National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry - Book Review

This post was written as a Master's course assignment for Texas Woman's University.

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lewis, J. Patrick (Edited by). 2012. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK OF ANIMAL POETRY: 200 POEMS WITH PHOTOGRAPHS THAT SQUEAK, SOAR, AND ROAR.Washington, DC: National Geographic Society. ISBN 9781426310096.

2. BOOK SUMMARY
This fabulous anthology of animal poetry, edited by J. Patrick Lewis, covers all sorts of creatures from the animal kingdom: large or small, hairy or slick, dangerous or harmless. Lewis recommends to read the book in pieces, in whatever order strikes your fancy, as opposed to straight through. He also recommends to read the poems out loud to add to the enjoyment. Some of the poems appear in free form, others as "shape poems," some have rhyming, and others have great rhythm. Many of the entries are from well-known poets, from the classic writers to present-day favorites.

This book is divided into seven sections, based on fun categorizations of the type of animal: the big ones, the little ones, the winged ones, the water ones, the strange ones, the noisy ones, the quiet ones. There are also a few opening poems at the beginning, as well as a few closing ones at the end. This is a book that would appeal to all ages of children and would be a wonderful addition to any children's collection.

Each section of animals offers a unique portrait of the members in that group. The accompanying photography is astounding, as expected from the National Geographic archives (and Shutterstock photography). The "big ones" feature predominantly large-sized animals, like buffaloes, cows, rhinoceros, giraffes, horses, etc. Valerie Worth's words describe the imposing presence of a large animal in COW (pg. 20): "Moves/Like a Mountain/Towards us." One of my all-time favorite poems, "Eletelephony" by Laura E. Richards (pg. 26) appears in this collection, to my delight.  And in "The White Horse" (pg. 35) by D.H. Lawrence, we feel the true nature of a glorious horse: "They are so silent, they are in another world."

The "little ones" feature a number of creepy crawlies, including the cockroach, scorpion, lizard, and fly, as well the cute critters: the chipmunk, squirrel, mice, and hamster. The charming flying critters are included too, from the bee to a delicate dragonfly, eloquently captured by Georgia Heard (pg.42): "Wings flicker and still:/stained-glass windows/with sun shining through."  The "winged ones" and "water ones" feature some guaranteed favorites, especially "The Walrus" (pg. 90) by Jack Prelutsky: "The thundery, blundery walrus/has a rubbery, blubbery hide./He puffs up his neck when it's bedtime/and floats fast asleep on the tide." And representing the crustacean world, "The Crab" (pg. 93), by Conrad Aiken, introduces a big dose of humor: "(Perhaps it's mean/to mention a tureen.)"

Rounding out the collection, the "strange ones," "noisy ones," and "quite ones" add more fun in a variety of interesting animal shapes. "A Flamingo Is" (pg. 118) by J. Patrick Lewis, actually assumes the shape of a flamingo, and "The Octopus" (pg. 108) by Ogden Nash poses an interesting question: "Is those things arms,/or is they legs?/I marvel at thee,/Octopus;/If I were thou,
I'd call me Us." Of course, the well-loved dogs, wolves, cats, and turtles make an appearance towards the end, although the "favorite animal" argument could be made for each creature that appears in this wonderful collection.

3. POEM HIGHLIGHT
Out of eight potential favorite poems to highlight from this book, this one poem, MAKE THE EARTH YOUR COMPANION (pg. 169, by J. Patrick Lewis), sums up the collection well, and finishes the book on a nice, warm tone. As an educational follow-up activity, I would choose to read the different sections of this book, one week at a time, and upon finishing, take the students on a field trip to the zoo, of course.

MAKE THE EARTH YOUR COMPANION

Make the Earth your companion.
     Walk lightly on it, as other creatures do.
Let the Sky paint her beauty-she is always
     watching over you.
Learn from the Sea how to face harsh forces.
Let the River remind you that everything will pass.
Let the Lake instruct you in stillness.
Let the Mountain teach you grandeur.
Make the Woodland your house of peace.
Make the Rainforest your house of hope.
Meet the Wetland on twilight ground.
Same some small piece of Grassland for a red kite
     on a windy day.
Watch the Icecaps glisten with crystal majesty.
Hear the Desert whisper hush to eternity.
Let the Town weave a small basket of togetherness.
Make the Earth your companion.
     Walk lightly on it, as other creatures do.

By J. Patrick Lewis