June 21st is World Giraffe Day!
World Giraffe Day celebrates the longest necked animal on the longest day of the year. There are some great giraffes in children’s fiction and we found several giraffes on our bookshelves.
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees: This is still a huge favourite here and we love the audio version of the story with its funky calypso music. Gerald proves that giraffes CAN dance, they just need to find their own rhythm 🙂
A Gold Star for George by Alice Hemming and Kimberley Scott: We love George who tries very hard to win a gold star at the Heavenly Hippos Gold Star awards. He’s a kind giraffe who discovers that there is more than one way to be a winner!
A Gold Star for George is also available as an Early Reader.
Jolly Snow by Jane Hissey: Jolly is the giraffe who lives in the playroom with Old Bear and his friends. Jolly has never seen snow so the toys try various ways of showing him what snow is. We particularly like the look of Bramwell Brown’s snowflake biscuits!
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake: A Giraffe, a Pelican and a Monkey form The Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company. However, cleaning windows brings more excitement and adventure than any of them anticipate!
I Am Otter by Sam Garton: Although Otter is the main character in this story he has two special friends, Teddy and Giraffe. When Teddy messes up the orders in Otter’s new toast restaurant, Otter puts Giraffe in charge which causes even more chaos!
Do you have a favourite fictional giraffe to add to our list? Which giraffe will you be reading about on World Giraffe Day?
How about making your own giraffe? This is a really fun craft suitable for toddlers up to Key Stage One children. Draw around your foot to make the giraffe’s head then stick it on top of a long neck. Add ears, horns and eyes and then fingerprint the spots. Finally stick on small pieces of wool for the giraffe’s mane.
My daughter made this giraffe when she was two. I have no idea why it’s green!
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