Animal Crackers: A Delectable Collection of Pictures, Poems, and Lullabies for the Very Young [Hardcover]

Jane Dyer (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

A lavishly illustrated anthology celebrates a child's early years with favorite nursery rhymes, soothing lullabies, and playful verses. Full color. (Baby/Preschool)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ages 1 & up. A Mother Goose book for the nineties, Animal Crackers combines old-fashioned charm with modern sensibilities. Traditional poems and lullabies are seamlessly mixed with contemporary and multicultural works; the delightfully old-style illustrations are equally diverse. It's a lovely introduction to the world of nursery rhymes--and more.

From Publishers Weekly

Dyer (Talking Like the Rain; The Girl in the Golden Bower) surpasses her considerable achievements in other poetry collections with a volume that not only lives up to the "delectable" of the subtitle but has the power to entice youngest children to cherish the richness and diversity of both language and art. In each of seven categories-Playtime; Animals, Animals; Lullaby and Good Night; etc.-Dyer includes the best work of both traditional and contemporary poets together with pellucid watercolors that simply dazzle. She gives a faintly old-fashioned look to the faces of her multicultural cast; coupled with her bold and sophisticated designs, the images have a welcome air of timelessness and help create a view of a global community of children. Regardless of the complexity of the perspective or metaphors, Dyer grounds each illustration with details that indicate her unerring understanding of the sensibilities and interests of youngest children. This sumptuous book comes with an attached satin ribbon that will mark not only pages turned but the book's remarkable pleasures. Ages 1-5.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316197661
• ISBN-13: 978-0316197663
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 0.5 x 12.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #768,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Attractive poetry collection to please both child and parent, March 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Animal Crackers: A Delectable Collection of Pictures, Poems, and Lullabies for the Very Young (Hardcover)

Jane Dyer's gentle watercolor paintings enhance a thoughtful selection of the best poems and nursery rhymes for young children. Collected in thematic sections ranging from alphabet and counting rhymes through the seasons, food, animals, and playtime to lullabies and night songs, the poems feature topics to tickle a young child's imagination while presenting rhythms and rhymes that encourage enthusiastic repetition through many read-aloud sessions. Loving parents, grandparents, and gift-givers of children ages 2 to 7 will delight in sharing these child-pleasing poems over and over. Most of the contents are of English heritage, but African, Danish, Brazilian, and German traditional lullabies are also included. Oversized pages allow plenty of interplay between text and art, while the book's slim (64-page) format keeps the volume manageable even in small hands. Dyer offers a broader variety than most collections for very young children, and if her art lacks the brash humor of a Rosemary Wells (My Very First Mother Goose), it offers instead a quietly satisfying world where children smile. A fun bonus: the artist has tucked in an unheralded self-portrait on page 22--and isn't that Barry Moser eating his peas with honey at the bottom of the same page?

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Collection, March 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Animal Crackers: A Delectable Collection of Pictures, Poems, and Lullabies for the Very Young (Hardcover)

I just received my copy of this book and can't wait to share it with my 2 year old daughter. Only problem - I purchased it for a gift and now need to buy one for her! The collection of nursery rhymes and poetry is beautifully illustrated, with oversized pages allowing maximum enjoyment for the non-reader. Definitely a must for every child's library.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Collection of Nursery Rhymes, June 30, 2000

By 

P. Dillhoff (Morrow, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animal Crackers: A Delectable Collection of Pictures, Poems, and Lullabies for the Very Young (Hardcover)

Intricate details and warm tones fill the illustrations throughout this superb collection of sixty-two nursery rhymes. Dyer has incorporated a wide variety of traditional nursery rhymes such as Little Jack Horner, Humpty Dumpty, and Peter Piper along with some not so traditional, such as Grandpa Bear's Lullaby, Animal Crackers, and All Asleep. She has divided this medley of rhymes into seven unique sections, including "Nursery Rhymes," "Animals, Animals," and "Lullaby and Good Night." These divisions make it easy to find rhymes for specific occasions or themes. Each rhyme is delightfully and intricately illustrated with warm watercolors which encompass the entire page. These illustrations invite the reader to become more involved in the story. This anthology of nursery rhymes is appropriate for the emergent reader because of the familiar text throughout the story. Dyer's intricate watercolors will help young children focus on the pictures to help create meaning. This well-designed collection of rhymes will be a valuable addition to any young child's personal library.