Birthday

There are a few books which get read over and over again to the boys, some of which Burton has had read to him since he was only a few weeks old. One such book is Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. I don't know what it is about this delightful little book but it has captivated both of my boys since they were both very small. 

Maybe its been my amazing animal impersonations (uhmmmmm probably not, although they have tried to copy me, and it makes them laugh!) as each different animal is revealed in its travel container by lifting a flap.

Dear Zoo - some facts

This year sees the 30th anniversary of Dear Zoo which has sold 5 million copies since its launch back in 1982. 

In fact it is believed that 1 in 5 UK household have or indeed have had a copy!!! Thats an amazing statistic. 

This year it has been voted as one of the top 10 children's picture books by UK librarians

I was recently invited to attend a special tea party hosted by its publishing house Macmillan childrens books, where the books author would be attending. Sadly the boys and I were unable to attend but the lovely people at Macmillan sent them some 30th anniversary goodies instead.

To commemorate the books 30th birthday, three new versions/adaptations have been published

Dear Zoo Noisy Book

(£12.99)

Does exactly what it says on the cover!!  Everytime you lift the flap to see the animal the zoo has sent you, you can hear the noise it makes by pressing the corresponding animal image on the right. Of the three books we were sent, this was by far the biggest hit with my two and they found the noise that the camel makes the funniest as it sounds like it has "popped mummy" as Burton informed me!

Dear Zoo Touch & Feel

(£7.99)

Again pretty self explanatory, instead of lifting flaps you are able to feel different textures on each animal, like a rubbery ball for the puppy, sticky webbed feet on the frog and furry hair on the girraffe's neck

 This book was more suited to Jenson as Burton has outgrown the touchy feely books now. I think this book is a great alternative to that other well known collection of touch and feel books that most children seem to own at least one of (Thats Not My.....)

Dear Zoo Animal Shapes

(£5.99)

This book shows a lovely illustration of each animal with its name on one side and the reason for it being returned to the zoo on the back.

There is even an iPad app to bring Dear Zoo into the modern cybher world the link to which is:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/dear-zoo/id484923402?mt=8http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/dear-zoo/id484923402?mt=8

All three books are really lovely and the Noisy Book one is a big hit with Jenson in particular. Although for me, personally, nothing will replace the original for me as if nothing else it will always remind me of those precious moments I shared reading it with my boys as babies and as toddlers and making my silly elephant noise and trunk impersonation!!!

I look forward to reading it to my grandchildren too :)

For further Dear Zoo information please visit the Dear Zoo website

http://www.dearzoo.co.uk