National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry - by J Patrick Lewis (Hardcover)

About the Book

Lovingly selected by U.S. Children's Poet Laureate Lewis and paired with vibrant animal photography, this collection of poems is an exuberant celebration of the animal kingdom and a beautiful introduction to this genre of literature. Full color.

Book Synopsis

Named one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews!

Named one of the top Children's Books of 2012 by the New York Public Library!

"Add a little natural wonder to your poetry shelves. Because if we're talking about the best possible compliment to your eyes and ears alike, few have as many perks and grand moments as this." --School Library Journal starred review

"Out of a windless August night/A luna moth in ghostly light
Beat softly on my window screen/Tick-tick-ticking-all silver green.
She whispered secrets in my ear--/I am but a stranger here.
The stars are scrawled across the sky/By ghostwriters, the Moon and I.
You will not see me here tonight--/I have a thousand stars to write."

What could be better than cuddling up with your child and this book on your lap and allowing your imaginations to soar with the words and images? Lovingly selected by U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis and paired with vibrant animal photography, this collection of poems is an exuberant celebration of the animal kingdom and a beautiful introduction to this genre of literature. Designed for family sharing but targeted to ages 4-8, this dynamic, fresh, yet still classic collection of animal poems is a must-have for the family bookshelf.

Featured poets include J. Patrick Lewis, Dorothy Aldis, Emily Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, Jack Prelutsky, Elizabeth Madox Roberts, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and many more.

Divided into chapters that group the poems by theme for extra resonance, the collection is a mix of old and new, classics, and never-before-published. A foreword from Lewis, sets the scene for helping children appreciate this gift of language and this visual feast for the eyes. Chapters include:
Welcome to the World (birth of animal young)
Big Ones (large animals--elephants, hippos, rhinos, bears)
Little Ones (small animals--worms, insects)
Winged Ones (birds and other flying creatures)
Water Ones (aquatic animals--fish, dolphins, crabs)
Strange Ones (curious creatures--armadillos, centipedes)
Noisy Ones (loud animals--lions, hyenas)
Quiet Ones (silent or still animals--hens, rabbits, snakes)
Last Thought (a reflection on the world we share with animals)

Releases simultaneously in Reinforced Library Binding: 978-1-4263-1054-6, $28.90/$33.00 Can

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Review Quotes

Named Best Poetry Book of 2012 by Bank Street Books!

Named one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews!

Named one of the top Children's Books of 2012 by the New York Public Library!

Named one of the 100 Magnificent Children's Books of 2012 by Fuse 8!

CYBILS' Poetry Finalist

"Add a little natural wonder to your poetry shelves. Because if we're talking about the best possible compliment to your eyes and ears alike, few have as many perks and grand moments as this." --School Library Journal starred review

"Gorgeous, full-bleed photographs of wild and domesticated animals accompany animal-focused poems ranging from classic works to the writings of modern children's poets." --Publisher's Weekly starred review

"A well-stirred mix of old and recent limericks, haiku, short lyrics, shaped poems and free verse... A spectacular collection..." --Kirkus Reviews starred review

"I can't think of a finer holiday gift ... This large, generously illustrated book provides a feast for the eye and animal-loving heart." --The Boston Sunday Globe

"Stunning photographs and 200 poems 'squeak, soar and roar' in this bountiful bestiary that's a delight for eyes and ears alike." --New York Public Library

"The poems are well chosen and include rhyming, free verse, and shape poetry... This selection is sure to turn any animal lover into a poetry lover." --Provo Library

"Lewis has carefully chosen classic and contemporary poems for their array of styles and moods." --Children's Literature Comprehensive Database

"The perfect keepsake gift for little animal lover on your Christmas list." --The Review Wire

"What could be better than cuddling up with your child and this book on your lap and allowing your imaginations to soar with the words and images?" --Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"Resonate[s] with wonder at the variety, beauty and strangeness of the animal world." --Iowa Press-Citizen

"The poems resonate with wonder at the variety, beauty and strangeness of the animal world." --The Iowa Gazette

"Stunning photographs combine with wonderful poems to create a family treasure of all to share," --Patch.com

"Take poems by Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson and others, add photos by National Geographic and you've got the spectacular Book of Animal Poetry." --Redding.com

About the Author

U.S. children's poet laureate for 2011-2013, J. PATRICK LEWIS is the author of more than fifty books of poetry for children, which find their shape in both free and formal verse and engage a wide range of subjects from history to mathematics, Russian folklore to the animal kingdom. His books for children include New York Times Best Illustrated Book The Last Resort (2002, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti and translated into more than a dozen languages) and The Shoe Tree of Chagrin (2001, illustrated by Chris Sheban), which won the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators' Golden Kite Award. His children's poetry has been widely anthologized, and his contributions to children's literature have been recognized with the 2011 Poetry Award from the National Council of Teachers of English and the Ohioana Awards' 2004 Alice Louise Wood Memorial Prize.