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Animal Poems
"Ms. Worth brilliantly employs all aspects of the poet's craft." – The New York Times Book Review
Each of the exquisite twenty-three poems in this posthumous collection by Valerie Worth carefully distinguishes one animal from all other creatures and captures it in all of its wonderful singularity – from wasp to snake to wren. The way Worth perfectly illuminates the uniqueness of each animal in her precise and elegant free verse will delight both fans of her celebrated Small Poems and readers encountering her poetry for the first time.
Breathtakingly rich cut-paper illustrations by Steve Jenkins provide a perfect counterpoint to Worth's spare style, and together poetry and picture bring every animal vividly to life.
Animal Poems is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Each of the exquisite twenty-three poems in this posthumous collection by Valerie Worth carefully distinguishes one animal from all other creatures and captures it in all of its wonderful singularity – from wasp to snake to wren. The way Worth perfectly illuminates the uniqueness of each animal in her precise and elegant free verse will delight both fans of her celebrated Small Poems and readers encountering her poetry for the first time.
Breathtakingly rich cut-paper illustrations by Steve Jenkins provide a perfect counterpoint to Worth's spare style, and together poetry and picture bring every animal vividly to life.
Animal Poems is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published March 20, 2007
96 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Worth
23 books14 followers(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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 19, 2009
Animal Poems by Valerie Worth is a themed poetry book of twenty-three free verse animal poems. Each poem creatively gives some factual information allowing readers to learn about the different animals. However, animal facts are not the focus of this book. Instead Worth chooses a unique focus for each poem such as the elephant’s job of doing foolish circus tricks and the important skill of pulling down the tent when it’s time to leave town. I think readers would enjoy Worth’s choice in animals from the common bear and snake to the unexpected cockroach, porcupine, and minnow. Steven Jenkins’ illustrations truly make this book appealing. The paper made porcupine on the cover grabs a reader’s attention right away. There is so much depth to each animal it’s hard to take your eyes off the pictures. Younger readers would enjoy the illustrations and older readers would be interested in the descriptive poetry. This book could be a good model for students on the imagery that poetry can provide. Ages 4-10.
April 29, 2018
target audience : 2yrs-12yrs
summary –Poetry, animal subjects accompanied with pictures of those animals. Twenty three familiar animals to most children.
strengths/weaknesses - Of course every child seems to be fascinated with animals so why not read poetry to children with animals as the subjects.
These poems are dark and gloomy in nature.
Not my shadow I dislike,
But that sad Sunlight
Creeping so
Week across
The winter-
Weary snow:
All of the poems are somewhat sad, and gloomy, bringing up concepts of dearth and despair.
personal critique - I would not recommend this book, while the author has published other books with acclaim, this one is not for me. I find the poems not really suitable for children, I prefer lighter fair and sweet lyrical rhymes. These are much more adult in nature, and the tone and intimations are dark and somber, gritty and depressing. I would find it difficult to read this to small children. I don't think the grade school child would comprehend the tone of the poems. The illustrations and the layout is for a young audience, perhaps they are the only market for animal poems. These animal poems are much more adult in nature.
illustrations - Ok, so the illustrations are the redeeming piece in this book. They are realistic, looking like photographs of paper mache and paper artworks and block printing. Each animal image is fresh, very textile in appearance and consuming one's imagination with the material and construction. I would consider using this book as an exemplar for students to create their own images of animals from paper cuts and pieces and then ask then to embellish the art work with their own poem.
notable awards - The author's other books have earned several awards The Horn Book, School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. I suppose based on the strength of her other awards you could justify this purchase. It is just not one I particularly enjoy, the tone and tenor of the poetry is of despair, depression and futility. Really something I do not want to read to children, or expect them to appreciate on their own. The rosey optimism I prefer to share is not reflected here.
summary –Poetry, animal subjects accompanied with pictures of those animals. Twenty three familiar animals to most children.
strengths/weaknesses - Of course every child seems to be fascinated with animals so why not read poetry to children with animals as the subjects.
