Capybara Cinnamon to Feature in New Children’s Book

Cinnamon, the capybara who gained global recognition following her escape from a zoo, is now slated to be the central character in an upcoming children’s book. This adventurous rodent escaped her enclosure at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford on September 13, due to a gate being inadvertently left open. Her week-long evasion captivated animal enthusiasts globally until her dramatic capture on September 20 in a conservation area adjacent to the zoo. Subsequently, her narrative has inspired internet memes, various merchandise, a song, and most recently, a children’s book titled Cinnamon’s Big Adventure. Tracey J Morgan, the book’s author, stated she was “eagerly watching” Cinnamon’s escapades, noting that the event “captured everybody’s imagination.” Hercule Van Wolfwinkle, the artist behind the viral “Rubbish Pet Portraits,” provided the illustrations for the book. A drawing of Cinnamon he shared on social media garnered thousands of likes and shares, leading him to readily accept the opportunity to illustrate her story. Ms Morgan, an animal enthusiast herself, mentioned her long-standing friendships with individuals at the zoo, and that the concept for a children’s book was initially proposed as a jest by Will Dorrell, the zoo’s owner. She ultimately decided to write the book in a rhyming format reminiscent of The Gruffalo. Ms Morgan also revealed she participated in a Zoom meeting with Cinnamon and her keepers to “grill her” for additional details regarding her adventures. Ms Morgan shared with BBC Radio Shropshire, “When Cinnamon went missing, everybody wanted her back, but I felt like I had a personal connection as well because I knew how hard they worked.” She further commented, “It was interesting as an outsider to watch it all unfold, I can’t imagine what it was like for the zoo to be in the middle of it all. She really captured people’s hearts.” The book will be accessible for purchase on the zoo’s website starting December 16, with all profits allocated towards the attraction’s maintenance. For updates, follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.