Interest Level: Ages 12 & under
Genre: Picture Book
Subjects/Themes: Poems, Animals, Humor, Imagination, Picture Books for Older Readers
Plot: A collection of poems about strange and wonderful creatures on Scranimal Island. Each creature is a mix of two different things you might be familiar with such as the SPINACHICKENS which are half chicken and half spinach. Each animal has its own poem and illustration that tells the reader more about it.
Personal Thoughts: A humorous tongue twisting picture book. Each creature has a short two or three paragraph poem that accompanies an illustration. The illustrations remind me of those found in Where the Wild Things Are by Sendak. Each illustration is a mix of detailed gray and colored pencil drawings. Filled with such creatures as the Pandaffodil and the Broccolions, young children will smile as they identify what each creature is created from. Though not a suggested book for young children to read on their own as the vocabulary is a little advanced for a four year old. Practice before using this book for story time as some of the creature names are a challenge to read aloud.
A great poem book to introduce to tweens. Don't overlook the value of picture books for older readers. The vocabulary and humor is appropriate for young tweens. Use it in a writing assignment and have tweens write a poem on their own imaginary creature created from two everyday items. I'm going to remember this book next time I serve baked potatoads!
Awards:
- Black-Eyed Susan Book Awards (Maryland): Picture Book (2004)
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award: Grades 3-5 (2004)
- Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards: Grades 3-6 (2006)
- School Library Journal Best Books (2002)
Other Books by the Author: Awful Ogre Running Wild (2008); Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant (2006); It's Raining Pigs and Noodles (2000)
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