National Bookstart Day 2007

A jungle party at Chester Zoo was one of over 2,000 special events taking place on National Bookstart Day.

Children from two local pre-schools and Dorrin Park Special School were invited to dress up as characters from Rod Campbell's Dear Zoo .

Around 50 children plus parents and carers enjoyed a trip to the Zoo's Tropical Area where they will be given Bookstart stickers and balloons and a small gift . 

Afterwards the children met the real animals from the story -  I wonder what they made of each other!

Our special jungle party at London Zoo was also a fantastic occasion.

Hosted by the CBBC presenter Angellica Bell, parents and children enjoyed the morning as the Mappin Pavilion was transformed into a jungle party with exotic plants and flowers and Axel Scheffler’s specially designed National Bookstart Day banner.

The guests were happily entertained by a team of face painters, special Jungle Rhymetimes, stories read by the author Tony Mitton, arts and crafts, monkey mask making, and jungle adventure tales performed by Flora the Explorer.

A big thank you to all the London Zoo staff and especially the Bookstart team who made it such a successful event.