The Alligator's Smile: And Other Poems

Gr 1-5--A fabulous merging of science and poetry, this latest addition from veteran author Yolen provides an up-close view of the American alligator. The poems vary in style, from haiku to limerick, while the photographs of real alligators in their habitats are enticing and chilling. Yolen knows how to create little moments of suspense; in the three-line poem "Seven Words About an Alligator," the first two lines build a slow, steady pace ("Silently floating, /Silently gloating"), making the reversal and the accompanying sense of danger in the third and final line ("Not a log") all the more spooky. Through these verses, readers will learn about alligator nests, teeth, diet, and hunting style, as well as how long these creatures live and how long they have existed (about 80 million years). Fact boxes on each spread expand on the subject of the poem. The lack of an explanation or guide to the poetic style used does not detract from the volume. VERDICT Beware: young readers with an interest in reptiles, science, or poetry are certain to snatch up this work. Recommended for most collections.--Ellen Norton, Naperville Public Library, IL

"Fascinating facts and playful poems about the dinosaur's smiling cousin. Prolific, award-winning author and poet Yolen presents 13 short descriptive poems about the alligator. Touching on topics from hunting style to parenting style, from diet to habits to physical characteristics, most are sneakily informative, and all are good fun to read aloud. 'You think that gator's dozing / In the dreamy afternoon. / You're wrong if you're supposing / That he's having a sweet swoon. / He's probably just chilly. / He can't raise his body heat— / But with the warming of the sun, / Can lumber to his feet.' Each poem is accompanied by a paragraph or two that expands on the topic highlighted in the verse. Each is also paired with a full-page, beautiful (and sometimes scary) photograph of a gator or gators taken by Yolen's award-winning photographer son (and frequent collaborator), Stemple. Many of the photographs were taken on a month-long fellowship-funded trip to the Everglades. The aftermatter includes additional gator facts and a short glossary as well as websites and a few book titles for further investigation. A splendid addition to the creators' explorations of the natural world."—Kirkus Reviews