Isaac Letchford Reads "Dear Zoo"

13 Dec 2022 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

1:46

In this YouTube video, Isaac Letchford narrates the classic children’s lift‑the‑flap book Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. He adopts a friendly, conversational tone as he pretends to have written to a zoo asking for a pet. The zoo sends a series of animals—an elephant, giraffe, lion, camel, snake, monkey, and frog—each described with a brief adjective (e.g., "too big," "too tall," "too fierce") and promptly returned by the narrator. After each rejection, the zoo tries again, culminating in the final delivery of a puppy, which the narrator declares perfect and keeps. The reading emphasizes the repetitive, predictable structure of the book, the playful language, and the satisfying resolution of finding the right pet.

Chapters

G'day! Today I am reading Dear Zoo, a lift-the-flap book by Rod Campbell. I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet. They sent me an— from the zoo, very heavy— An elephant? He was too big. I sent him back. So they sent me a— From the zoo. Fragile. A giraffe. He was too tall. I sent him back. So they sent me a— From the zoo. Danger. A lion. He was too fierce. I sent him back. So they sent me a— From the zoo. With care. A camel! He was too grumpy. I sent him back. So they sent me a— from the zoo. A snake! He was too scary. I sent him back. So they sent me a— from the zoo. A monkey! He was too naughty. I sent him back. So they sent me a from the zoo. Hmm. A frog. He was too jumpy. I sent him back. So they thought very hard and sent me a from all your friends at the zoo. A puppy! He was perfect. I kept him.