Animal Poems Review

Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Author(s): Valerie Worth

ISBN: 0374380570 EAN: 9780374380571
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 48
Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Average Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

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“Ms. Worth brilliantly employs all aspects of the poet’s craft.” – The New York Times Book Review

Each of the exquisite twenty-three poems in this posthumous collection by Valerie Worth carefully distinguishes one animal from all other creatures and captures it in all of its wonderful singularity – from wasp to snake to wren. The way Worth perfectly illuminates the uniqueness of each animal in her precise and elegant free verse will delight both fans of her celebrated Small Poems and readers encountering her poetry for the first time.

Breathtakingly rich cut-paper illustrations by Steve Jenkins provide a perfect counterpoint to Worth’s spare style, and together poetry and picture bring every animal vividly to life.

User Submitted Animal Poems Reviews

December 3, 2007
beautiful artwork for all/subtle poetry
Steve Jenkins artwork is lovely, simple, and crisp so that all ages and even some who are visually impaired can enjoy the pictures; the poetry is subtle and thought provoking; having been a math geek, I wasn't sophisticated enough to understand some of this poetry as a child (in some cases, even in highschool) but some of my friends would have with ease so don't rule the book out thinking the poetry is too adult oriented.

Sample: Hummingbird -

Most creatures came the long way, through, slow earth,
But the quick Hummingbird sprang straight from the sun,
Or flew like a spark from the earliest star -
Even now aflicker with the first struck light;
Even now awhirr with the dark's atomic thrum.

April 14, 2007
A disappointment
When I learned Steve Jenkins was illustrating a book of animal poetry I immediately pre-ordered the book. After all, my boys, ages 4 and 5, will sit for what seems like hours having me read to them the many animal poems written by Douglas Florian. However, when the book arrived we were only able to get through two poems. Essentially Valerie Worth has written her poems for adults and they are even a bit too esoteric for the average adult reader. In fact, my children seem to enjoy some adult poetry (Billy Collins) more than they likes this one. Still, it is enjoyable picture book for the kids to look at when I don`t have the time to read to them, thanks to Steve Jenkins

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