On Thursday, August 6, join children’s author G. Johnson in Franklin Park Zoo’s Hippo Theater, located inside the Tropical Forest Pavilion, for a reading of her book Seacoo. In this heart-warming tale, a lonely, inquisitive panda bear cub with a passion for reading learns a valuable lesson about friendship and forgiveness.

                        There will be readings at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Following each reading, guests are invited to a Q & A with Johnson as well as the book’s illustrator, Yifan Luo. Other activities will include coloring sheets and poem writing. At 2:30 p.m., there will be a zookeeper encounter at the red panda exhibit, where guests will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn all about the red pandas at the Zoo. One of the characters in the book is a red panda.

            About the author: G. Johnson is the mother of two young children who writes from her own parenting experience, making the book relatable to parents as well as youngsters. After spending years home-schooling her children, and having come from a long line of teachers, Johnson also incorporates educational elements into her writing.