Poetry Friday - A review of At the Sea Floor Café: Odd Ocean Critter Poems

In the July and August issue of TTLG, which was launched today, the special feature is all about oceans, seas, and the creatures that live in them. For today's poetry title I have a delightfully briny collection of poems that will appeal to anyone who likes poetry or who has an interest in marine animals.

At the Sea Floor Café: Odd Ocean Critter Poems

Leslie Bulion

Illustrated by Leslie Evans

Poetry

For ages 9 to 12

Peachtree Publishers, 2011, 978-1-56145-565-2

   Many people imagine that the ocean is a rather uniform place. In fact it is full of very different habitats. There are habitats that are in shallow waters, and those that are far out in deep waters where darkness prevails. There are places that are “boiling hot, where acids seep,” and those that are “frigid and pressured and mountainy-steep.”

   In these very unique places animals of all kinds live. Some are huge and some are miniscule. They are “jelly-ish, delicate, venomy, spiny,” and they are “hunters, foragers, hiders, and peekers. The amazing thing is that there must be dozens of species out there that we have yet to discover. After all, we have only explored “the tiniest fraction” of this watery world.

   After inviting us to “Dive in and see the sea,” the author of these poems takes us underwater to meet a selection of marine animals. For each animal she had created a poem, which is accompanied by a section of text that tells us more about the animal in question. For example on one page we meet the Jeweled Anemone Crab. In the poem we hear about how the crab defends its “secondhand shell home / with anemone jewelry.” In the text below the poem we learn about how these crabs live in shells that they find, and how they put living sea anemones on the shells to serve as camouflage and protection.

   On another page we read about narwhal whales and how people have observed two of these animals “sparring” as they rub their long single unicorn like tusks together. The odd thing is that these animals are not fighting at all. They are actually brushing their teeth!

   Full of wonderful poems written using many different kinds of poetic forms, and packed with fascinating facts about marine animals, this is a book of poetry that combines art and science in a singular and memorable way. Throughout the book colorful block print illustrations provide a delightful backdrop for the poems and the text.

   At the back of the book, readers will find a glossary where scientific terms are explained and a section about the poetry forms used in the book.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and eighty-two

When you have a small child in the house who is always asking "Can I...?" or "I want..." you often find yourself saying "No!" automatically because the answer usually should be no. Though my daughter is now eleven I still catch myself doing saying "No!" without thinking, and I have to ask myself, "Well, why not? What's the harm if she does?" In this picture book you will meet a trio of friends, one of whom is very young and who is always saying "I want..." 

Captain Small Pig

Martin Wadell

Illustrated by Susan Varley

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Peachtree Publishers, 2009, 978-1-56145-519-5

   One bright sunny day, Old Goat and Turkey take Small Pig to Blue Lake where they find a little red rowing boat. Small Pig wants to go for a row, and even though Turkey and Old Goat announce that turkeys and goats “don’t go in boats,” the three friends are soon rowing across the lake.

   Once they are out on the lake, Small Pig announces that he wants to “fish for whales.” Turkey explains that there aren’t any whales in the lake, but Old Goat ties a piece of string to an oar so that their young friend can try his hand at fishing. Later, Small Pig decides that he wants to row. Turkey is convinced that Small pig is too small to row a boat, but Old Goat is happy to let the little pig take a turn. Grumpily Turkey goes along with all of Small Pig’s requests, little realizing that a rather wet surprise lies in his future.

   This delightfully charming picture book perfectly captures the close and giving relationship that the goat, turkey, and the little pig share. Their individual personalities come through beautifully, and children will find the story reassuring and gently amusing.

It Gets Better - Authors and Illustrators Unite

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and eighty-one

Children are used to being told that if they are bad, they will be punished in some way. In today's picture book, the main characters, a pair of young wolf cubs, are encouraged to be bad and they are told off when they are good . Children will love the fact that in this book at least, being bad is a good thing.

Badness for Beginners

Ian Whybrow

Illustrated by Tony Ross

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Lerner, 2005, 978-1-57505-5-861-0

   In a far away place, a family of wolves lives in a smelly lair. Mom Wolf and Dad Wolf are very good at being “BIG and BAD” and they are determined that their children, Little Wolf and Smellybreff, should follow in their paw prints.

   To help their children to attain a proper degree of big and bad behavior, Mom and Dad Wolf teach their cubs nursery rhymes that encourage them to play with their food, to make rude noises, and to talk when their mouths were full. Smellybreff has no problem being bad, but his big brother sometimes does good things by accident.

   One day Mom and Dad Wolf decide to teach their children more “about Badness,” and they take them to town so that they can demonstrate how it should be done. Dad Wolf scares off a crew of workers who are fixing a bridge and makes a real nuisance of himself. Little Wolf does try to be bad, but his effort is rather lukewarm. His little brother Smellybreff does a stellar job; he manages to make a hole in the bridge!