These poems are dark and gloomy in nature.
Not my shadow I dislike,
But that sad Sunlight
Creeping so
Week across
The winter-
Weary snow:
All of the poems are somewhat sad, and gloomy, bringing up concepts of dearth and despair.
personal critique - I would not recommend this book, while the author has published other books with acclaim, this one is not for me. I find the poems not really suitable for children, I prefer lighter fair and sweet lyrical rhymes. These are much more adult in nature, and the tone and intimations are dark and somber, gritty and depressing. I would find it difficult to read this to small children. I don't think the grade school child would comprehend the tone of the poems. The illustrations and the layout is for a young audience, perhaps they are the only market for animal poems. These animal poems are much more adult in nature.
illustrations - Ok, so the illustrations are the redeeming piece in this book. They are realistic, looking like photographs of paper mache and paper artworks and block printing. Each animal image is fresh, very textile in appearance and consuming one's imagination with the material and construction. I would consider using this book as an exemplar for students to create their own images of animals from paper cuts and pieces and then ask then to embellish the art work with their own poem.
notable awards - The author's other books have earned several awards The Horn Book, School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. I suppose based on the strength of her other awards you could justify this purchase. It is just not one I particularly enjoy, the tone and tenor of the poetry is of despair, depression and futility. Really something I do not want to read to children, or expect them to appreciate on their own. The rosey optimism I prefer to share is not reflected here.
September 17, 2025
This Animal Poems book by Valerie Worth is a fun poetry book with different poems about many different animals, with many different poetry formats all throughout the book. Many poems throughout the book are complex for younger audiences. Definitely a book for upper elementary readers, this book has plain and dull pictures. Overall, this book would work well for having students break down poems into deeper meanings.
February 21, 2023
I absolutely loved this poem book. It describes a multitude of animals, and each poem is beautifully written to compliment each creature. My favorite was the hummingbird poem, because my parents always compared me to a hummingbird as a child. The hummingbird poem is about how fast and quick the hummingbird is, and how even now you can imagine the hummingbird’s little thrum!
March 3, 2025
This is a beautifully written poem book that is composed of 23 poems about different animals. Each poem is creative by including factual information about each animal being described. Therefore, it allows all readers to learn about the different animals in a more creative way. Even though I do enjoy the creativity of it, I also think that this story could be confusing for some younger readers.
September 22, 2020
I have no idea who I would share this with? The pictures are neat but the poems don’t always trip off my tongue. Do kids read books like this on their own? Mine didn’t but they were allergic to poetry.
October 4, 2022
Due to the usage of later-elementary to middle-school vocabulary and information about many creatures, I want to have this in my science class library. The poetry ranged from land to water to air animals.
June 28, 2017
These poems are so abstract and the vocabulary is too out of reach for the audience I assume this book is intended for.
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January 1, 2018I understand the meaning of the book my student were very confused when they heard the poem especially the poem called " porcupine "
February 11, 2019
Not many of these resonated with me. I found some of these confusing or uninteresting so I wonder how much children will like them.
April 21, 2019
Poetry. Various poems each about a different animal.
September 30, 2019
Poems about different animals. I do not like the way she writes it.
April 21, 2020
Key Words: Animals, characteristics, and habitats
November 17, 2020
Different animals described in poems.
November 13, 2021
I was disappointed that I didn't find any poems in this book that spoke to me. Maybe I was just not in the right frame of mind. I did enjoy the illustrations by Steve Jenkins.
Read
November 11, 2019Cute poems over unique animals.
