National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!

Gr 1–5—A captivating collection of interesting, educational, and entertaining poems. Most of the selections are by famous poets-Dickinson, Nash, Kipling, Whitman-but some are by lesser-known writers. Gorgeous, close-up color photographs accompany the poems, which feature every conceivable type of creature-owls, giraffes, horses, anteaters, snakes, etc. The photos correspond well with the specific animal being discussed, giving young readers a visual aid. A detailed table of contents is broken down by type of animal rather than alphabetically or even by species. For example, the category "The Big Ones" includes elephants and bears, and "The Strange Ones" features meerkats and seahorses. Lewis sings the praises of the diversity of the animal world in his introduction, and his "final thought" urges children to not only learn about animals and celebrate them, but also to respect them and the Earth in general. A special section on how to write poems highlights a few of the different forms. Selections are indexed by title, poet, first line, and subject, allowing for ease of navigation. This visually stunning book is sure to delight nature lovers everywhere.—Rita Meade, Brooklyn Public Library, NY