This Zoo is Not for You has been longlisted for the Greenaway Medal! - Nosy Crow Skip to content
Posted by Tom, February 19, 2019

This Zoo is Not for You has been longlisted for the Greenaway Medal!

The longlists for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway awards have been announced today, and we’re incredibly proud that This Zoo is Not for You by Ross Collins has been longlisted for the Greenaway Medal!

The Greenaway Medal is, along with the Carnegie prize, the UK’s oldest and most prestigious children’s book award. Established in 1955, for distinguished illustration in a book for children, and named after the popular nineteenth century artist known for her beautiful children’s illustrations and designs, the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people. Ross’s previous picture book, There’s a Bear on My Chair, was shortlisted for the 2016 Greenaway Medal and was awarded the inaugural Greenaway Amnesty Honour.

It’s an incredible honour to be longlisted – we are so thrilled for This Zoo is Not for You.

When a small platypus visits the zoo, the animals all assume he has come about the vacancy and he is swiftly taken through a rigorous interview process. But the platypus is far too bland for the chameleons, not nearly graceful enough for the flamingos, and his tricks will never impress the monkeys. So, he leaves. The animals soon regret being so unkind, but . . . what’s this? The platypus has left an invitation! Oh dear – it seems he had actually come to the zoo to invite them all to his party . . . But with all forgiven and forgotten, the platypus welcomes his new zoo friends to a fantastic party on his Platybus!

This rollicking rhyming picture book combines comic misunderstandings with a heartfelt story about acceptance and belonging.

Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

The shortlists for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals will be announced on Tuesday 19th March, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday 18th June.

Congratulations, Ross!

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