April 21, 2015
This cute little book is filled with several poems and each poem is on an animal or insect in the world. Each poem describes the animal or insect it is based on by describing its colors, shapes, features and environments. Every single poem is able to give you a visual of the main animal whether it shows you a picture or not but in all the poems it does. Each poem is also able to let you learn where that animal lives, eats or does active. Some examples of the book are when they describe where the penguins live, what they look like and what they enjoy eating. This book gave its poems in a very organized matter with the poem being the main point of view but also including the picture of the animal as being a main point. Usually the picture or poem, one of those is excluded but in this cute little book they both are the main focus. By reading the poem you actually see the animal with the picture see it come to life by visually seeing and hearing the description. The book is just a book of poems with lessons that we might not all see the first time reading it but by the end of the book you have learned something new. Something I learned is that gorillas get jealous, i found that shocking because I never thought gorilla would get jealous over others. This book really grabbed my attention because it was not what you expect a poem book to be about, usually books close to this are about life, or work. This book targets another audience and another focus that we sometimes don't see interesting till we read it.
November 21, 2009
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Vivid imagery and an expert command of sound and meter distinguish this collection of poems about animals. Each spread is dedicated to a different creature, from tiny snail to blue whale, and Worth's inventive metaphors will startle readers into thinking about common animals in new ways: A wasp is a "sharp flake of / Night let loose In daylight," for example, and jellyfish are "transparent / Ghost-bells / Of lost lands." Jenkins' masterful, spare cut-paper collages illustrate each selection, and the picture-book format seems a bit at odds with Worth's more challenging, philosophical poems, which demand an older child's expanded vocabulary and knowledge of science concepts, such as evolution. There are many poems that will be accessible to younger children, though, and the poetry's many strengths overcome any questions about the intended audience that the format raises; even teens may appreciate Worth's well-honed poetry and her intelligent, creative views of the animal world. Suggest this with Diane Ackerman's Animal Sense.
When I saw the illustrator Steve Jenkins in the book of poems, I was excited. I have read many books that he has been the illustrator. I enjoyed reading this book about Animal Poems. Each poem is geared to a creature. My kindergarten students would enjoy this book because they love learning about all different kinds of animals.
*Starred Review* Vivid imagery and an expert command of sound and meter distinguish this collection of poems about animals. Each spread is dedicated to a different creature, from tiny snail to blue whale, and Worth's inventive metaphors will startle readers into thinking about common animals in new ways: A wasp is a "sharp flake of / Night let loose In daylight," for example, and jellyfish are "transparent / Ghost-bells / Of lost lands." Jenkins' masterful, spare cut-paper collages illustrate each selection, and the picture-book format seems a bit at odds with Worth's more challenging, philosophical poems, which demand an older child's expanded vocabulary and knowledge of science concepts, such as evolution. There are many poems that will be accessible to younger children, though, and the poetry's many strengths overcome any questions about the intended audience that the format raises; even teens may appreciate Worth's well-honed poetry and her intelligent, creative views of the animal world. Suggest this with Diane Ackerman's Animal Sense.
When I saw the illustrator Steve Jenkins in the book of poems, I was excited. I have read many books that he has been the illustrator. I enjoyed reading this book about Animal Poems. Each poem is geared to a creature. My kindergarten students would enjoy this book because they love learning about all different kinds of animals.
December 1, 2015
This is my second poetry book review:
This book was a little difficult to read because the words didn't rhyme and I was trying to get into a rhythm while reading. Other than that, the poems gave wonderful descriptions of what animals do and what they look like. The pictures look almost like they were created with different types of paper. Animals with fur or hair (squirrels, groundhog, camels) have textures similar to their body. The elephant's illustration has leathery, wrinkled completion, and the bat's wings have a veiny texture. This added to the poems by providing a more realistic picture of the animal. The pictures are done on a white background except the minnow, jellyfish, whale, and owl whose backgrounds are dark like their environment.
The book has poems of various animals including elephants, wasp, spider, star nose moles, cockroach, and jellyfish. There were a few animals I was not expecting such as the cockroach, star nose mole, and minnows. I was expecting more common animals that children may be more familiar with. However, I think the book is powerful and a good way to expose students to new animals and open them to powerful, descriptive words. Some of the vocabulary might be a little difficult for younger students because they may not have the exposure to use context clues to figure them out. I would still use this book with elementary students to use with poetry as an example of different poetry styles and with an animal unit.
