This Zoo is Not for You
Platypus comes into the zoo just when the animals are running interviews. Will he be accepted in? Panda is not impressed by the platypus’s lack of popularity, the flamingos claim he is not graceful; the monkeys believe he cannot do any tricks; the chameleons find him hitting only a one-colour note, and elephant finally declares he’s short and weird. Platypus remains silent through his visit, while all zoo animals constantly tell him ‘This Zoo is not for you.’ Then he gets fed up but accidentally leaves a note behind… will the animals find out the true reason why Platypus was there?
In this story about inclusion and acceptance, Collins approaches the theme of rejection and rudeness in a very kind manner, using animals of all shapes and sizes to demonstrate their natural differences. With large, bright and very expressive illustrations in charcoal pencils and watercolour, This Zoo Is Not For You is a great invitation for readers to explore and talk about emotions, even the plain background colours change according to the feelings of the characters depicted.
The clever use of rhymes and the astute repetition of the book title throughout entice children’s participation, making This Zoo Is Not For You a great read-aloud that should prove popular amongst little ones.
