Overview
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Whimsical and witty, "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" first appeared on Bob Dylan's album Slow Train Coming in 1979. Illustrator Jim Arnosky has now crafted a stunning picture book adaptation of Dylan's song that's a treat for both children and adults, with breathtaking images of more than 170 animals plus a CD of Dylan's original recording. The revered musical legend rarely allows his songs to be illustrated, and Arnosky has done the song proud with a parade of spectacular creatures ready to receive their namesuntil the surprise ending, when children get to name an animal themselves!
Based on a song by Bob Dylan, tells the story of how man named the animals of the world.
Synopsis
Have more fun with your NOOK BOOK-Now with READALOUD and POPUP text!
Whimsical and witty, "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" first appeared on Bob Dylan's album Slow Train Coming in 1979. Illustrator Jim Arnosky has now crafted a stunning picture book adaptation of Dylan's song that's a treat for both children and adults, with breathtaking images of more than 170 animals plus a CD of Dylan's original recording. The revered musical legend rarely allows his songs to be illustrated, and Arnosky has done the song proud with a parade of spectacular creatures ready to receive their namesuntil the surprise ending, when children get to name an animal themselves!
Based on a song by Bob Dylan, tells the story of how man named the animals of the world.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Arnosky offers a Peaceable Kingdom approach--minus humans--to the song from Dylan’s 1979 album Slow Train Running. The self-consciously majestic acrylic and pencil tableaus feature “different animals and plants from around the world on each and every page” (according to the introduction). While Dylan references only six animals in his song, Arnosky notes on the penultimate page that the book includes more than 170 creatures (readers are invited to identify them all, or check out the illustrator’s Web site for clues). However, the spreads and portraits feel detached from the gently funky mood of Dylan’s performance on the accompanying CD, as well as the laidback, down-home humor of the lyrics: “He saw an animal up on a hill/ Chewing up so much grass until she was filled./ He saw milk comin’ out but he didn’t know how/ Ah, think I’ll call it a COW.” Arnosky deserves props for not reaching for the most common examples of the animals from the song’s verse (using a bristly wild pig and mountain sheep), but even animal fanatics may find these compositions overwhelming. Ages 3-up. (Sept.)Kirkus Reviews
For this book-and-CD set, prolific artist and naturalist Arnosky has illustrated Dylan's catchy song about man naming animals--bear, cow, bull, pig, sheep and snake--with pencil-and-acrylic paintings of more than 170 animals in a series of peaceable kingdom images. Each double-page spread includes a number of identifiable animals in an imagined natural setting. An alphabetical list of most animals pictured is provided at the end. There are curious choices: three specific types of monkeys, for instance, but only a generic snake. The cow, bull, pig and sheep of the song have been shown in ancestral forms, an appropriate and evocative choice, though probably unfamiliar to young readers. They may also be frustrated by the lack of a key to the unnumbered pages in the book. Adults who share this with children may want to print out the keys from Arnosky's website, which should be complete by publication. The different illustrations on the dust cover and printed boards require libraries to make a choice. A beautiful concept with gorgeous artwork but flawed design. (Picture book and CD. 3-10)