Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant: And Other Poems [Hardcover]

Jack Prelutsky (Author), Carin Berger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2006 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

What do you get when you cross . . .
A toaster with a toad?
A tuba with a baboon?
A clock with an octopus?
A hat with a chicken?
An umbrella with an elephant?

Why . . .
A Pop-up Toadster
A Tubaboon
The Clocktopus
A Hatchicken
and . . .
The Bold Umbrellaphant

And what do you get when you cross this book with a kid?

Why . . .
The Happy Kibook!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Prelutsky fans are in for a treat with this collection that combines his latest book of poetry with two other favorite anthologies (Scranimals; What a Day It Was at School!) and features several original songs. Each poem spotlights an animal that shares characteristics of some inanimate object (i.e., the title character is an elephant with an umbrella for a trunk). Among the selections that Prelutsky has set to music are "The Ballpoint Penguins": "The ballpoint penguins black and white/ Do little else but write and write./ Although they've nothing much to say,/ They write and write it anyway." Prelutsky's confident reading conveys the witty, matter-of-fact silliness that is the hallmark of his work. His troubadour-like folk-style songs and musicianship on acoustic guitar are an entertaining bonus. Ages 4-up. (Oct. 2006)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 3-6–Prelutsky is one of the best word crafters in the business, and this collection does not disappoint. Each entry is about a creature that is part animal and part inanimate object. For instance, the Alarmadillos have alarm clocks for bodies, and the Ballpoint Penguins can write with their beaks. The poems are full of fun and wit, with wordplay and meter that never miss a beat. The whimsical illustrations use cut-print media, old-fashioned print images, and a variety of paper textures to create a rich visual treat well suited to the poetry. The detail in the mixed-media pictures makes this a good choice for individual or lap reading, but the poetry begs to be read aloud. This is definitely a do not miss poetry pick.–Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060543175
• ISBN-13: 978-0060543174
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 11.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Humorous

More About the Author

Jack Prelutsky has filled more than fifty books of verse with his inventive wordplay, including the national bestsellers The Wizard, Scranimals, and The New Kid on the Block. He is also the author of Be Glad Your Nose is on your Face, a collection of his most celebrated verses. He was named the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. Jack Prelutsky lives in Washington State.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Poems for More Advanced Readers, October 9, 2006

By 

FictionAddiction.NET - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant: And Other Poems (Hardcover)

What's an umbrellaphant? What's a panthermometer? How about an Ocelock?

Take a bunch of words and scramble them up. Give them a definition with a humorous twist and you've got Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems.

Fun poems about quirky combinations of animals with musical instruments, rain gear, nature and other objects will tie those tongues and make your child laugh. Get silly with your kids by reading the poems or let your readers in progress take a stab at reading the poems themselves.

If the unusual descriptions, like what happens when you cross a shoe and a hornet, don't get you, the illustrations will. The creative drawings are humorous on their own.

Add in the poems and you'll never look at a clock and an octopus the same way again. They form a clocktopus, in case you were wondering.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable for children and adults, great humor, June 21, 2007

By 

Two kids mom "scienceteachermom" (NM United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant CD (Audio CD)

My kids, girl age 8 and boy age 11 both enjoy this cd. Its has the right amount of absurdity and humor to appeal to both of them. It has 56 tracks, three total books. Behold the Bold Umrellapant, What a Day it was at School and Scranimals for an hour long cd. Your kids will want to look at the books while they listen, at least the first time. If your kids like Shel Silverstein, they will like this cd as well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for my classroom, June 15, 2008

By 

E. M. Morris "emmorris" (nashville, tn) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant: And Other Poems (Hardcover)

The poem "panthermometer" is a great intro into measuring temperature. My kids at home love them all. Great post modern looking collage artwork as well.