Caroline
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of Gemina: The Croocked-Neck Giraffe to review. All opinions are my own!
Did you know June 21st of this year will be the first ever World Giraffe Day? June is also National Zoo and Aquarium month. It coincides perfectly with the release of Karen B. Winnick’s new book Gemina: The Crooked-Neck Giraffe.
Gemina: The Crooked-Neck Giraffe is a story about a real Baringo giraffe that lived in the Santa Barbara Zoo. You may very well be familiar with Gemina from seeing stories about her in the media years ago, or you might have been lucky enough to see her in person before she passed away in 2008.
When Gemina was three a bump appeared on the side of her neck and slowly over time, it grew bigger and bigger. Gemina’s neck became more crooked as the bump became bigger. Gemina became famous throughout her life at the zoo. She never allowed her physical ailments or differences to hold her back from living a full life and always had a happy, joyful demeanor. It was this light that she carried about herself that helped to touch so many lives!
We adored this book! You can’t help but fall in love with sweet Gemina after reading the story. You are left feeling a sense of affection towards others for their differences and you also feel ready to conquer and overcome your own challenges. Not only will you enjoy this book because giraffes are so lovable but also because of it’s great message!
As a supplemental activity, have fun making our Paper Plate Giraffe Craft!
You can purchase Gemina: The Crooked Giraffe right from the Santa Barbara Zoo. All of the author’s proceeds from the book go directly to supporting animals at the Zoo! You can also check out the Gemina activity kit!
Karen B. Winnick is the author and illustrator of many other picture books for children, including Barn Sneeze, Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers, and A Year Goes Round: Poems for the Months.
Giveaway
Enter to win your own hardcover copy of Gemina the Crooked-Neck Giraffe and an adorable Plush Giraffe to go along with it. Just comment below and tell me what your favorite animal is at the zoo and fill out the Rafflecopter Form below to enter.
You must be 18 years old to enter. Prize can be shipped to US addresses only. The giveaway ends on 6/22/14 at 9:00 pm (MST). Winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to respond to the email with their mailing address. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be randomly chosen.
