Carnival of The Animals [Hardcover]

Philip de Vos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 1996

Recalling the nonsense verse of Ogden Nash and inspired by Camille Saint-Saens's comic musical fantasia of the same name, this book features 14 clever lyric poems that describe the particularities of carnival-bound beasts, from chickens to kangaroos to lions. The original color etchings convey the energy and excitement of the animals as they approach the festival.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Philip de Vos's carnival of animals is full of malcontents and fiercely independent types: tortoises who waltz and cancan--but only in their dreams; lions who disdain sauerkraut and brussels sprouts; and rowdy, honky-tonker pianists. Fourteen poems document this motley crew, with a generous helping of Ogden Nash-esque nonsense and de Vos's own brand of quirky humor. Donkeys are immortalized thus:

Consider now
the donkey's lot.
He'd love to be
what he is
not:
wild and lusty,
not so dusty,
with a song
that's not so
rusty.
Donkey
hasn't any choice
and mocks the world
with his
hee-haw voice.

Each verse is complemented wittily by Piet Grobler's unique etchings in blues, golds, and rusts that, framed, could easily grace an offbeat nursery wall. The poems will most likely be enjoyed on two levels, as sophisticated humor often is: younger readers will delight in the silliness, while urbane adults will be drawn by the cultural references (19th-century composer Camille Saint-Saens is the "music man") and darker undertones (hints of death play around the edges of several of the verses--the tortoise "plods along, he plods along/ until his tortoise days are gone"). All in all, a captivating and memorable book. (Ages 5 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-An unusual and quirky collection of poetry and art that seeks to put verbal and visual expression to Saint-Sa'ns's famous musical composition, with results that are varied at best. The illustrations, etchings with yellow, blue, and brown watercolor, feature elongated and stylized figures that will probably appeal more to adults than children. Kangaroo wears overalls and a farmer's hat. The swan sits atop the head of a blue-faced lady who is dining, seemingly oblivious to the bird. The tortoises are dancing girls, of a sort, with fishnet stockings, feathers, and cigarette holders. It's not necessary to listen to the music to understand the poetry with the exception of the can-can reference in the tortoise poem. However, one may wonder, without knowing the musical work, why a "pianist" is considered "the dreaded beast," and the humor may be lost on both nonmusicians and children. Uncertain in its target audience, this collection never really hits its mark.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 42 pages
• Publisher: Lemniscaat imprint of Boyds Mills Press; 1st American ed edition (January 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886910472
• ISBN-13: 978-1886910478
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,763,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Incorrectly listed item, June 9, 2009

By 

J. Mackay (PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Carnival of the Animals (Get to Know Classical Masterpi) (Get to Know Classical Masterpieces) (Paperback)

The book that is shown and the book that is described are two different books. I intended to purchase the children's book by Philip De Vos which is described in detail on the page but got the pictured book instead (sheet music). These are two very different books - beware!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Surreal Art & Amusing Poems, June 13, 2001

By 

howard johnson "jinglesquid" (Lakeland, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carnival of The Animals (Hardcover)

ISBN: 1886910472. As a collector of children's illustrated books, I always keep an eye out for books that feature interesting and unusual artwork. Well, CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS definitely fits the bill for me since it offers some amusing and quirkly pictures to go along with the absurd poetry. Piet Grobler is an artist from South Africa, and this appears to be his first book offered in the United States. (He has another book coming out in September according to Amazon.com, DOCTOR ME DI CIN.) My only complaint is that I wish the illustrations were reproduced a little larger so you could enjoy the details more. This book is probably more for the collectors of children's books rather than children, although kids might enjoy some of the poems. Overall, a nice addition to my collection.

3.0 out of 5 stars not really a children's book, July 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Carnival of The Animals (Hardcover)

I agree with the previous reviewer in that the book seems a bit too sophisticated for a child to enjoy on his/her own. I bought it so I could read it to my 4 year old daughter. She loves books & is starting to read on her own. She was more interested in the poems than the illustrations. The colours arent bright enough for a child to be able to pick out all the details. I did like the language that the poems use, they flow well & the rhymes work well too.