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National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!
Named one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews! 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)
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2012
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551 people want to read
About the author
J. Patrick Lewis
134 books104 followersJ. Patrick Lewis is the current Children's Poet Laureate. He has written more than seventy children's books, including Once Upon a Tomb: Gravely Humorous Verses. J. Patrick Lewis lives in Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
March 9, 2014
With chapters such as the "big ones," "little ones," "strange ones," "winged ones," "water ones," "noisy ones," and "quiet ones," this anthology will not fail to draw the reader in and invite them to stay.
As expected from a National Geographic offering, the photographs that grace the pages are stunning and awe inspiring. They are sure to hold the attention of little ones even if they cannot read the words.
The 200 pieces of poetry in this book run the gamut of silly, serious, inspiring, and informational and are brought to the book by authors including Emily Dickenson, Robert Frost, Jack Prelutsky, Carl Sandburg, and more. In addition to this, they don't focus solely on the beautiful creatures that so often grace the pages of poetry books like the butterfly or the eagle. These poems explore cockroaches, scorpions, sloths, armadillos and skunks, just to name a few.
The only reason that I did not give this book 5 stars is the fact that there are a few poems that seem to glorify or make light of violence towards animals. I was not expecting to read about shooting a hippopotamus or hunting geese, and, though I do believe that these poems could open interesting discussions with older students, they did make me think twice about bringing this book to children. Ultimately, though, the beautiful and interesting aspects of this anthology outweighed these few poems.
This book could be used in a multitude of ways in the classroom. Children could write their own poetry about animals they may be studying in class. They could play with shape poems based on animals - there are a couple of these in the book to build from. Teachers could even use this to build speaking skills by having students practice their favorite poem from the book to perform for their class.
As expected from a National Geographic offering, the photographs that grace the pages are stunning and awe inspiring. They are sure to hold the attention of little ones even if they cannot read the words.
The 200 pieces of poetry in this book run the gamut of silly, serious, inspiring, and informational and are brought to the book by authors including Emily Dickenson, Robert Frost, Jack Prelutsky, Carl Sandburg, and more. In addition to this, they don't focus solely on the beautiful creatures that so often grace the pages of poetry books like the butterfly or the eagle. These poems explore cockroaches, scorpions, sloths, armadillos and skunks, just to name a few.
The only reason that I did not give this book 5 stars is the fact that there are a few poems that seem to glorify or make light of violence towards animals. I was not expecting to read about shooting a hippopotamus or hunting geese, and, though I do believe that these poems could open interesting discussions with older students, they did make me think twice about bringing this book to children. Ultimately, though, the beautiful and interesting aspects of this anthology outweighed these few poems.
This book could be used in a multitude of ways in the classroom. Children could write their own poetry about animals they may be studying in class. They could play with shape poems based on animals - there are a couple of these in the book to build from. Teachers could even use this to build speaking skills by having students practice their favorite poem from the book to perform for their class.
November 28, 2020
A beautiful collection of poetry, ranging in length from very short to several stanzas long. All the poems are animal-related and accompanied by gorgeous full page photographs of animals. This is a family favorite for poetry read alouds.
March 22, 2016
Suggested Grade Levels: 1st-5th grade.
Genre: Themed Poetry Book
Themes: Animals
Awards: 2013 Claudia Lewis Award
Calling all animal lovers, this book is for you! One of nature’s most powerful wonders is its wildlife in action. This themed anthology of poems captures this profound wonder of animals and explores it through poetry. It keeps the child’s heart in mind and organizes the poems by chapters such as “the strange ones,” or “the winged ones,” which are chapters that have poems all on strange animals or ones that have wings. Its collection has a mix of poetry from classics authors such as Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson to new writers like Jack Prelutsky. It even has some never before published poems! Children will be able to laugh, explore and learn about animals while reading this book of animal packed poetry.
National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. The society works to inspire people to care about the planet and one way they ignite curiosity is through their beautiful photography. This book contains 180 pages of stunning natural beauty through photographs with poetry weaved between. The photographs give the readers rare vantage points of some of the world’s most remarkable creatures from a close up of a caterpillar eating through a leaf, eye level to a humming bird landing on a flower and underwater with a sea anemone flowing on the deep sea floor.
