Plum [Hardcover]

Tony Mitton (Author), Mary Grand Pre (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

We're proud to "pear" a plum of a poet and a peach of an artist for a book that will be the apple of your eye!

Tony Mitton has been hailed in the U.K. for reviving the tradition of English lyric children's poetry. Now he makes his U.S. collection debut with poems for every mood -- thoughtful, funny, silly, fantastical -- all perfectly accompanied by the wondrous pastels of Mary GrandPre. Together they reveal the story of St. Brigid and the baker ... the mysteries that lie down Green Man Lane ... the pleasure of a special hat ... the joys of the Elegant Elephant Delicatessen and the talents of Mrs. Bhattacharya's Chapati Zap Machine. Like plums and poems, this book holds beauty inside.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Come to the Elephant Delicatessen./ Sample the delicate elephant treats." Lyrical poems about epicurean elephants, puzzled peas, and "freak cat-fleas" pepper Tripoli-born poet Tony Mitton's whimsical poetry collection, illustrated by Mary GrandPré, best known for her artwork in the U.S. editions of the Harry Potter series. Mitton anthropomorphizes objects from plums ("Don't be so glum, plum") to bubbles ("I am only/ a bubble,/ the ghost of a ball./ If I'm caught/ then I'm naught,/ I am nothing at all"). He also enjoys telling stories with his poetry, including the over-the-top, nine-page-long "Mrs. Bhattacharya's Chapati Zap Machine" about a complex chapati-making mechanism with a mind of its own, and "The Histon Boulder" about Moses Carter's stone in England. Many of the poems have a distinctly British feel, such as "Green Man Lane" and "Mrs. Rummage's Muddle-Up Shop" where readers will find the terms "loo-rolls," "button tin," and "plastic mac," all defined in the author's notes in the back. GrandPré's inventive interpretations swoop and swirl with bold, somewhat geometrical, larger-than-life imagery of serpents, giants, and scary tree roots to dizzying effect. (Ages 5 to 9) --Karin Snelson

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-These 20 poems exhibit a wide range of subjects and styles. Some deal with the mysterious and spectral; others reflect on the ordinary, giving it new dimension and perspective; and still others are zany and nonsensical. Mitton is at his best where his words evoke lingering moods and images, but his attempts at humor tend to be awkward, strained, or sometimes simply uninspired, as in "Flightpath": "The reason why the fly annoys me, as it does, is that, however hard I try, I can't ignore its buzz." GrandPr‚'s watercolors seem to follow suit, enlarging on the mood of the more thoughtful selections with rich, deep colors and effective use of light and shadow, but verging on the garish and frenetic for the supposedly humorous ones. There is, however, a good deal to savor in this eclectic collection, which should keep it circulating where poetry is popular.
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; 1st signed edition (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439364094
• ISBN-13: 978-0439364096
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,397,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tony Mitton is a widely anthologized and popular children's poet, as well as a teacher and performing poet. His Royal Raps won the 1997 Nottinghamshire Libraries/Dillons Children's Book Award. The Red and White Spotted Handkerchief is the winner of the 2000 Smarties Prize. His recent collection of poetry, Plum, won the Publishers Weekly 2003 Cuffies Award for Best Book of Poetry. Tony teamed with illustrator Ant Parker on several books, including Dazzling Diggers, Roaring Rockets, and Terrific Trains. Tony lives in Cambridge, England with his family and his pet cat, Tiggy. Visit his website at www.tonymitton.co.uk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plum Is A Delicious Way To Introduce Children To Poetry, March 18, 2003

By 

Preston McClear, Author The Boy Under the Bed - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plum (Hardcover)

Plum, written by Tony Mitton and illustrated by Mary Grandpre, is a conjures confection of whimsy and pure delight. Not since Where the Sidewalk Ends has there been such an extraordinary book of poetry written for children. The combination of Tony Mitton's words and Mary Grandpre's illustrations are most enchanting. Their work in Plum has a real chemistry. Together they've created a book which truly becomes it's own universe for the reader. The poems run the gauntlet from mysterious and scary to silly and sad. I especially loved two of the poems in particular. One about a giant. The other about the legendary figure of English folklore, the Green Man. Plum is a delicious way to introduce children to poetry.

Preston McClear...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides a host of warm and original poems for kids, July 27, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plum (Hardcover)

Tony Mitton's Plum provides a host of warm and original poems for kids, with plenty of cultural zany fun underlying them. From Mrs. Bhattacharya's Chapati Zap Machine to a giant feline flea, this is loaded with fun. Fold-out pages may not lend to rigorous library lending but parents will want this for their kids.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1st graders love this book, June 24, 2004

By 

CJ "cj1989" (Vaughn, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plum (Hardcover)

My first grade student love to hear me read the poems in this book and then show them the amazing art work. This book is almost always chosen by someone during free read time. My favorite is the poem about how to grow poems in your mind.