Animal Stackers - Hardcover

Jennifer Belle is the author of two critically acclaimed, widely translated novels -- Going Down, for which she was named best debut novelist of the year by Entertainment Weekly, and High Maintenance, a national best seller. Her stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Independent Magazine, Ms., Harper’s Bazaar, Black Book, and many anthologies. She lives in New York City.

David McPhail has written and illustrated more than eighty books for children. He lives in New Hampshire.

Kindergarten-Grade 4–An acrostic, alphabet, and poetry book all rolled into one. From Ant to Zebra, animals are presented in colorful single- and double-page entries. The letters of the creatures' names are capitalized and arranged vertically on the pages, and each one begins a line of poetry. The verses are delightful, funny, and sweet, and feature children interacting with a cast of real and imaginary creatures in a series of whimsical situations. For example, a youngster looks into the face of dragon ("Down in Chinatown/Roaring at all who pass,/And accidentally passing/Gas as flames shoot/Out of her/Nostrils") and a boy chauffeurs a jaguar in a fancy car ("Just/A big cat/Growling,/Until you/Agree to give him a ride in your/Rolls-Royce"). Although the poems often include challenging vocabulary, McPhail's watercolor illustrations clarify and enhance the verses and bring the fun-loving animals to life. The pictures are filled with vibrant colors and amusing details and have an old-fashioned quality that works well with the tone of the text. A great choice, particularly in classroom collections in which poetry is part of the curriculum.–Christine E. Carr, Lester C. Noecker Elementary School, Roseland, NJ
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