It would be an excellent book choice for bringing cross curricular studies in from science. Many grade levels study animals in one way or another. This book would allow the knowledge of animals from science to be used to read poetry in literacy. In first grade students study animals from the viewpoint of what do animals have to make them able to survive and adapt in their environments. I would suggest to first grade teachers tying this book into their study of animals and having students write a poem about an animal after they have studied it. This could lead to a lesson on how do informational text and poetry about animals differ and how are they the same.
Genre: Themed Poetry Book
Themes: Animals
Awards: 2013 Claudia Lewis Award
Calling all animal lovers, this book is for you! One of nature’s most powerful wonders is its wildlife in action. This themed anthology of poems captures this profound wonder of animals and explores it through poetry. It keeps the child’s heart in mind and organizes the poems by chapters such as “the strange ones,” or “the winged ones,” which are chapters that have poems all on strange animals or ones that have wings. Its collection has a mix of poetry from classics authors such as Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson to new writers like Jack Prelutsky. It even has some never before published poems! Children will be able to laugh, explore and learn about animals while reading this book of animal packed poetry.
National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. The society works to inspire people to care about the planet and one way they ignite curiosity is through their beautiful photography. This book contains 180 pages of stunning natural beauty through photographs with poetry weaved between. The photographs give the readers rare vantage points of some of the world’s most remarkable creatures from a close up of a caterpillar eating through a leaf, eye level to a humming bird landing on a flower and underwater with a sea anemone flowing on the deep sea floor.
It would be an excellent book choice for bringing cross curricular studies in from science. Many grade levels study animals in one way or another. This book would allow the knowledge of animals from science to be used to read poetry in literacy. In first grade students study animals from the viewpoint of what do animals have to make them able to survive and adapt in their environments. I would suggest to first grade teachers tying this book into their study of animals and having students write a poem about an animal after they have studied it. This could lead to a lesson on how do informational text and poetry about animals differ and how are they the same.
December 8, 2012
This poetry collection, assembled by J. Patrick Lewis, deserves a spot on every library and child's bookshelf. Exploring the humor, wonder, and beauty of the animal world, stunning photographs enhance each poem creating a visual encyclopedia. This is the sort of book children pore over-- looking at images, sharing poems, and rereading many times. I wish I could buy this book for every child I know. The perfect gift book.
January 4, 2013
A delightful collection of poems coupled with stunning photographs that you know will be awesome because it's, well, National Geographic. A wonderful anthology for classrooms, libraries and homes.
May 10, 2025
This was a fun book to read over the course of the school year, and includes some really amazing animal photography!
April 8, 2021
This is a massive volume of poems organized by animal type. If you have an animal lover or are looking for a poetry anthology for a classroom setting, this would be a great hit. We borrowed it from the library and it was too much for us to get through, though perhaps we will check it out again to continue.
One thing I've noticed about poetry collections is that they tend to either bias toward classic poetry (sometimes a little on the old-fashioned side) or simple childish rhymes. This collection takes the best of both camps and it is wonderful!
If you are interested in a shorter more general children's poetry anthology, here are a few of our favorites:
A Child's Book of Poems - Gyo Fujikawa- Superb illustrations with a wonderful assortment of classic and silly poems.
Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young - Jack Prelutsky - this collection focuses on short and silly rhymes (as it says, for the very young).
As for this collection, here is a sampling of the poets included:
Poets and authors who are well-known to adults, though they dabbled in children's rhymes / poems:
Hilaire Belloc, John Ciardi, Emily Dickinson, Rudyard Kipling, Ogden Nash, Michael J. Rosen, Christina Rossetti, and Carl Sandburg.
Children's authors, poets, and rhymers who have specialized in children's literature:
Rebecca Dotlich, Kristine O'Connell George, Avis Harley, Bobbi Katz, X. J. Kennedy, J. Patrick Lewis, Lillian Moore Rice, Jack Prelutsky, Alice Schertle, Janet S. Wong, and Jane Yolen.
