Zeraffa Giraffa by Dianne Hofmeyr, illustrated by Jane Ray

From chapters.ca:
This is the astonishing true story of Zeraffa, a giraffe who was sent as a gift by the Ottoman Viceroy of Egypt to King Charles X of France in 1826. A young boy, Atir, takes care of Zeraffa on her epic journey by felucca down the Nile and by ship across the sea. Zeraffa grows so tall that a hole is cut in the deck for her neck to go through, and the sailors sing songs as she gazes down at them. In France, Atir leads her through the countryside, and thousands of people marvel at Zeraffa in her yellow taffeta cloak. The whole of Paris falls in love with Zeraffa and the King builds her a special house in the Jardin des Plantes. On warm nights, the young princess, granddaughter of the king, visits and listens while Atir whispers stories to Zeraffa of a hot land far away, and on the breeze they all feel the kiss of Africa.