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Debra the Zebra to the Rescue Book Launch
Debra the Zebra to the Rescue Book Launch
A new chapter has opened in the life of Debra the Zebra, the Council’s popular Walking to School mascot. She has the starring role in a new story book, which was recently unveiled by Debra herself in a special book launch at Christ Church CE Infants School.
For over five years now Debra has trumpeted the call to walk to school, educating children about the good reasons why it’s best to leave the car at home and take some daily exercise. She has attended countless school assemblies and made numerous public appearances at town shows and events; always a popular draw for her young fans, she is the feature of a Walking to School calendar that hangs in every Kingston primary school classroom. Recent highlights of her career include stealing in on the staff team photo at Tolworth Infants’ School, and meeting her real zebra cousins at Chessington World of Adventures.
In a new development, Debra is the feature of a storybook, ‘Debra to the Rescue’, in which she sorts out some of the problems on Kingston’s roads. A School Crossing Patrol officer falls ill and Debra covers her shift. She also helps a school to set up a walking bus, so as to cut down on traffic congestion at the school gate.
Kingston head teachers have welcomed this new resource. Brenda Mitchell, Head at Christ Church CE Infants explained “This book gives some very positive messages about road safety, and as Debra the Zebra is a well-loved character, this book will be very well received by children and their families.”
‘Debra to the Rescue’, written by Mike Redway and illustrated by Kingston artist Georgina Potier, will be given to every Infant school child in the Royal Borough over the coming weeks.
It was recently launched by Debra and Councillor Patricia Bamford, Executive Member for Transportation and Sustainable Development, at a ceremony at Christ Church CE Infants’ School, Lime Grove, New Malden. There was a reading of the book and children at the school sang ‘The Kingston Walk’ a song specially written by Mike Redway to celebrate Kingston’s lead on walking to school promotion, which is also featured in the book.
If you would like a copy of Debra to the Rescue please email travel.awareness@rbk.kingston.gov.uk or call 020 8547 5865.