One thing I've noticed about poetry collections is that they tend to either bias toward classic poetry (sometimes a little on the old-fashioned side) or simple childish rhymes. This collection takes the best of both camps and it is wonderful!
If you are interested in a shorter more general children's poetry anthology, here are a few of our favorites:
A Child's Book of Poems - Gyo Fujikawa- Superb illustrations with a wonderful assortment of classic and silly poems.
Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young - Jack Prelutsky - this collection focuses on short and silly rhymes (as it says, for the very young).
As for this collection, here is a sampling of the poets included:
Poets and authors who are well-known to adults, though they dabbled in children's rhymes / poems:
Hilaire Belloc, John Ciardi, Emily Dickinson, Rudyard Kipling, Ogden Nash, Michael J. Rosen, Christina Rossetti, and Carl Sandburg.
Children's authors, poets, and rhymers who have specialized in children's literature:
Rebecca Dotlich, Kristine O'Connell George, Avis Harley, Bobbi Katz, X. J. Kennedy, J. Patrick Lewis, Lillian Moore Rice, Jack Prelutsky, Alice Schertle, Janet S. Wong, and Jane Yolen.
July 25, 2017
1. Category/Genre: Poetry
2. Copyright date: 2012, edited by J. Patrick Lewis, US Children's Poet Laureate
3. Age level of interest: K -5, estimate
4. Reading level: 3rd and up, estimate
5. Brief description: This is a lovely book of poems of famous writers such as Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson and Jack Prelutsky to name a few. The poems are all of animals from hundreds of different species.
6. Two Characteristics:
1. Poetry draws on many kinds of language magic. The imagery of a poem involves direct sensory images of sight, sound, touch, smell or taste. One of the poems, Elephant by Ann Whitford Paul, gives the reader a sense of really hearing and seeing an elephant in all its glory. "A threatening cloud, plumped fat and gray, Snorts a thunder, rains a spray, And billows puffs of dust away, A weather maker every day."
2. Because children are visually minded, they respond readily to the picture-making quality of poetry. Again, in the poem referenced above, the picture gives you a visual of what the author has has written. If you read the poem first without showing the pictures, and then again showing the picture, I know younger students would really understand the poem better the second reading.
7. How well does book reach its intended audience. Early fluent readers would enjoy this book of poetry as there is more descriptive language and more pages in this book. There are many different kinds of animals represented in the poetry from the unusual, to African animals, to birds, to reptiles; all sure to reach the interest of any reader.
8. Awards/Reviews/Citations
Kirkus Review Issue 8/15/12
School Library Journal 10/3/12
2. Copyright date: 2012, edited by J. Patrick Lewis, US Children's Poet Laureate
3. Age level of interest: K -5, estimate
4. Reading level: 3rd and up, estimate
5. Brief description: This is a lovely book of poems of famous writers such as Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson and Jack Prelutsky to name a few. The poems are all of animals from hundreds of different species.
6. Two Characteristics:
1. Poetry draws on many kinds of language magic. The imagery of a poem involves direct sensory images of sight, sound, touch, smell or taste. One of the poems, Elephant by Ann Whitford Paul, gives the reader a sense of really hearing and seeing an elephant in all its glory. "A threatening cloud, plumped fat and gray, Snorts a thunder, rains a spray, And billows puffs of dust away, A weather maker every day."
2. Because children are visually minded, they respond readily to the picture-making quality of poetry. Again, in the poem referenced above, the picture gives you a visual of what the author has has written. If you read the poem first without showing the pictures, and then again showing the picture, I know younger students would really understand the poem better the second reading.
7. How well does book reach its intended audience. Early fluent readers would enjoy this book of poetry as there is more descriptive language and more pages in this book. There are many different kinds of animals represented in the poetry from the unusual, to African animals, to birds, to reptiles; all sure to reach the interest of any reader.
8. Awards/Reviews/Citations
Kirkus Review Issue 8/15/12
School Library Journal 10/3/12
Read
December 13, 2025National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!