   Next, the Wolf family goes to the café, and they proceed to cause as much chaos as possible. The problem is that they go a little too far, and their efforts to teach their children how to be bad backfire in an unfortunate and rather painful way.

   Young children are sure to be amused by this picture book with its wolf characters who try so hard to be bad. The illustrations are funny, and the message is one that children are sure to find surprising. There really is a point when being bad actually ceases to be fun!

Be Book Smart! A Literacy Campaign to support

What is “Be Book Smart”?

RIF has partnered with Macy’s to create Be Book Smart (formerly known as Book A Brighter Future), a national partnership to raise awareness and support of children’s literacy. This effort will help RIF provide free books and literacy resources to children nationwide, while expanding RIF’s outreach to the children at greatest risk for developing reading difficulties. This campaign provides an opportunity for Macy’s customers to join the effort and have an impact on literacy in their community. From June 24–July 31, 2011, Macy’s customers can give $3 to provide a book for a child and receive a coupon for$10 off* a $50 in-store purchase at any Macy’s nationwide. Macy’s will give 100% of every $3 to RIF to help reach our goal of giving 1 million books to kids.

Why Support the Campaign

Reason #1: By supporting RIF at Macy’s, you are helping provide free books and literacy resources to children who need them most. All children need access to books and to be exposed to reading at an early age to prepare for success in school and life.

Reason #2: Macy’s will thank you with a $10 off coupon* valid on eligible purchases of $50 or more!

RIF’s Impact

With more than 17,000 program locations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, RIF is making a difference for millions of children. Visit our interactive map to see our impact by state and to view videos that tell the "Heart of the Story."

A recent analysis of reading research confirmed the impact of RIF's core mission—that simply improving access to books improves children’s reading performance, helps children learn the basics of reading, results in children reading more and for longer lengths of time, and improves children's attitudes toward reading and learning. Please review our summaries of the critical literacy issues and our quick reference guide of recent literacy statistics, both of which illustrate the challenges RIF faces in creating a literate America.

Who Can Participate

Anyone and everyone! Last year, over 1 million Macy’s customers participated to raise more than $3 million to support RIF programs and initiatives. This was the largest customer-supported campaign in RIF’s 44-year history! Anyone who visits a Macy’s store during this summer can ask to Be Book Smart and support RIF at any in-store Macy’s register.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and eighty

The Cleo the Cat books are a wonderful collection of picture books that are perfect for young children. The stories are simple, the artwork is warmly childlike, and children will feel a connection with the little feline who has so much fun exploring her world.

Come here, Cleo!

Caroline Mockford

Picture Book

For ages 2 to 4

Barefoot Books, 2001, 1-84148-329-X

   It is morning, and Cleo the cat has just woken up. Cleo yaws and blinks, and then she hops out of the window so that she can play outside.

   First Cleo tries to climb up the slide, but it so slippery that she doesn’t make much progress. Next Cleo climbs a tree, and this time she has more luck. Cats like Cleo have no problem climbing trees.

   In the tree Cleo meets a bird, and then she gets into a little difficulty. The narrow branch Cleo is standing on wobbles and she falls to the ground. Luckily cats are as good at falling as they are at climbing, and Cleo is soon on her feet and chasing a butterfly through the flowers.

   In this charming Cleo title, Cleo the cat has a simple little adventure that young children will enjoy sharing. Children will be amused to see how Cleo explores her world, and they will enjoy looking at the appealing and brightly colored illustrations. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and seventy-nine

Alexandra Day has created so many wonderful books over the years, and children all over the world  have enjoyed her Carl the dog stories. I have reviewed several of these mostly wordless books already, and today I am delighted to bring you another sun-dappled Carl tale that is touched with humor.

Carl’s Afternoon in the Park

Alexandra Day

Wordless Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1991, 0-374-31109-9

   It is a warm sunny day, and Carl the dog’s owner is going to have tea with her friend. Carl is left in charge of the baby and the puppy. The baby climbs onto Carl’s back and they head off to explore the park. When they get to the carousel, Carl pretends that he is one of the carousel animals, and the baby and puppy ride on his back together.

   Once they have had enough of this entertainment, Carl and the puppy decide to have a little doggy fun, and they proceed to play in a flower border. Carl digs a nice big hole, the puppy chews the water hose, and the baby picks some of the flowers.

   The puppy chews on the hose so much that he ends up breaking it and he, Carl, and the baby have a wonderful time getting soaked and then rolling in the grass. One would think that all this excitement would be enough of an adventure for the three friends, but it would appear that this is just the beginning.

   Children who cannot read on their own yet are sure to enjoy this Carl title. They will laugh to see all the things Carl, the puppy, and the baby get up to, and the clever details that Alexandra Day incorporates into her art will charm older readers as well.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and seventy-eight

I don't know about other people's dogs, but my three are always doing something. They are barking, chasing insects, sniffing, dreaming, snoring, washing the cats, playing, and no doubt doing a certain number of things that I don't want to know about. Today's picture book explores just a few of the things that dogs do.

