Pug: And Other Animal Poems

by Valerie Worth, Steve Jenkins

In the follow-up to the well-received Animal Poems, Pug: And Other Animal Poems examines a wide range of animal behavior, from the fleetingness of a fly sipping spilled milk to the constant steely presence of a powerful bull; the greedy meal of a street rat to a cat's quiet gift of a dead mouse on the doorstep. Steve Jenkins's bright collage art brings these small moments to life.

A Margaret Ferguson Book.

Genres: Poetry, Animals, Picture Books, Childrens, Juvenile, Nonfiction, Kids

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2013

About the author

(October 29, 1933 - July 31, 1994)
Acclaimed poet Valerie Worth Bahlke was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Swarthmore, where her father taught biology at Swarthmore College. The family then moved to Tampa, Florida, and Bangalore, India, where they lived for one year. Valerie returned to Swarthmore to attend college, graduating with an English degree and High Honors. Shortly thereafter she married George Bahlke, a fellow Swarthmore graduate. After settling in Clinton, NY, Valerie met Natalie Babbitt at Kirkland College, and Natalie began to illustrate Valerie's work, starting with Small Poems in 1972. Three more volumes followed: More Small Poems (1976); Still More Small Poems (1978); and Small Poems Again (1986). All four volumes were issued in a single paperback, All the Small Poems (1987), and seven years later, All the Small Poems and Fourteen More was released and was then followed by a paperback edition in 1996. In 2002, FSG posthumously published Peacock and Other Poems by Valerie Worth, with pictures by Natalie Babbitt, a collection of 27 poems which Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, said "heralds the joy of words." School Library Journal, in a starred review, declared that "[Valerie Worth's] work gives children something to admire and aim for."

Valerie Worth was honored by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) in 1991 with its Poetry Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, which acknowledges a body of work.

Reviews

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

PUG AND OTHER ANIMAL POEMS by Valerie Worth and Steve Jenkins, ill., Farrar Straus & Giroux, March 2013, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-374-35024-8

"PUG

With their goggling
Eyes and stumpy
Noses, wrinkled
Brows and hairy
Moles, they're what
Some people
Might call plug-ugly;
Perhaps because, for
Dogs, they look
A lot like people."

As I've written on previous occasions, I have an index card file box filled with canary-colored index cards upon each of which I've copied a favorite children's poem and the bibliographic information for that poem. The initial set of cards in my poetry box -- organized by category -- animal, child, community, machines, plants, physical forces -- was compiled nearly a quarter-century ago, while I was studying early childhood education and I was spending forever in the library reading scores and scores of children's poetry books and anthologies to find the ones that really turned me on. This box was then employed every day at circle time when I'd always take a minute to pull out a card and read aloud one of those poems.

So, in reading PUG AND OTHER ANIMAL POEMS, a posthumous collection of Valerie Worth's works, I recall reading most of these poems way back when, including some that made it into my poetry box.

So, what is mind-blowing to me about this posthumous collection, is the skill exhibited by collage artist Steve Jenkins to bring each of these poems to life. Jenkins, a guy who already has received Caldecott recognition in the past, continues to grow his already amazing artistry. Look at the cover illustration for the title track, PUG. Look at the folds of skin on the forehead. Look the lighting on the nose. Look at the eyes and the eyebrows and the whiskers and the jowls. How the heck does he bring paper to life like he does?

I just wish that I could go back to being the poetry-obsessed nine year-old that once was so that I could see these spreads through those eyes as I read these poems aloud to myself.

"TOADS

That house
Had shallow
Wells around the
Cellar windows,

Places all
Their own,
Holding a clutter
Of leaves,

Lost tennis
Balls and
Marbles, and
Sometimes

Leathery
Lumps of
Earth with
Gilded eyes."

