Review: THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST, Module 4, Poetry

Prelutsky, Jack. 1997. THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST: POEMS FROM THE
ANIMAL KINGDOM. Ill. by Meilo So. ISBN #0679070584

This large collection of poems is sure to satisfy animal lovers of all ages. Included in this collection are over 100 poems on all types of living creatures. The poems have been divided into sections of similar animal types. Each section is introduced by a poem which was written by Prelutsky himself. “In Trillions we Thrive” (insects), “Jubilant we Swim” (fish), “Dragons in Miniature” (reptiles and amphibians) “Hollow-Boned Singers” (birds), and “Wrapped in Coats of Fur” (mammals), are the titles which introduce the well rounded sections. From the first page the poems let the reader feel the essence of animals. The ant’s path is an easy jumbled visual in ANT, by Barry Wallenstein, “around…upside down…buffets…crashes…circle…heads the wring way…drops…finds his path home”. Patricia Hubblell captures the sights and sounds of caterpillars eating in CATEPILLAR with “the cricket-crackling of their mandibles Grates on the night.” In FISH by Mary Ann Hoberman, fish move, “flit, Lickety-split, Wiggling, Swiggling, Swerving, Curving, Hurrying, Scurrying, Chasing, Racing, Whizzing, Whisking, Flying, Frisking, Tearing around, with a leap and a bound.” Tougher readers will enjoy reading about the blazing sun which can “bake brains” in THE SPADE-FOOT TOAD by Eve Ganson. In PIGEONS, by Richard Kell, the description of a pigeon “strutting like a fat gentleman” is easy to visualize and the statement by Lilian Moore about the urban pigeon in PIGEONS, “what a waste of wings” makes great sense when compared to rural country birds. Animal descriptions are often clever as in CAMEL by Sylvia Cassedy where a camel is compared to an automobile: “tan, leather seats; optional fur. Sun roof. Runs on no gas. Stalls seldom. Steers…four-leg drive”. Shaped poems like SEAL by William Jay Smith show the reader the flowing movement of the seal. Fabulous vocabulary is abundant in the poem THE MONKEY by Robert S. Oliver, the monkey is mischievous, cantankerous, raucous, crude, argumentative, rancorous, crafty, deceitful, and activities prankerous. Finally the book nears the end with pet poems about man’s best friends, cats and dogs. Each page includes multiple poems which are supported with various vibrant watercolor illustrations. The illustrations bring additional color and motion to these selections. This animal anthology of poetry includes most any animal imaginable. It would be difficult for any reader to not find his favorite. These selections are full of thought, rhyme and rhythm, great vocabulary, and clever comparisons. This is a great choice for animal and poetry lovers alike.