Mammalabilia

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Like Florian's Insectlopedia, this collection of 21 short light verse brims with whimsy and fun. He plays with the double A in aardvark ("Aardvarks look better/ By faar in the daark") and the growling R in an ode to the tiger. In "The Bactrian Camel" the entire text of the poem forms the shape of a camel's back: "Mr. Bactrian, a question for you--about your back: one lump or two?" Many of the entries are one-liners--"Some people wear fur coats of lynx./ I/ think/ that/ stynx." More developed verse recalls Ogden Nash ("I state more emphatic:/ An otter's aquatic"). Florian's humor is eccentric, but just right for his target audience. The gouache illustrations painted on primed brown paper bags, full of unusual textures and inventive designs, match the creativity of the word play. The otter lounges in a claw-foot bathtub reading a book titled H2O. Florian specializes in the unexpected. For instance, the rhebok stands in its tennis shoes because its "main/ Claim to fame/ Is its name." The artwork taps into childlike qualities without being simplistic; the animal portraits are clever yet appropriate. An irresistible homage to mammal memorabilia. Ages 5-10. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Publishers Weekly

"This collection of 21 short light verse brims with whimsy and fun," wrote PW in a starred review, calling this an "irresistible homage to mammal memorabilia." Ages 5-10. (Apr.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

"Aardvarks aare odd." "Some people wear fur coats of lynx. I think that stynx." The Ibex....Each one must climb with skill complex...Or else become an ex-ibex." And on and on it goes, from beaver to fox and lemur to tapir. The familiar and the unfamiliar are all portrayed in verse and softly colored illustrations (originally painted in gouache on brown paper bags, by the way)! Douglas Florian's brief poems are silly and clever, funny and serious. They will certainly make children laugh and could easily stimulate a student's own imaginative attempts with either a pencil or a paintbrush. Teachers will have an opportunity to discuss free verse and poetic license. The pictures have a very simple, childlike quality that could encourage attempts at illustrating by youngsters who normally consider themselves "not good drawers." Mammalabilia is an excellent choice for an elementary or middle school unit on either poetry or mammals, or just a fun read for a class or a family. 2000, Harcourt, Ages 5 to 14, $16.00. Reviewer: Karen Leggett

Glenn Michael Gordon

In these whimsical animal-themed poems, clever wordplay will delight first-time poetry readers and inspire future poets.
—Child Magazine