A collection of clever poems introduces animals that use camouflage in order to find (or avoid being) dinner.
David Harrison has published more than eighty books, has been a keynote speaker or presenter at 265 state, regional, and national conferences in 30 states and has an elementary school named after him. David first book for children, The Boy with a Drum (Golden Press), was released in 1969 and has sold two million copies.
*Nineteen different animals, placed in five animal categories, are
represented first by artwork and poetry and finally by brief
paragraphs and references for further reading.
The poems are graceful and often humorous, giving good
introductions to the reasons behind each animal's protective
coloration. The illustrations, which involve "drawing, cutting,
painting, and gluing," likewise effectively convey how camouflage
works, without pretense of photorealism. The categories—sea life,
reptiles and amphibians, mammals, insects and spiders, and
birds—reveal a wide variety of animals, from ghost crab to Bengal
tiger, walking stick to hawk. An especially funny but accurate poem
is the double-page spread about the copperhead, whose letter to
"Mr. Vole" is full of sibilance, reinforced in a literal sense:
"Find me / if you can, / my sssskin / deceivessss, / helpssss me /
dissssappear." The accompanying art shows the mottled, coppery
serpent under a scattering of autumn leaves. In contrast, a fawn
hides, scentless, "saved by fawny / polka dots / that blend with /
gentle sunny spots." The text educates young readers about useful
camouflage for predators and for prey, without resorting to
anything truly disturbing. Other than a "buzzy fly" becoming "fast
food" for a spider and some tiny fish disappearing, predators are
shown as merely threatening, and prey are shown as successfully
hiding. Endnotes, cover, and layout all add to a thoughtful,
well-executed book.
An attractive, informative blend of science and the arts.
-Kirkus Reviews, *starred review
In this attractive collection of poetry about camouflage in nature,
19 entries are grouped into five sections: "Sea Life," "Reptiles &
Amphibians," "Mammals," "Insects & Spiders," and "Birds." Each
selection focuses on one creature, highlighting its use of
camouflage in the wild. The verse is brief but catchy, and
Harrison's sound use of rhythm and rhyme results in offerings that
are pleasant to read aloud. Each poem is accompnaied by an
illustration done in cut-paper relief on hand-painted papers.
Reminiscent of Steve Jenkins's collages, they are lively and
engaging. Back matter contains additional information about each
creature, including its scientific name and a few suggestions for
further reading. VERDICT An altogether appealing volume for young
poetry aficionados and animal lovers alike.
-School Library Journal
Nineteen varied poems, illustrated in cut-paper relief, describe
examples of animal camouflage to young readers. Using instances
from sea life, reptiles and amphibians, mammals, insects and
spiders, and birds, Harrison's succinct poems detail the techniques
used by these creatures to avoid detection. In "Bumblebee Moth,"
for example, "A moth that looks / like a bumblebee / is nature's
gimmick / to scare away / its enemies / and save the mimic."
Laroche's colorful artwork is appealing both in its attractive
design and scientific detail. His spreads clarify and sometimes
extend the text, as in "Crab Spider," about an arachnid, depicted
on two differently-hued flowers, which changes colors to blend with
its surroundings. Extensive back matter provides additional
information about each species and offers suggestions for further
reading. Helping to bridge the gap between science and literature,
this joins the growing number of excellent nature poetry titles,
such as Joyce Sidman's Winter Bees and other Poems of the Cold
(2014) and Irene Latham's When the Sun Shines on Antarctica and
Other Poems about the Frozen Continent (2016).
-Booklist
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