National Geographic Kids. (2018). National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!. National Geographic Kids.
Genre and Format: Picture book; poetry / informational nonfiction.
National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry combines poetry with fascinating animal facts, helping young readers explore the natural world through rhythm, rhyme, and descriptive language. The book encourages observation, creativity, and an appreciation for wildlife.
Format and Illustrations: The book features full-color photographs of animals alongside each poem, enhancing comprehension and engagement. Playful layouts, varied typography, and visual storytelling make the content accessible for early elementary students.
Content Area / Curriculum Tie-Ins:
- Science: Animal biology, habitats, behaviors, ecosystems
- ELA: Poetry, rhyme, rhythm, descriptive language, vocabulary development
- Writing: Writing poems, observational journals, creative expression
- Social Studies: Human interaction with animals, conservation awareness
- STEM: Observation, classification, exploration of animal traits
- Social-Emotional Learning: Curiosity, empathy for living things, creativity
National Geographic Kids. (2018). National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!. National Geographic Kids.
Genre and Format: Picture book; poetry / informational nonfiction.
National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry combines poetry with fascinating animal facts, helping young readers explore the natural world through rhythm, rhyme, and descriptive language. The book encourages observation, creativity, and an appreciation for wildlife.
Format and Illustrations: The book features full-color photographs of animals alongside each poem, enhancing comprehension and engagement. Playful layouts, varied typography, and visual storytelling make the content accessible for early elementary students.
Content Area / Curriculum Tie-Ins:
- Science: Animal biology, habitats, behaviors, ecosystems
- ELA: Poetry, rhyme, rhythm, descriptive language, vocabulary development
- Writing: Writing poems, observational journals, creative expression
- Social Studies: Human interaction with animals, conservation awareness
- STEM: Observation, classification, exploration of animal traits
- Social-Emotional Learning: Curiosity, empathy for living things, creativity
September 5, 2018
After reading this book, I can honestly say I think any child would enjoy it! National Geographic did a great job of explaining a wide variety of animals through short and sweet poems that will keep children alert and interested from the first page to the last! Each poem discusses fun facts about the animals, including what kinds of food they like to eat, where they live, and their features which make them so unique. The realistic images in the book also will allow students to observe these creatures up close and personal, allowing them to gain a better sense of understanding as to how these species live their day-to-day lives. Although I think any child would love this book, I think this text mostly targets boys and girls in the second grade or above, as the book uses some larger words that younger children might not be familiar with. However, this book could be used as a read aloud for even the youngest of children! Kids love learning about animals, so I think this poetry book would appeal to just about any child. This is a book that I definitely am going to have in my future classroom!
January 24, 2018
National Geographic’s “Book of Animal Poetry” compiled by J. Patrick Lewis is a book filled with gorgeous and awe-inspiring pictures of various animals from National Geographic mingled with poems from a variety of authors. Using the beautiful pictures to draw them in, this book allows children to explore and learn about all different kinds of animals. It is divided into nine chapters like, Welcome to the World, Big Ones, Little Ones, Noisy ones etc. The collection has a mix of poetry from different authors like Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost Benjamin Franklin and even some new writers. This book would make a great resource for any elementary teacher, especially those who teach science and or writing because it would support an integrated study across these disciplines. The only caution I have about this book is that some of the poems talk about the killing of some animals, which may be difficult for young children but would be educational to many others. This would be a wonderful book for the whole family but it probably most enjoyed by children ages 4-8.
January 29, 2020
Book of Animal Poetry by J. Patrick Lewis was great poetry with lots of educational information. This book is filled with detailed and incredible photos. The photos of the animals in the book were beautiful and real. There was a poem in this book about a tiger and it went, "there was a young lady of Niger, who smiled as she rode on a tiger, they returned from the ride with the lady inside, and the smile on the face of the tiger." This is a little humorous, but also shows that tigers are predators. The poems rhyme and this is helpful when young students are learning about rhyming words. I really think this book would be helpful in elementary classrooms because you could focus on a different animal each week and this could start of the week. There are so many poems in this book and so many different things to learn about animals. The poems are written by different authors and have different styles. They don't all rhyme. I would recommend this book to the ages 1st to 3rd grade.
