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DC PRESENTS: READING WITH “ZOO-PER HEROES” AT THE L.A. ZOO


DC and the Los Angeles Zoo Partner for All-Day Interactive Reading Event On Saturday, February 8, 2020

Activities to Include DC Super Hero Presentations, Animal Spotlights, Author/Artist Signings and Book Sales, Drawing Lessons, Photo Ops with Batman, Free Giveaways and More! DC to Name Green and Black Poison Dart Frog after Middle Grade Graphic Novel The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid by Kirk Scroggs

Los Angeles, CA (Jan 16, 2020) — It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s DC Super Heroes taking over the L.A. Zoo!

On Saturday, February 8, 2020, DC and the Los Angeles Zoo are encouraging families to turn off the TV, leave the house, and spend the day together enjoying superheroes, graphic novels, and up-close animal demonstrations at “DC Presents: Reading with Zoo-per Heroes at the L.A. Zoo.” The all-day event will feature interactive presentations with live animals, signings, author/artist meet and greets, as well as free giveaways, photo ops with a costumed Batman, and much more.

The festivities will take place within the L.A. Zoo at Treetops Terrace next to the Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel. Activities are free to attend with the purchase of Zoo admission and free for Zoo members. The full day of programming from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will kick off with an honorary naming ceremony of one of the Zoo’s green and black poison dart frogs. The frog will be named “Russell,” after the main character in Kirk Scroggs’s critically acclaimed The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid. The graphic novel follows middle schooler Russell Weinwright as he navigates the highs and lows of middle school as a half-swamp creature/half-human and befriends a tree frog that makes its home in his arm.

Following the 10:30 a.m. naming ceremony, Zoo attendees can participate in various all-day activities and enjoy fun presentations at the top of every hour. Programming highlights include:

  • Interactive Author/Artist Talks and Drawing Demonstrations:
    • Zoo-goers will hear firsthand from bestselling authors Shannon Hale (Diana: Princess of the Amazons), Dean Hale (Diana: Princess of the Amazons), Michael Northrop(Dear Justice League), Ridley Pearson(Super Sons) and Kirk Scroggs(The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid) about their new middle grade graphic novels starring Wonder Woman, the Justice League, the super sons of Batman and Superman, and Swamp Kid, and enjoy learning about animals and the environment through a superhero lens with zookeepers and docents.
    • Aspiring artists of all ages can learn how to draw their favorite animals and DC Super Heroes during drawing demonstrations by Scroggs and fellow DC artists Agnes Garbowska (DC Super Hero Girls) and Victoria Ying (Diana: Princess of the Amazons).
  • Surprise Animal Appearances:Several author/artist talks will feature surprise animal guest stars.
  • Book Sales and Author/Artist Signings: Throughout the day, participating authors and artists will be on hand to meet fans and sign copies of books available to purchase at the event space. Additional graphic novels beyond those presented at the event will also be available for purchase.
  • Photo Ops with Batman:A Batman costumed character will make appearances to greet fans, take photos, and sign autographs.
  • Free Giveaways:Signed books, superhero capes, bookmarks, posters, and Wonder Woman’s tiara and bracelets are among the many free giveaways that will be handed out throughout the day, while supplies last.

About DC

DC is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics and graphic novels in the world and home to some of the most iconic and recognizable characters ever created. As a creative unit of WarnerMedia, DC is charged with strategically integrating its stories and characters across film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, interactive games, and the DC UNIVERSE subscription streaming service. For more information, visit dccomics.com.

About the Los Angeles Zoo

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing more than 1.8 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,400 animals representing 270 different species, 58 of which are endangered. Its lush grounds on 133 acres feature a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants. The Zoo is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Admission is $22 for adults and $17 for children ages 2 to 12. The Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information, call (323) 644-4200 or visit the L.A. Zoo website at lazoo.org.

About Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association

The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) has supported the L.A. Zoo in partnership with the City of Los Angeles for more than five decades; providing funding for, and operating seven essential Zoo departments. GLAZA has 55,000 member households representing more than 210,000 adults and children. As evidence of the Zoo’s popularity, GLAZA attracts one of the largest membership bases of any cultural organization in Los Angeles.

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