Our kiddos love the zoo.
We are fortunate to have a lovely children’s zoo and a larger, full-scale zoo near us. We frequent the children’s zoo several times a month.
Gibbons, wallabies, camels, these beautiful new flamingos –
A wide assortment of fun animals.
But none of them are the favorite at our house.
No, THIS is their favorite animal at our zoo.
Hi, boys and girls! I’m Leo the Paper Eating Lion. Paper! Paper! Paper! I just loooove paper!
Yes, it is a talking, paper-eating fiberglass lion in a cage.
I’m Leo the Paper Eating Lion. Roooarrrr! Oh, don’t be scared, all I eat is paper.
And the kids flock to him.
Seriously, our children start planning what they will feed Leo at the beginning of our walk through the zoo, even though Leo is most decidedly near the end.
But trust me, it is better to save those wrappers and paper towels along the way than deal with a child who has nothing to feed Leo.
How does Leo work?
1. Insert paper, wrapper, etc. (but no leaves from nearby trees please).
2. Gleefully watch Leo suck it right up.
Who needs the squirrel monkeys and llamas when you have a talking garbage can named Leo to feed?
And did I mention he’s been around since 1965?
Looking good at 45 Leo!
Do your kids love the zoo? Have a favorite animal?
I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
Is he still around?? Wow! That was one of my family’s favorite things at the zoo as well. 🙂 Can’t beat good ol’ Leo.
Oh my goodness!! I love that!! =)
We are planning at zoo trip soon! We can’t wait! That garbage can is really neat! 🙂
Tristan would love that thing, too. Penguins are his favorite zoo animal though.
At church, they have this railroad crossing sign that kids put money into. It makes all sorts of train and railroad crossing noises. Tristan LOVES that thing, too.
Now if I had a talking animal that would convince mine to pick up their rooms . . .
That is SOO funny!!!! Oh my goodness! That sounds like my kids! 🙂
stopping by from inCourage — it’s very nice to meet you today!
Have a wonderful day!
Melanie
~ melscoffeebreak.blogspot.com ~
How cute is that! Kiddo’s favorite animal is most definitely the tiger. Has been forever. It helps that the college team we root for is the University of Memphis Tigers.
However, just because he loves tigers doesn’t mean he likes to listen to them. We were at the zoo a few years ago and one of the tigers was being rather vocal. Well, thinking he’d think it was the coolest thing, we rushed over there. I wish I had on video the way he was literally crawling up my husband’s arms and neck to try to get away from it! He would be so mortified to know I’m telling that to people now! : )
As you know, I am also 45 and looking great as is Leo. I can remember Leo when I was little. It was my favorite animal too. I have fond memories of days as a child at the zoo and now that my kids are “too old” to go to the zoo, I enjoy going with you and your little ones. The circle continues.
We don’t have any zoos close by, but I bet they would love it!
Erin, my kids are the same way. Anna in fact saves all the trash in the car, and brings it in with her JUST to feed Leo! We end up spending more time at Leo than any other place at the zoo!