May 6, 2022
There is definitely a reason why this book is considered one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews. The poetry is fun, thought-provoking, and perfect for children. The National Geographic photographs are also stunning and complimentary with every poem. Children will also appreciate the poetry lesson at the end of the book to help them with their writing, and parents will love the easy-to-use index to find their favorite animals. I also appreciate the resources and references listed at the end of the book.
I started reading this book last year, but I gave my copy to my friend's son for his birthday, so I didn't finish it. I purchased another copy for myself, and I'm excited that I finally read it for National Poetry Month and some of May. I will reread this one every year, and I can't wait to read it to my own children one day.
I started reading this book last year, but I gave my copy to my friend's son for his birthday, so I didn't finish it. I purchased another copy for myself, and I'm excited that I finally read it for National Poetry Month and some of May. I will reread this one every year, and I can't wait to read it to my own children one day.
October 17, 2024
This book has 200 poems in it all about different animals my first reaction to this book was that it was going to be too overwhelming but it wasn't it is organized very nicely and flows easily. Its illustrations are very good and lifelike. I would use this with k-4 for kindergarten it would just be good for them to see all the different types of animals that might not be typical. For the older grade, it would be a good interesting book to teach poetry, a good science topic you could also turn it into a social studies lesson when talking about where the different types of animals live. I would use this in my classroom for all curriculums, looking at the poetry for language arts, the animals and facts for science and the animals and where they live for social studies, this is a great book to use in the classroom.
September 10, 2019
Book of Animal Poetry by National Geographic
This book has fantastic pictures that go very well with the poetry inside. The book is organized into 9 chapters that make it very easy to understand for children as young as preschool. The pictures along with the poetry give children a fantastic visual about many different types of animals. The poetry is a fun way to give facts of wildlife. Not to mention, the book includes two hundred poems. Each chapter covers different types of animals and mentions their differences and similarities. I even learned something from this poem as I had not heard of some of the animals mentioned, therefore, I think children of all ages could benefit from this poetry book.
This book has fantastic pictures that go very well with the poetry inside. The book is organized into 9 chapters that make it very easy to understand for children as young as preschool. The pictures along with the poetry give children a fantastic visual about many different types of animals. The poetry is a fun way to give facts of wildlife. Not to mention, the book includes two hundred poems. Each chapter covers different types of animals and mentions their differences and similarities. I even learned something from this poem as I had not heard of some of the animals mentioned, therefore, I think children of all ages could benefit from this poetry book.
December 14, 2019
I am surprised at how well these photographs work, because they could so easily overwhelm the poems.
I love the categories, the consistency in the font, and many of the selections (especially the haiku, which feel nice paired with a photo).
I wish it was noted when the poem was actually a portion of a poem. (They did it once with Charles Mackay's "from I Have Lived & and [sic] I have Loved." Why not for all the others?
Also, every time I came to a Hilaire Belloc poem it felt like a sour note (ditto for the limericks); and I don't know why the editors felt "The Hippopotamus" needed to be here. It's a silly rhyme and for some reason the casual violence isn't funny. (Maybe because> it is paired with a photograph.)
I love the categories, the consistency in the font, and many of the selections (especially the haiku, which feel nice paired with a photo).
I wish it was noted when the poem was actually a portion of a poem. (They did it once with Charles Mackay's "from I Have Lived & and [sic] I have Loved." Why not for all the others?
Also, every time I came to a Hilaire Belloc poem it felt like a sour note (ditto for the limericks); and I don't know why the editors felt "The Hippopotamus" needed to be here. It's a silly rhyme and for some reason the casual violence isn't funny. (Maybe because> it is paired with a photograph.)
December 24, 2024
The pictures were quite beautiful and stole the book. I found myself mesmerized by the beauty and the poems were secondary. Blending the pictures would have made it more story driven. Many of the pictures would have made a better cover photo selection. The chapter titles were unique - big, little, winged, water, strange, noisy, quiet. And the 2-pagewriting poems on animals was done well. The addition of a Navajo poem and Nursery rhymes added to those by Nash, Prelutsky, Frost and many other poets.