Get set for rats and fireflies, bulls and opossums, fish and sparrows and pigeons. A total joy to stare at and read aloud, this is a collection you cannot miss.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over Jack Prelutsky! In her lifetime, Valerie Worth wrote just about the finest poems for young readers in contemporary American Lit. And they didn't have to be rhyme-y, whimsical things. Worth's collected works, All the Small Poems and Fourteen More, is a classic. An inspired teacher could use Worth's poems to teach kids a genuine appreciation of poetry, even to reluctant readers and those with LDs. Hers are precise, simple poems that find in ordinary things Blake's universe in a grain of sand. Pug is a magnificent book. Each poem celebrates a different animal, both wild and domesticated. Steve Jenkins' (What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?) collage art is a spectacular counterpart. I truly love this book.

from “Bull”

When the earth
Shook forth
Great beasts
From its deep
Folds, gold
Fountains
…

The bull
Would not
Melt: but
Had to be
Hacked out,
Rough-hewn,
From the planet’s
Hard side,
From the cold
Black rock
That abides.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short poems on appx. twenty animals are illustrated by paper collages. The animals range from the prosaic to the exotic and the tone and perspective of the poems vary but always contain close observation and a spirit of inquiry.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a huge fan of poetry, but I loved this book! Granted, the poetry was definitely outshadowed by the amazing illustrations, but they were still enjoyable.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenkins can pretty much illustrate anything and I will read it.

[Julie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original poetry and amazing illustrations. From my experience of reading these to my kids, the ideal audience would be children from the 1st to 5th grades.

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Pug and Other Animal Poems
Author: Valerie Worth
Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Genre: picture book of poems
Theme(s): pugs, animals, poetry, nature
Opening line/sentence: “Nearly a myth, his shady mask”

Brief Book Summary: This book has a collection of 18 free verse poems with illustrations to accompany them. Every poem is about a different animal that the author analyzes and then brings certain aspects of that animal into perspective. The connection between nature and animals is brought to light through the use of poetry.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus Reviews

(https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

This collection features 18 free-verse poems about the animal kingdom, including insects, fish, birds, wild animals and three pets: a dachshund, a prowling cat and the titular pug, shown in an appealing head-on view on the cover. Some of the animal subjects are less than engaging (a dead mouse left on the doorstep, a rat surrounded by garbage), but Worth finds tiny details and meaningful observations in each animal she examines, asking readers to accept any animal as a worthy subject for poetic examination. A few of the poems will be accessible to younger children, but most are more appropriate for children in upper-elementary grades or middle school; some will demand an adult’s help in interpretation. Jenkins provides illustrations in his dazzling paper-collage format with impressive results, from a luminous firefly to a snarling tiger. There is no thematic flow or organization of the poems, so readers hop about the animal world in a slightly jarring manner, though the illustrations are captivating whatever the subject.


Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CLCD Randall Enos (Booklist, Feb. 15, 2013 (Vol. 109, No. 12))

(http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...)

As with the highly regarded Animal Poems (2007), Jenkins meticulous cut-paper collage images successfully catch the essence of Worth’s concise, vivid poems about a startling variety of creatures. The 18 featured animals, each radiant upon a separate double-page spread against boldly colored backgrounds, run the gamut from large (bull) to small (fly), from beautiful (Bengal tiger) to ugly (pug), from lively (fox) to dead (mouse), and from unusual (wood thrush) to more common ( My Cat ). Rendered in action close-ups, each should be recognizable to children. Worth’s free-verse poems are chock-full of delicious metaphor ( The Bengal tiger / Batters his cage; / His rage is thunder, / Sharp stripes flash ), providing a precise mental image. While some concepts may be a tad sophisticated for the youngest, the language and images should inspire appreciation in audiences of all ages. Preschool-Grade 2

Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I like how both reviews pointed out the bold, colorful illustrations that helped to highlight the subject of each poem. I agree with the second review that states some of the concepts may be too sophisticated for younger readers. I would say that this book is age appropriate for any child in elementary school, though. The first review states that this book may be good for middle school students, as well, which I would also agree with.

Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The lack of organization and flow from one poem to the next makes this book better for younger children. However, the figurative language makes this a good selection for older elementary students/middle school students too. The illustrations add to the depth of the free verse poems. The fact that all of the poems are free verse also shows children that not all poetry needs to be structured.

Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would definitely use this book as a mentor text when teaching a mini lesson on poetry. I could have students create their own free verse poems about animals and nature. I also think it would be beneficial to allow students to look at this book on their own time by leaving it out during silent reading time.

[Valerie Nyswonger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, an NCTE award winner, wrote this book in verse. This poetry book is perfect for an animal lover. On each page of the book, there is a poem about a different character. The poem describes a new animal and what may come to mind when you see them. Each page has a different setting that fits the animal. Most of them are rather simple to keep the focus on the animal. Unfortunately, the copyright page does not show what kind of artistic media the illustrator used to create the wonderful illustrations.

[Joplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book with many different poems in it Pug and animal Poems may be the book for you. This non fiction book written by Valerie Worth and illustrated by Steve Jenkins had a great collection of poetry with many different animals. The poems are very well written but my favorite thing about this book was that the illustrations really brought the story out more. You can see how well the illustrations are just by the cover page. I’d recommend this for teachers who are doing a poetry unit or even just a fluent reader who loves poetry!

[Lindsay Niebuhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an interesting compilation of multiple poems about pugs and various animals. I would give this book 3 out of five stars because of its interesting nature and multiple poems about children's favorite animals.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry rhymes about various animals are accompanied by colorful collage-like illustrations.

[Susanne Davison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations very much!!!

[MangoReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of poems.My favorite poem is Opposum.Amazing collages by Steve Jenkins.A great book for 3rd grade and up.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful poems! And the art was exquisite. Beautiful

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only Pug--and a dachshund--but also a fox, a cat, a rabbit, an opossum, a bull, a fly, a Bengal tiger, rabbits, geese, a thrush, toads, a mouse, a cicada, sparrows, pigeons & a rat are profiled.

[Gracelyn Mathias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book included 12 poems about different animals. Each poem could be read individually but I loved how they built on each other. I would recommend for any teacher starting to introduce poetry.

[Molly Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Pug: And Other Animal Poems
Author: Valerie Worth
Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Genre: Poetry
Theme(s): Animals
Opening line/sentence: Nearly a myth, his shady mask, his flickering feet, his fiery tail; streaking the dark like a fabulous comet - famous, but seldom seen.
Brief Book Summary: This is a book full of poems. With every page turn, there is a new poem about an animal - such as a fox, cat bunny, and a bull.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature)
Short poems about fish, birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals will delight young children. A cicada coming out of its shell is described: A fairy/ Tale come/ True: the/ Humped brown/ Gnome split/ Up the back,/ The silver-/ Caped prince/ Set free. In Mouse a dead mouse is memorialized, Left as a gift on the step. A cat, pug, and dachshund represent household pets. An opossum, fox, and toad are some of the familiar wild animals. A fly sipping a drop of milk, geese in flight, and a caged Bengal tiger look almost real in spite of being collages. Bright pictures of animals are against plain colored backgrounds. On a black page a firefly flashes its light. Children will enjoy these short, imaginative animal poems and pictures. A follow-up to Animal Poems, the first collaboration by Worth and Jenkins (2007). Eighteen animal poems make up this collection. 2013, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan,, $16.99. Ages 4 to 7.
(PUBLISHER: Farrar Straus Giroux (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2013.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Deborah Stevenson (The Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books, March 2013 (Vol. 66, No. 7))
Following up on Animal Poems, Jenkins again selects an array of elegant free verse by classic twentieth-century poet Valerie Worth, combining each of the eighteen verses with a dramatic cut-paper portrait of its animal subject. Worth s poems are precise and gemlike in their glittering compactness; some are gently playful (pugs are what/ Some people/ Might call plug-ugly/ Perhaps because, for/ Dogs, they look/ A lot like people ), others reach heights of grandeur ( The bull/ Would not/ Melt: but/ Had to be/ Hacked out,/ Rough-hewn,/ From the planet s/ Hard side ), and all display her delight in consonance, assonance, and careful wordsmithing. Jenkins ramps up the impact with compositions of tight focus, posing animals mostly against contrasting backdrops of solid rich color (the bull s dark bulk looms across a three-quarter spread of flame red; a firefly, lacework wings in stop-motion stillness mid-flight, floats in a sea of nocturnal dark blue). His birds especially transcend the static genre, with geese bodies contracting and flexing as they soar and pigeons wing-beats fluttering across a city skyline. The sonorousness of the poems make them terrific readalouds, their compactness and engaging subject will appeal to reluctant readers, and their craftsmanship will draw established poetry fans. Review Code: R* -- Recommended. A book of special distinction. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2013, Ferguson/Farrar, 32p.; Reviewed from galleys, $16.99. Grades 3-7.
(PUBLISHER: Farrar Straus Giroux (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2013.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews give a thoughtful recommendation for for Worth's poems. Each review gave an example of poems as well. I agree with the second review in saying that the poems would be terrific for read alouds because the subject matter would interest all readers. The poems are short and imaginative that make they easy to read.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book would immediately engage readers with the illustrated animals and bright colors. The poems would appeal to all students through Worth's easy style of writing.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book would be used when teaching a poetry unit for first or second grade. The poems use an abundance of describing words that enable students to visualize what they are reading. After reading aloud some of the poems, I would have students write their own animal poem. Before writing their own poem, I would have them help me think of descriptive words to write on the board that would help them in their own writing.

