This World Book Day (Thursday 3 March 2022), leading conservation charity Twycross Zoo is giving away 500 books to primary schools across the UK, to help encourage children’s understanding of nature and conservation.

The books are featured in Twycross Zoo’s ‘Essential Reads for Young Discoverers’ - a brand-new reading list that has been compiled by its award-winning Discovery & Learning team. The specially curated selection of books aims to support young children’s awareness of nature and conservation and to inspire them to take steps to help protect the planet.

This World Book Day, Twycross Zoo is donating ten book bundles to primary schools in Worcester, enabling teachers and pupils to enjoy the reading list and learn more about the natural world.

The reading list has been published ahead of the opening of The Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross Zoo - a brand-new, multi-million-pound land inspired by the much-loved children’s book The Gruffalo written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler and developed in partnership with brand manager, Magic Light Pictures.

It follows recent research commissioned by Twycross Zoo, which revealed that only 16% of children have a strong understanding of how conservation efforts could help tackle climate change, showing that more needs to be done to educate the next generation on how they can help to protect our planet.

The survey also found that 85% of parents feel that imaginary characters from books, such as The Gruffalo, have a positive impact on children’s understanding of conservation, and play an important role in encouraging their children to care about wildlife.

Twycross Zoo’s ‘Essential Reads for Young Discoverers’ includes:

• What To Look For In Spring - A Ladybird Book
• A Planet Full of Plastic: And How You Can Help - by Neal Layton
• Eco Warriors (My First Heroes) - A Campbell Book
• There’s a Rang-Tan In My Bedroom - by James Sellick
• The Gruffalo - by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
• Ten Things I Can Do To Help My World - by Melanie Walsh
• Somebody Swallowed Stanley - by Sarah Roberts
• We Planted a Tree - by Diane Muldrow

Dr Rebecca Biddle, Head of Life Sciences at Twycross Zoo, said: “We are so excited to announce our brand-new reading list in celebration of World Book Day. We believe these eight books will help to increase young children’s understanding of conservation, spark their imagination, and encourage a love of the natural world. Reading is one of life’s great joys and books can educate and inspire us in equal measure. We hope this reading list is a useful tool for all and we’d encourage schools to send in their nominations to win their very own book bundle.”

The Gruffalo Discovery Land will open this spring at Twycross Zoo. The new four-acre land brings together the much-loved characters, from best-selling children’s book The Gruffalo created by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, and a conservation organisation that exists to protect wildlife, preserve endangered species, and educate the next generation on the importance of protecting our planet.

Dr Rebecca Biddle continues: “Much-loved children’s books, such as The Gruffalo, can be a wonderful way to engage young people with animals and nature. The Gruffalo Discovery Land is a real celebration of imagination, the wonders of the natural world, and how we can all make a difference in protecting our planet. We’re so excited to bring The Gruffalo world to life and inspire the next generation of conservationists.”

Primary schools in Worcester are invited to send in their nomination to be in with a chance of winning a Twycross Zoo book bundle for their school. To submit a nomination, please visit twycrosszoo.org/the-gruffalo-discovery-land/world-book-day-2022.

The Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross Zoo will open in spring 2022. For further details, visit twycrosszoo.org