On Saturday 8th April 2023, the National Dinosaur Museum here in Canberra held a mammoth 30th Birthday Party!
I was honoured to be included as their children’s book author, reading hourly to enthusiastic groups of dino-tastic families.
National Dinosaur Museum 30th Birthday - Book readings and signings.
The gates opened at 10:00 am to a long queue of excited people that stretched out of the car park and beyond. Despite the amazing efforts of staff, the entrance line-up never seemed to shrink. When I finished my readings and departed mid-afternoon, people were still queueing to get in. Visitors came from all over Canberra, Sydney and the surrounding country areas. In fact the museum recorded an incredible 7,500 visitors who came to share in the celebrations on the day.
Massive crowds waiting to enter the National Dinosaur Museum 30th Birthday celebrations.
The queue to get in to the National Dinosaur Museum lasted all day.
There were so many things to do on offer including, museum tours of the gallery, face painting, an Easter egg hunt that was so popular they had to add more. Animal encounters, arts and crafts. One of the most popular events of them all was the dinosaur painting competition of the most recent dinosaur member of the museum family, ‘Cooper’ as he is commonly known, or Australotitan Cooperensis. Cooper can be found to the left of the entrance gates in his very own garden, an area still in construction and design.
Sandra Bennett (me) sitting under ‘Cooper’, Australotitan Cooperensis. He is so big he couldn’t fit in the photo.
Sandra Bennett (me) in the garden among the Australovenators.
Families could find me inside in the interactive area where I signed books, read from Fossil Frenzy and even sang a few songs to help entertain the little ones. A favourite photo opportunity also awaited families in this area with the giant dinosaur eggs where kids enjoyed hatching as their parents happily snapped away. This was a wonderful area for a little quiet time with the kids after the craziness of all the hectic activities outside. Families were able to relax and chat with me, then sit and cuddle with the kids on the lounges while they rested and listened to a story time session.
Reading from Fossil frenzy, the Adamson Adventures 3 at the National Dinosaur Museum. The dinosaur eggs behind me where kids loved playing and having their photo taken.
It is always wonderful to chat with enthusiastic readers and lovers of dinosaurs. I am always curious to here which dinosaur is a child’s favourite. Sometimes they even come up with a dinosaur name I am unfamiliar with. Then I turn it around when I mention my favourite, the Demon Duck of Doom. I love the surprised expression of kids faces when I describe the avian dinosaurs features.
Always grateful to meet families when reading from Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3, at the National Dinosaur Museum.
The best feedback came when the Museum staff said my readings were so popular, that they asked me to add on an extra session before I finished. Naturally I love signing books too, and hearing that after my reading sessions kids were so intrigued they wanted to buy the book to read and find out what could possibly happen to Zac, Clare and Luke, my three sibling characters in Fossil Frenzy.
I am so grateful to have the support of such a dynamic team of staff at this wonderful museum. Thank you so much to everyone who made this a memorable day including all the wonderful families who chose to spend their Easter Saturday among the dinosaurs.