[Wendy Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pug: And Other Animal Poems

Worth, V., & Jenkins, S. (2013). Pug: and other animal poems. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

School Library Journal Starred Review

Category: Poetry

I love pugs, so the cover of this book captured me instantly. In fact, the illustrations are delightful. Steve Jenkins employs collage in a way that makes the animal images appear three-dimensional and textural. Valerie Worth's poems, a different animal for each two-page spread, range from the "Awww! Cute!" dachshund who finds it "hard to keep from drooping/When you've got so long a body--" to the "Huh, that's...kind of weird" dead mouse who was brought in as a gift by a cat. If you are one to prefer the cute type of poem, the excellent Once I Ate a Pie might be more to your taste.

Worth's book contains serious poetry about real animals, from a cicada ("A fairy tale come true") to a gutter rat ("King in his castle of old rag and bone.") The imagery, coupled with those wonderful illustrations, is special, and any one of these poems would make an excellent classroom study unto itself. Taken as a whole, the book could be a quick read, but it's better studied more closely.

[Ashley Schiess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pug: And Other Animal Poems is a darling book of short poems, each about a different animal. It ranges from household pets, to insects, to animals most of us will only ever see in a zoo! Each poem describes the animal and uses beautiful language to describe the life it leads. The pictures area also very well done and have a construction-paper texture look to them, so they really pop off the page!

I think children would love this book, because it has short poems they can focus on, the pictures are captivating, the poems are written as if a child wrote them, and most children love to read about animals! I would use this book with 3-5 grade students because there is some higher-level vocabulary in each poem. Some poems also elude to other things that are not directly said about the animal, so younger children might not catch onto that, while older children could appreciate it! This book is great because there is an animal in it for every student!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so envious of Steve Jenkin’s collage talents. The illustrations amaze. When examining the details, I always want to see his studio, with the unimaginable patterned and textured papers he must have. This book of 18 of Valerie Worth’s poems both informs and entertains. From learning of the MIA life of a fox to the interesting “home” of a toad Steve Jenkins, each of the poems show that Worth certainly knew what she was writing about. Having numerous rabbits in my new garden, a favorite is the poem titled “Rabbits.” In it, Worth. She speaks of rabbits staying ‘along the/Grassy fringe/ unhastily, in peaceful thought, it seeks. I realize many have read this book, so for those you haven’t, please check it out. It’s a perfect example of the creative way to communicate non-fiction research.

