A fabulous "64 Zoo Lane" day at Beale Park with An Vrombaut

(Secret ReaditDaddy admission, I always loved Snowbert the Polar Bear best!)

On saturday the ReadItDaddy collective headed to the wonderful Beale Park in Berkshire for a very special occasion. To celebrate the launch of An Vrombaut's fantastic set of 64 Zoo Lane books, we had the chance to meet the good lady herself so naturally we couldn't pass up the opportunity.

We're regulars at Beale Park, which is a fantastic little animal park tucked away next to the Thames about an hour away from us so off we headed!

Time for a bit of Giraffe drawing!

Dot to Dot time!

As soon as we got there, we were just in time for the first story reading of the day, but managed to squeeze in some Giraffe drawing first. An Vrombaut is collecting lots and lots of piccies of Giraffes for her online Giraffe Gallery, so Charlotte got out the colouring pens and drew a rather cool one.
We got to meet An (which was ace) and also the rather ace Wallingford Books who were on hand with lots and lots of copies of An's books to be signed.

An Vrombaut, complete with luxury Giraffe ears!

How DOES that theme tune go again?

Soon enough An read "Georgina the Giraffe" to a thrilled audience of children and parents (she also did a brilliant version of the 64 Zoo Lane theme song, with a little help from the audience - and I think we spent the rest of the day either humming it or singing it!)

Lots of activities took place during the day, including a fabulous effort to make a huge paper and craft Giraffe with a long neck (we missed the unveiling as Charlotte had spotted the paddling pool and no amount of parental coercion could lure her out of there on what turned out to be a very hot day in the end).

While walking around the park though, we did happen to spot what An's second favourite animal (after Giraffes) was...

TheStrollingMum won't let us have a pet Capybara. Probably a very wise decision but you can sponsor animals at Beale Park!

We had a fantastic day and it was great to see so many people turning up for the event, and also brilliant to meet An and also the organisers, and Wallingford Books too of course!

An Vrombaut's 64 Zoo Lane books are now available, published by Hodder Children's Books.

Find out more about Beale Park on The Strolling Mum's fab days-out and travel blog.

Beale Park on "Can I Walk, Mummy?"