Book of Animal Poetry (National Geographic)
"Add a little natural wonder to your poetry shelves. Because if we're talking about the best possible compliment to your eyes and ears alike, few have as many perks and grand moments as this." --School Library Journal starred review "Out of a windless August night/A luna moth in ghostly light
Beat softly on my window screen/Tick-tick-ticking-all silver green.
She whispered secrets in my ear--/I am but a stranger here.
The stars are scrawled across the sky/By ghostwriters, the Moon and I.
You will not see me here tonight--/I have a thousand stars to write." What could be better than cuddling up with your child and this book on your lap and allowing your imaginations to soar with the words and images? Lovingly selected by U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis and paired with vibrant animal photography, this collection of poems is an exuberant celebration of the animal kingdom and a beautiful introduction to this genre of literature. Designed for family sharing but targeted to ages 4-8, this dynamic, fresh, yet still classic collection of animal poems is a must-have for the family bookshelf. Featured poets include J. Patrick Lewis, Dorothy Aldis, Emily Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, Jack Prelutsky, Elizabeth Madox Roberts, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and many more. Divided into chapters that group the poems by theme for extra resonance, the collection is a mix of old and new, classics, and never-before-published. A foreword from Lewis, sets the scene for helping children appreciate this gift of language and this visual feast for the eyes. Chapters include:
Welcome to the World (birth of animal young)
Big Ones (large animals--elephants, hippos, rhinos, bears)
Little Ones (small animals--worms, insects)
Winged Ones (birds and other flying creatures)
Water Ones (aquatic animals--fish, dolphins, crabs)
Strange Ones (curious creatures--armadillos, centipedes)
Noisy Ones (loud animals--lions, hyenas)
Quiet Ones (silent or still animals--hens, rabbits, snakes)
Last Thought (a reflection on the world we share with animals)
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Publishers Weekly
Gorgeous, full-bleed photographs of wild and domesticated animals accompany animal-focused poems ranging from classic works to the writings of modern children's poets. Lewis creates compelling juxtapositions on each page--the Navajo poem "Song of a Bear" appears next to Jane Yolen's "Grandpa Bear's Lullaby," and a dense school of Bali sardines, described as "ballerinas of the blue" in the accompanying haiku, almost resemble a shimmering tutu. The tone can vary from silly to sublime and sad: "Those who saw the buffaloes are gone./ And the buffaloes are gone," laments Carl Sandburg's "Buffalo Dusk." The imagery and verse delight in equal parts in this engrossing celebration of animals in nature, the backyard, and in the imagination. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
Gr 1-5--A captivating collection of interesting, educational, and entertaining poems. Most of the selections are by famous poets-Dickinson, Nash, Kipling, Whitman-but some are by lesser-known writers. Gorgeous, close-up color photographs accompany the poems, which feature every conceivable type of creature-owls, giraffes, horses, anteaters, snakes, etc. The photos correspond well with the specific animal being discussed, giving young readers a visual aid. A detailed table of contents is broken down by type of animal rather than alphabetically or even by species. For example, the category "The Big Ones" includes elephants and bears, and "The Strange Ones" features meerkats and seahorses. Lewis sings the praises of the diversity of the animal world in his introduction, and his "final thought" urges children to not only learn about animals and celebrate them, but also to respect them and the Earth in general. A special section on how to write poems highlights a few of the different forms. Selections are indexed by title, poet, first line, and subject, allowing for ease of navigation. This visually stunning book is sure to delight nature lovers everywhere.--Rita Meade, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"Add a little natural wonder to your poetry shelves. Because if we're talking about the best possible compliment to your eyes and ears alike, few have as many perks and grand moments as this." —School Library Journal starred review "Gorgeous, full-bleed photographs of wild and domesticated animals accompany animal-focused poems ranging from classic works to the writings of modern children's poets." —Publisher's Weekly starred review "A well-stirred mix of old and recent limericks, haiku, short lyrics, shaped poems and free verse... A spectacular collection..." —Kirkus Reviews starred review
"I can't think of a finer holiday gift ... This large, generously illustrated book provides a feast for the eye and animal-loving heart." —The Boston Sunday Globe
"Stunning photographs and 200 poems 'squeak, soar and roar' in this bountiful bestiary that's a delight for eyes and ears alike." —New York Public Library "The poems are well chosen and include rhyming, free verse, and shape poetry... This selection is sure to turn any animal lover into a poetry lover." —Provo Library "Lewis has carefully chosen classic and contemporary poems for their array of styles and moods." —Children's Literature Comprehensive Database "The perfect keepsake gift for little animal lover on your Christmas list." —The Review Wire "What could be better than cuddling up with your child and this book on your lap and allowing your imaginations to soar with the words and images?" —Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast "Resonate[s] with wonder at the variety, beauty and strangeness of the animal world." —Iowa Press-Citizen "The poems resonate with wonder at the variety, beauty and strangeness of the animal world." —The Iowa Gazette "Stunning photographs combine with wonderful poems to create a family treasure of all to share," —Patch.com "Take poems by Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson and others, add photos by National Geographic and you've got the spectacular Book of Animal Poetry." —Redding.com
JNF003000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | General
