Beauty contest at the zoo

For my beautiful daughter, Maisie Maria Price.

My daughter loved to sing and dance And go on holiday to France; To play with dolls and pretty things, Like spangly beads and sparkly rings.

She thought that sleepovers were great And liked to stay up really late.

She loved her chocolate, cakes and sweets; It’s such a shame that you won’t meet.

But if you’d care to take a look, You’ll find her spirit in this book.

Published by KAMA Publishing 19A The Swale, Norwich, NR5 9HE First printed 2010. Reprinted 2011. Second Reprint 2012. Third Reprint 2013.

Text © Kevin Price, 2010 Illustrations © Vicky Fieldhouse, 2010 All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the author.

ISBN 978-0-9567196-0-7 Printed in Great Britain by Barnwell Print Ltd, Dunkirk, Aylsham, Norfolk. NR11 6SU

CBP00048071007131445

By using Carbon Balanced Paper through the World Land Trust on this publication we have saved 1077kg of Carbon & preserved 90sqm of critically threatened tropical forests.

Carbon Balanced Paper. One of the most sustainable forms of communication that will reduce your carbon foot print and promote CSR. www.carbonbalancepaper.com

THE BEAUTY CONTEST AT THE ZOO Kevin Price Vicky Fieldhouse

The animals gathered one day at the zoo.

“We’re bored!” they were saying, “There’s nothing to do!

We need to find something to pass time away, Before the zoo opens for business today.”

Then Bertie, the zookeeper, came through the gate, With Maisie, his daughter, a sweet girl of eight.

They were trying to think of a game they could play,

When Maisie jumped up - she had something to say!

“A big beauty contest!” she cried with a grin, “And there’ll be a prize if I pick you to win!”

“Now, that will be splendid,” the old Lion said,

While smiling and winking and nodding his head.

“I’m certain to win with my beautiful mane It makes all you others look terribly plain!”

“Hey, not so fast, Lion!” Giraffe said, “Like heck!

Your mane can’t compete with my lovely long neck!”

Hyaena said, “Don’t be so silly, Giraffe,

Your long neck is tiny compared to my laugh!”

“To win,” said the Leopard, “you’ll need what I’ve got Your fur must be covered in spot after spot,

For having some spots keeps your chances alive And I’ve got at least fifteen hundred and five!”

“You’re right,” panted Cheetah, “I have to concur, An animal must have some spots on its fur.

But listen to this, and you need to take heed:

I’m always the winner because of my speed!”

Gorilla said, “I’m sure that I am the best,

Just look at the way I can beat on my chest!”

“There’s only one ape that can win,” said the Chimp.

“Against me, Gorilla, you’re just a big wimp!

I climb the tall trees without breaking a sweat;

We Chimps are as nimble as great apes can get.”

“That’s true,” laughed the Monkey, “but I’m nimble too, And I’m sure that I’ll finish higher than you!

For me to come first I don’t need to be sneaky,

This Monkey will win because I am so cheeky!”

The Skunk said, “When I win I’ll be tickled pink, For who can resist my incredible stink?”

Said Rhino, “Well, you’ll wish you’d never been born When I win the prize on account of my horn!”

Then filling the air came a trumpeting sound; It crashed and it echoed for miles all around.

The Elephant bellowed, “You all think you’re great, But as for good looks I’m the real heavyweight!”

“Ha!” roared the Hippo, “The zookeeper’s daughter Will pick me to win when I climb from the water,

‘Cause true beauty shines when you’re heavy and fat, So I’ll be the winner, and I say that’s that!”

“No chance,” said the Zebra, “and let’s hear no gripes, The most beautiful creatures are covered in stripes.”

“That’s right,” growled the Tiger, “but it’s my belief

That as well as your stripes you need razor sharp teeth!”

“Oh yessss?” hissed the Snake, “Well I know that I’ll win, ‘Cause I am so cool I can just shed my ssssskin And a new me emerges, all shiny and bright,

Oh, I’ll win this contessssssst, I’ll win it outright!”

“We’ve come to the end,” Bertie said with a smile, “I need to be opening the gates in a while.”

“Now Maisie, please tell me, who’s going to win?”

Bertie said, as he started to let people in.

She thought for a moment and then shook her head And a smile crossed her lips as she quietly said:

“There can’t be a winner, Dad. How could there be?

These animals each have great beauty to me.

I think that I’ll give them a super surprise;

I’ll make sure they all get a fabulous prize.”

Maisie and Bertie support...

by Viv Burton of World Land Trust

ÂŁ5.99

www.kamapublishing.co.uk