The quantity of poems and multiple anonymous poems diluted the impact of the book.
Making decisions on what to cut out is difficult but necessary to make it enjoyable for the reader to not feel bogged down like a homework assignment.
The quantity of poems and multiple anonymous poems diluted the impact of the book.
Making decisions on what to cut out is difficult but necessary to make it enjoyable for the reader to not feel bogged down like a homework assignment.
April 27, 2020
I have to admit I bought this one based on the cover (we've got a giraffe lover in our house) and the fact that the poems are accompanied by National Geographic photographs... But I am delighted that I invested in it! Though the book is 184 pages, Lewis has grouped them roughly by theme ("the big ones," "the strange ones," "the quiet ones," and more) for readabity and navigating ease. He's also got four indexes (title, poet, first line, and subject) to make finding just the poem you're looking for easy. My favorite, though, is the spread about writing poems about animals, where Lewis teaches about poetic forms and encourages children to try writing their own animal poetry.
September 19, 2017
A fun collection of 200 animal poems, beautifully assembled with full-page photos of the animals being described. In terms of style, it holds to the high standard you'd expect from National Geographic. The poems are almost all accessible to younger readers, and some made me laugh out loud. I'd recommend this book to 8-12 year olds, though it's a good readaloud for younger ages. As the editor states in the intro, this isn't a book to be read in one go, but to be enjoyed here and there a few poems at a time.
June 11, 2024
Auditioning this one for one of our Morning Time poetry books for next year. It's a fun collection, but isn't quite what I'm looking for. There aren't enough poems to keep us busy the entire year (which isn't necessarily a deal breaker), and while the photographs are visually impressive, I love the artwork of our previous animal poetry book much better.
Would I pick it up if I found it in a used book store? Absolutely. And perhaps we'll add it in to our Morning Time rotation at some point--but as a bonus, not as one of our foundation books.
Would I pick it up if I found it in a used book store? Absolutely. And perhaps we'll add it in to our Morning Time rotation at some point--but as a bonus, not as one of our foundation books.
July 24, 2017
The amazing photographs that accompany the beautiful poems within this animal themed poetry book will blow your mind! There are a mixture of both classic and new poems about animals that are paired with stunning pictures of wildlife in action. This book simply cannot be beat, with it's colors, animals, pictures, writing, and scenery, it will make you feel like you are right there in the wild with them.
July 24, 2017
National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs that Squeak, Soar, and Roar! is a children’s picture book that is edited by J. Patrick Lewis. This poetry book is full of famous poems that are all about animals. There are images of animals on every single page and the reader will be completely engaged in this book as the pictures seem to come to life with up close and personal views of animals from all over the world (Lewis, 2012).
April 16, 2018
The National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar! is a beautiful poetry picture book. The unique feature of this book is definitely the pictures. Each poem has a picture of the animal discussed arranged and photographed in different and unique ways. The pictures are creative and bring attention to each animal, adding to the poetry which is also written in varying format. I would recommend this book for Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
October 3, 2012
Animals make for good poetry. That's just common sense. When humans get misty eyed and start thinking their great grand thoughts, they tend to be inspired by some form of nature. Naturally, some animals in particular are replete with awe-inspiring tendencies. Bald eagles, say. So where does that put your average hamster or flamingo? Not all animals are built to accompany great grand thoughts after all. Some of them are best suited to small, sly, clever verses instead. Taken as a whole, there are probably more animal poems in the world than a person could imagine. That's why it's rather clever of J. Patrick Lewis to pair with National Geographic's talented photography department to bring us a gorgeously designed book of animal poems. You name the animal, the man has found (or perhaps solicited?) a poem to fit. Containing everything from limericks to haiku, this collection of two hundred poems and who knows how many photos is a visual feast for eye and ear alike.
