Man Gave Names to All the Animals [Hardcover]

Bob Dylan (Author), Scott Menchin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

He saw an animal that liked to snort. Horns on his head and they weren’t too short. It looked like there wasn’t nothin’ that he couldn’t pull. “Ah, think I’ll call it a bull.” Man gave names to all the animals, from the mighty bull to the messy pig, in the song Bob Dylan wrote twenty years ago. Now with bite, wit, and explosive color, Scott Menchin gives us new insight into this legendary song.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a track on his 1979 album Slow Train Coming, Dylan speculates about Mankind's naming of beasts. Although his observations are by no means profound, his subject is appropriate for preschoolers: "[Man] saw an animal leavin' a muddy trail./ Real dirty face and a curly tail./ He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big./ 'Ah, think I'll call it a pig.' " Menchin (The Day the Whale Came) smoothly adapts this lark of a musical moment to the page by making it a guessing game. In teasing spreads, he reveals the eyes, feet or tail of the nameless creature, then unveils it whole. Menchin surrounds his block prints of barnyard animals with mixed media collages. A linocut pink pig sits in a patch of greenish straw, for instance, and a cropped photo of a crowd overlooks a bull and toreador. Even if the chosen lyrics eliminate both the catchy tune and the famous voice, this labor of love recommends Dylan to a new generation. Ages 3-10. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Dylan's 1979 album, Slow Train Coming, included this title, and 20 years later, Menchin has taken the lyrics and added his own multimedia illustrations to create this picture book. Bold colors combine with powerful lines and visual imagery. For instance, the upper half of the head of an angry bull glares out at readers on a double-page spread colored in fire-engine red. Its horns curl up to encircle the text, which stands in straight lines that march across the two pages: "He saw an animal that liked to snort. Horns on his head and they weren't too short." What adds to the jarring effect of the bull is the sweet cow on the previous double-page spread, its head tilted into a somewhat perplexed look that seems to highlight its innocence. The baby-blue sky, sun-dappled grass, and row of bucolic-looking minihouses with curlicues of smoke rising from the chimneys add to the countryside feeling. The text is forced at times, and the lyrics don't always work as well visually as they do musically. Still, this book would be an effective way to showcase the many ways in which artists can create pictures using collage, paint, scissors, and, of course, their imaginations.
Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Rockville Centre Public Library, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (October 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152020055
• ISBN-13: 978-0152020057
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,997,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ah, I think I'll call it a must for the Bob Fan!, January 6, 2000

By 

Steve Dunn - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Hardcover)

A first edition must for the Bob Dylan fan. Bob's classic is pieced together nicely by illustrator Scott Menchin. My three year old son, Tyler, enjoys the story line & pictures very much. He loves to follow along while Bob does his stuff. A new generation of Dylan fans are born.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My son's eyes pop out of his head every time he sees it!, March 23, 2000

By 

John Borre (Chicago, Il) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Hardcover)

My son is only a few months old, and he really responds to the vivid colors in this book. More than any other book we have, the pictures truly excite him. We strongly recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, brilliantly illustrated book, an ideal gift!, August 30, 2010

By 

Kathryn E. Etier "Miss Bob" (Beautiful Maggie Valley) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Hardcover)

On August 20, 1979, Bob Dylan dropped "Slow Train Coming" on which there was a song, "Man Gave Names to All the Animals." The song was not an allegory; it had no deep, hidden meaning. It simply told of man walking along, observing animals, and naming them. It's not the only simple song that Dylan ever wrote, but with its island-like beat, it is infectious. This is a Bob Dylan song that can be shared with very young children, requiring little explanation. And it's a great one to get up and jump around to, or -- if you prefer -- dance.

Award-winning children's illustrator Jim Arnosky has taken Dylan's lyrics and paired them with a beautifully vibrant storybook, "Man Gave Names to All the Animals," that captures the happy, funky sound of the original song.

Packaged with the book is a CD with the song performed by Bob Dylan. It warms my baby-boomer heart to imagine three-year-olds rocking to classic Dylan. Can "Maggie's Farm" be far behind?

Arnsoky has populated his book with an astounding variety of animals (yes, even a flamingo) from all parts of the world. There are fish, birds, insects, and mammals that would never see each other in life (except on Animal Planet) gathered together on the pages of "Man Gave Names to All the Animals," and the effect is enchanting.

While most of the animals are familiar, there are sure to be a few that stump readers. There are more than 170 animals illustrated, and they are listed at the end of the book, alphabetically. Those who need clues so that they, too, can name the animals can go to [...].

"Man Gave Names to All the Animals" is a fun book for adults and children to share, made even better by the inclusion of the CD, making it perfect for a sing-along -- or a silly-along if you prefer. Keep this lovely hardcover book in mind for holiday gift-giving...and don't forget the kazoos!


Bottom Line: Would I buy "Man Gave Names to All the Animals"? You better believe it! (Hitting the street September 7, it is now available for pre-order.)

Originally appeared on [...].