In this exuberant collection, Lois Ehlert celebrates the animal kingdom with quirky, playful rhymes and bold collage illustrations that perfectly capture the spirit of each creature. Sixty-four of her favorite animal friends are here, from hamsters to monkeys, geckos to mountain goats--and with its clever combination of fact and wordplay, this stunning volume is as fun to read as it is to look at.
Includes an author's note.
Visit www.HarcourtBooks.com/LoisEhlert for activity sheets and more!
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2—Kids will have a grand time poring over the pictures in Ehlert's latest offering. A variety of animals, from insects to birds to giant mammals, is represented in her trademark cut-paper collage style. The artist uses scissors, pinking shears, and a hole punch to transform brightly colored papers into squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, diamonds, half circles, ovals, hearts, and teardrops of different sizes, which she then fashions into a menagerie guaranteed to spark readers' imaginations. Each creature is coupled with a short, humorous poem that is sure to delight: "If her tail's raised/give a skunk room,/unless you like/pee-yoo perfume." And who can resist this ditty: "A cat/is a purr/wrapped up/in fur." Young children will enjoy identifying the animals while older kids will be inspired to grab some scissors and paper to create their own geometric zoo. Teachers can use this book to jump-start art and creative writing lessons, but kids will just like it because it's oodles of fun.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Celebrated collage artist Ehlert delivers another picture book in her signature style, this one pairing animal portraits with poems that nod to Ogden Nash. Although the poetry is uneven, with lines that often don’t scan, its brevity will be a windfall for memorization assignments, and the best entries offer quick gulps of kid-friendly humor: “If her tail’s raised / give a skunk room / unless you like / pee-yoo perfume.” Unsurprisingly, it’s Ehlert’s ingenious animal portraits that will draw repeated viewings. Though some may wonder about her idiosyncratic color choices (the rabbit has orange ears and blue feet), most kids, especially those familiar with the tangram picture-puzzles Ehlert’s work often resembles, will marvel at her ability to cull animal essences from the simplest forms: a perfect circle for a raccoon’s haunch, a heart for a lobster’s tail. Along with Ehlert’s Caldecott Honor Book Color Zoo (1997), suggest her newest as inspiration for art projects, especially those intended to meld art and geometry. Preschool-Grade 1. --Jennifer Mattson
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More About the Author
LOIS EHLERT has created many picture books, including Leaf Man, Pie in the Sky, In My World, Growing Vegetable Soup, Planting a Rainbow, and the bestselling Waiting for Wings. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Laura
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love this book! Lois Ehlert always has great ideas and illustrations. As a second grade teacher, I plan to use this book in conjunction with our math curriculum during the lessons on geometry. Students will be able to copy and then create their own animals using geometric shapes.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By TopCat
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am an elementary library/media specialist. Lois Ehlert is amazingly creative. Like the previous reviewer, several of her books are housed in our pullout section for primary math. I introduced our art teacher to the Ehlert books and she is using them for different art projects. I use them to introduce primary students to computer drawing programs both for design and color. And her poetry is accessible and elegant.
The books of Lois Ehlert are an interdisciplinary treasure trove for teachers. But Mom and Dad, these are wonderful books to have at home, too (especially at the prices here).
The books of Lois Ehlert are an interdisciplinary treasure trove for teachers. But Mom and Dad, these are wonderful books to have at home, too (especially at the prices here).
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