"If you listen very carefully, you'll hear the chicken hatching," reads the first poem in this book. It's "The Egg" by Jack Prelutsky and it starts off National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry's "Welcome to the World" section. Split into eight different sections, the book categorizes its contents not by genus or species but by only the grandest of terms. There are "the big ones", "the little ones", "the winged ones", "the water ones", "the strange ones", "the noisy ones", and "the quiet ones". Each poem is accompanied by a photograph, and sometimes the photograph is accompanied by more than one poem. There are verses poignant and funny, thought provoking and wild. Finally, at the end of the book, there is a section on "writing poems about animals" that aids kids by giving them a range of different forms to try. This is followed by a two-page spread of resources and four indexes at the end, one by title, one by poet, one by first line, and one by subject.
What is unclear to me is the ratio of poems Lewis knew about and found verses the poems he went out and asked for. I noticed quite a few contemporary children's poets between these pages. Janet S. Wong, Jane Yolen, Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, Michael J. Rosen, Bobbi Katz, Betsy Franco, etc. And I could not help but notice that those contemporary poets tended to write for some of the more difficult animals. The anemone, the blue jay, or the raccoon, for example. Here's another question for you: Which came first, the photograph or the poem? Did Mr. Lewis plow through untold hundreds of National Geographic photos, old and new, cull the best and then find the poems, or did he find the poems first and then match the photos to fit? Certainly some of the National Geographic's better known images are in this book (the picture of the flamingoes standing in the shape of a flamingo, for example). Sadly no note exists in this book telling us what Mr. Lewis's process was.
There is a form to the chapters of this book but not so much form within the chapters. You might wonder at this at first, but since it's easy enough to locate your favorite critter by using the subject index at the end of the book, it's understandable why you might want to take the advice Mr. J. Patrick Lewis proffers at the beginning of the collection and know that "This book is not for reading straight through." You dip in and find old favorites and new with ease. One librarian commented to me her surprise that the tiger poem in this book wasn't William Blake's "Tyger Tyger Burning Bright". True enough, but the anonymous poem with its classic limerick about the lady from Niger is rather well known within its own right. I was also amused in a very fifth grade boy kind of way by Michael J. Rosen's blue-footed booby poem. You'll have to see it for yourself to understand why.
There are a couple times when the poem paired to the photo is a bit misleading or confusing. For example, for the picture of a butterfly still within its chrysalis, the poem is instead about a cocoon. I suppose cocoons are significantly less impressive photography-wise than chrysalises, but I've little doubt that kids will find the terms interchangeable now. Similarly there's a poem about a sea horse that is inexplicably paired with an impressive but very different image of a weedy sea dragon. Credit where credit is due, each photograph is accompanied by a very small written description of its subject matter, but nine times out of ten the child reader will be relying on the poem to explain what they're seeing. Probably because nine times out of ten that would be the right move.
I can only imagine the sheer amounts of blood, sweat and tears that went into the collection and design of the book itself. It has its little quirks here and there, but if you're seeking a poetry book for kids that children would willingly pick up and flip through, even if they have hitherto professed to not like poetry in the slightest, this is your best bet. A gorgeous little number that has the occasional slip-up, it is nonetheless a magnificent collection and book that is well worth the space it takes up. 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.
For ages 7-12.
"If you listen very carefully, you'll hear the chicken hatching," reads the first poem in this book. It's "The Egg" by Jack Prelutsky and it starts off National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry's "Welcome to the World" section. Split into eight different sections, the book categorizes its contents not by genus or species but by only the grandest of terms. There are "the big ones", "the little ones", "the winged ones", "the water ones", "the strange ones", "the noisy ones", and "the quiet ones". Each poem is accompanied by a photograph, and sometimes the photograph is accompanied by more than one poem. There are verses poignant and funny, thought provoking and wild. Finally, at the end of the book, there is a section on "writing poems about animals" that aids kids by giving them a range of different forms to try. This is followed by a two-page spread of resources and four indexes at the end, one by title, one by poet, one by first line, and one by subject.