What is your dog doing?

Marilyn Singer

Illustrated by Kathleen Habbley

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Simon and Schuster, 2011, 978-1-4169-7931-9

   There is something that many dog owners don’t really realize. Dogs may look as if they are not doing much, but in fact they are quite busy animals, even when we think that they are not doing anything. When they are fast asleep they are dreaming, and when they are eyeing food that is on the table, they are “scheming” to find a way to get to the food in question.

   There are some dogs who really work, like police dogs, guide dogs, sheep dogs, and circus performing dogs. Then there are everyday pets who might not have an occupation as such, but who still manage to be doing something much of the time. They get into trouble, play games, and accompany their people on walks and trips. They swim, run, bounce, sled, shed, and dance.

   With its simple rhyming text, and its expressive illustrations, this is a picture book that people who love dogs will enjoy. Many of the scenes in the book will be familiar to dog owners, and it is hard not to laugh at the dogs portrayed on the pages.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and seventy-seven

Alphabet books used to be very utilitarian things, whose sole purpose was to teach children the alphabet. These days authors and illustrators are creating all kinds of alphabet books, and today I have one for you that is a real joy to look at and to explore. 

A Paddling of ducks: Animals in Groups from A to Z

Marjorie Blain Parker

Illustrated by Joseph Kelly

Picture book

For ages 5 to 7

Kids Can Press, 2010, 978-1-55337-682-8

   Many of us fancy that we know a fair number of names for groups of animals. We know that a group of fish is called a school, and a group of sheep is called a flock. What about a group of ants or a group of bears? Do you know what these are called?

   In this amusing and very unique picture book, Marjorie Blain Parker looks at all kinds of group names using an alphabet book format. Many will not be familiar to readers, and all will be entertaining because the illustrator, Joseph Kelly, presents his animal groups in an unusual way.

   On the A page we have “An army of Ants,” and sure enough we do see plenty of ants in the artwork. We also see an anteater typing on a laptop computer. He has a cup of coffee and a pile of doughnuts next to him. Not surprisingly the ants are showing a great deal of interest in the sugary doughnuts.

   For the letter C we are introduced to “A bask of Crocodiles.” The crocodiles in the picture really are basking, lounging next to a pool wearing pool gear, sipping drinks with cocktail umbrellas in them, sporting sunglasses, and even applying lipstick!

   Later on in the book, we learn that a group of hippos is called a bloat. The artwork shows some very large hippos peddling furiously on some exercise bikes. We can only assume that these overweight animals are doing their best to shed a few pounds.

   Readers of all ages are sure to enjoy this very unusual alphabet book. The illustrator has created a fabulous animal-centric world full of creatures who are doing remarkable things. Readers will enjoy exploring the art, looking for characters from the other pages, and laughing at the ducks that appear in every illustration. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and seventy-six

A few years ago I adopted two Siamese kittens who have now grown into gorgeous cats. They were rescues, and for a long time they were not interested in being friends with their humans. In fact, they were downright unfriendly. Over time they have come to realize that we did not want to hurt them. In fact we wanted to feed them, pet them, and give them cozy beds to sleep on.

In today's picture book you will meet a cat who desperately wants what my cats have.

Boris and the Snoozebox

Leigh Hodgkinson

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Tiger Tales, 2009, 978-1-58925-421-3

   Boris is a homeless cat, and most of the time he does not have a problem with this at all. There are times however when he wishes he had “a plumpish pillow to snuggle onto.” When he is in need of nap, a soft pillow would be most welcome.

   One day Boris is “tired, grouchy, and in desperate need of a long catnap,” and he finds a cardboard box that is full of packing material. Boris climbs into the box and nods off. Boris is happily dreaming of ear tickles and fish when he is woken up to discover that something is happening to his box. The lid has been closed and soon Boris in his box is carted off to who knows where.

   When it arrives at its destination, Lady Snootlethorpe opens the box, hoping that it contains the biggest teapot in the world. It doesn’t. It contains Boris. A disappointed Lady Snootlethorpe tapes up the box and sends it on its way.

   The next person to open the box is not a person at all. Instead, Mr. Marshmallow the North Pole bear opens the box expecting to find fish inside it. He is not at all pleased to find that the box is inhabited by a “silly cat.” Poor Boris is sent on his way once again. When will this tiresome journey be over, and will he ever find a soft pillow to nap on?

   In this charming picture book, readers meet a cat who has simple needs, needs that everyone can understand and appreciate. Children will quickly get caught up in Boris’ story, and they will find themselves hoping that the delightful feline eventually finds what he is looking for.

   With unique multimedia collage artwork and a loveable main character, this is a picture book that cat lovers of all ages will enjoy.