[Hannah Moles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Jenkins's, the author of this book, uses collage art with bright colors to bring moments of animal behavior to life. As the review of the book states, “[there is] a wide range of animal behavior, from the fleetingness of a fly sipping spilled milk to the constant steely presence of a powerful bull; the greedy meal of a street rat to a cat's quiet gift of a dead mouse on the doorstep.” I honestly couldn't say it any better myself. This book really shows the beauty in the small things. I really enjoyed looking at all the vibrant illustrations and poems.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I think that it is a good book for younger readers, as well as older elementary students studying poetry or just for enjoyment. I think this book is a great read with a lot of great points throughout.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pug and Other Poems by Valerie Worth, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Margaret Ferguson Books, 2013
40 pages
Poetry
Recommended for all ages!

Valerie Worth is a master or words. We know her for taking the simple and putting the most perfect words with it. Be it a chair or a cow, Valerie can help us see it and appreciate it in an entirely new way. So of course, we expect nothing less of her here! Each short animal poem in this little collection is as darling and as true as we could ever hope to find. And the illustrations, the illustrations bring this to a new level. Steve Jenkins' beautiful collage work will have you appreciating the time and attention to detail of each animal image. This is needed in all of our poetry collections!

[Bracelle Trujillo]

Primary (K-3)

School Library Journal starred 03/01/2013 (retrieved from titlewave)

This poetry book looks at animals in a slightly different way. Valerie Worth depicts animals by the experiences she has with them in addition to the way she sees them.

Pug and Other Animal Poems is a great book to use with AASL standard 1.3.2(Seek divergent perspectives during information gathering and assessment). It would not only provide a different perspective to thier own, but would also spawn an inquiry to various other individuals (teachers, other students, parents, etc...)

Worth, V. (2013). Pug and Other Animal Poems. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that there's a pug on the cover, I have to admit, I liked Animal Poems better than Pug and Other Animal Poems, but not by much. Not only is the poetry in this book dripping with gorgeous language, but Steve Jenkins's paper cut-out illustrations feel so three-dimensional that they almost jump off the page. Other than the pug, the bengal tiger is my favorite illustration in the book. It is so complex and full of texture.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poems about animals both wild and domestic. There's a little bit of everything in this collection of poetry: warmth, humor, even a touch of sadness.

Favorites include "Fly" about a common house fly and "Bengal Tiger" about a regal beast caged in a zoo. Cut paper collage illustrations are incredibly detailed and bring beauty to each animal while the variety of materials used adds delicious texture and depth.

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, yet highly descriptive poems about animals, combine with simple, yet detailed collage art to form the perfect poetry book for young readers. Recommended for kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Children could use these poems as a jumping off point for an animal research project. After I read "Wood Thrush," I immediately went on the internet to hear its call, which was so beautifully described in the poem. Five out of five stars.

[Kris]

Well-known, prolific and talented paper artist Steve Jenkins brings to life a follow-up collection to Animal Poems by the late Valerie Worth. Jenkins' work is expressive and accurate, bringing depth and texture to his cut-paper illustrations. A great choice to share with children of all ages.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are gorgeous, no doubt about that, but I wasn't very inspired by the poems themselves. Based on the strength of the poetry, this would have been a 2 star book for me, but the illustrations bumped it up to 3. (I'm really wondering what's wrong with me, as everyone else seems to love this book--maybe I'll try it again a little later and see if my opinion changes.)

[Liz B · Rating 4 out of 5]

These poems, with their style of close observation and clever comparison, are both immediately accessible to most children and worth a closer look in terms of use of language and the way they help us to see our world in new ways. For me, the art was too static for the power of the poems, but then that is not what I am most interested in for picture books.

[Paul Farbman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite poems in this book were Fox and Bull.

The s and f sounds used give a good sound quality to Fox. He is compared to a mythical character, and words like fiery, streaking, and famous present him in an epic manner.

I enjoyed the metaphor that compares the rough hewn bull to hard rock cut from the Earth.