What is unclear to me is the ratio of poems Lewis knew about and found verses the poems he went out and asked for. I noticed quite a few contemporary children's poets between these pages. Janet S. Wong, Jane Yolen, Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, Michael J. Rosen, Bobbi Katz, Betsy Franco, etc. And I could not help but notice that those contemporary poets tended to write for some of the more difficult animals. The anemone, the blue jay, or the raccoon, for example. Here's another question for you: Which came first, the photograph or the poem? Did Mr. Lewis plow through untold hundreds of National Geographic photos, old and new, cull the best and then find the poems, or did he find the poems first and then match the photos to fit? Certainly some of the National Geographic's better known images are in this book (the picture of the flamingoes standing in the shape of a flamingo, for example). Sadly no note exists in this book telling us what Mr. Lewis's process was.
There is a form to the chapters of this book but not so much form within the chapters. You might wonder at this at first, but since it's easy enough to locate your favorite critter by using the subject index at the end of the book, it's understandable why you might want to take the advice Mr. J. Patrick Lewis proffers at the beginning of the collection and know that "This book is not for reading straight through." You dip in and find old favorites and new with ease. One librarian commented to me her surprise that the tiger poem in this book wasn't William Blake's "Tyger Tyger Burning Bright". True enough, but the anonymous poem with its classic limerick about the lady from Niger is rather well known within its own right. I was also amused in a very fifth grade boy kind of way by Michael J. Rosen's blue-footed booby poem. You'll have to see it for yourself to understand why.
There are a couple times when the poem paired to the photo is a bit misleading or confusing. For example, for the picture of a butterfly still within its chrysalis, the poem is instead about a cocoon. I suppose cocoons are significantly less impressive photography-wise than chrysalises, but I've little doubt that kids will find the terms interchangeable now. Similarly there's a poem about a sea horse that is inexplicably paired with an impressive but very different image of a weedy sea dragon. Credit where credit is due, each photograph is accompanied by a very small written description of its subject matter, but nine times out of ten the child reader will be relying on the poem to explain what they're seeing. Probably because nine times out of ten that would be the right move.
I can only imagine the sheer amounts of blood, sweat and tears that went into the collection and design of the book itself. It has its little quirks here and there, but if you're seeking a poetry book for kids that children would willingly pick up and flip through, even if they have hitherto professed to not like poetry in the slightest, this is your best bet. A gorgeous little number that has the occasional slip-up, it is nonetheless a magnificent collection and book that is well worth the space it takes up. 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.
For ages 7-12.
March 27, 2018
This book divides up animals by what category that they fall in, for example, winged animals, water animals, BIG animals, etc. The book contains easy to read poems for youngsters to read to the point where they can go up to the classroom bookshelf and choose the book themselves! Great and fun book to read!
December 11, 2018
We are using this as part of our homeschool curriculum and am thrilled with it. Neither me or my girls are very interested in poetry. The pictures, cute and short poems and subjects of this book was a great introduction to poetry that held our interest. Plus, we learned a lot about animals along the way.
March 17, 2019
Absolutely incredible compilation of poetry about animals. I love that it is arranged by type of animal and there are some pages that have multiple poems about the same animal. There is a great resource in the back to help kids write their own animal poetry, as well as resources for additional poems. Looking forward to ordering this one! Perfect for all K-12 collections.
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March 20, 2020This is a fun book full of poems about animals of all different kinds. There are many different poets who contributed to this collection. The pictures are beautiful and my three-year-old cousin loved looking at and identifying all of the animals within. There are many different forms of poetry and there is a section in the back that includes information on those different forms.
May 29, 2020
This is a gorgeous book! The photographs are a great complement to the poems. I found myself getting lost in both the pictures and the poems. Many of my favorites poets are included--Robert Frost, Jack Prelutsky, Emily Dickinson, and younger Elizabeth's absolute favorite, Ogden Nash. (I couldn't get enough of him as a kid.) This would be a beautiful gift book.
March 23, 2021
For the love of animals!!! For the love of poetry!!! This is a beautiful anthology collection of poems!!! It describes the beauty of animals and animal life. It includes photos from renounced National Geographic Photographers! This is a book that could be used for a read aloud to age students to engage them in a poetic take on informational text... A must read and share...
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