This book was a little difficult to read because the words didn't rhyme and I was trying to get into a rhythm while reading. Other than that, the poems gave wonderful descriptions of what animals do and what they look like. The pictures look almost like they were created with different types of paper. Animals with fur or hair (squirrels, groundhog, camels) have textures similar to their body. The elephant's illustration has leathery, wrinkled completion, and the bat's wings have a veiny texture. This added to the poems by providing a more realistic picture of the animal. The pictures are done on a white background except the minnow, jellyfish, whale, and owl whose backgrounds are dark like their environment.
The book has poems of various animals including elephants, wasp, spider, star nose moles, cockroach, and jellyfish. There were a few animals I was not expecting such as the cockroach, star nose mole, and minnows. I was expecting more common animals that children may be more familiar with. However, I think the book is powerful and a good way to expose students to new animals and open them to powerful, descriptive words. Some of the vocabulary might be a little difficult for younger students because they may not have the exposure to use context clues to figure them out. I would still use this book with elementary students to use with poetry as an example of different poetry styles and with an animal unit.
November 18, 2009
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Vivid imagery and an expert command of sound and meter distinguish this collection of poems about animals. Each spread is dedicated to a different creature, from tiny snail to blue whale, and Worth's inventive metaphors will startle readers into thinking about common animals in new ways: A wasp is a "sharp flake of / Night let loose / In daylight," for example, and jellyfish are "transparent / Ghost-bells / Of lost lands." Jenkins' masterful, spare cut-paper collages illustrate each selection, and the picture-book format seems a bit at odds with Worth's more challenging, philosophical poems, which demand an older child's expanded vocabulary and knowledge of science concepts, such as evolution. There are many poems that will be accessible to younger children, though, and the poetry's many strengths overcome any questions about the intended audience that the format raises; even teens may appreciate Worth's well-honed poetry and her intelligent, creative views of the animal world. Suggest this with Diane Ackerman's Animal Sense (2002). Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
*Starred Review* Vivid imagery and an expert command of sound and meter distinguish this collection of poems about animals. Each spread is dedicated to a different creature, from tiny snail to blue whale, and Worth's inventive metaphors will startle readers into thinking about common animals in new ways: A wasp is a "sharp flake of / Night let loose / In daylight," for example, and jellyfish are "transparent / Ghost-bells / Of lost lands." Jenkins' masterful, spare cut-paper collages illustrate each selection, and the picture-book format seems a bit at odds with Worth's more challenging, philosophical poems, which demand an older child's expanded vocabulary and knowledge of science concepts, such as evolution. There are many poems that will be accessible to younger children, though, and the poetry's many strengths overcome any questions about the intended audience that the format raises; even teens may appreciate Worth's well-honed poetry and her intelligent, creative views of the animal world. Suggest this with Diane Ackerman's Animal Sense (2002). Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
September 15, 2015
As I read this book I felt there was a real disconnect between the illustrations and the poetry. The cut-collage illustrations by Steve Jenkins are exquisite, and their cartoon-like nature appeals to younger elementary age children. In contrast with that is free-verse poetry by Valerie Worth that requires deep thinking, a sophisticated vocabulary, and vast knowledge of the world. I feel the poetry is more suited to middle grade or high school students, who might view the illustrations as too young.
For example, the poem titled "Porcupine" features an adorable and detailed collage illustration of a porcupine, similar to the book cover. The second stanza of the poem reads:
But in
The warm
Disarming
Weather of
Spring, doesn't
It long
To flower
Out of that
Cold bower
Of spines,
And fly
With the
Blithe petals
Of mice
And hares,
Scattered
Across the
Silky
Perilous
Meadows?
Young children would not be able to grasp the meaning of this poem without an incredible amount of teaching and discussion. The poetry is beautiful, but needs to be packaged and marketed for older readers.
For example, the poem titled "Porcupine" features an adorable and detailed collage illustration of a porcupine, similar to the book cover. The second stanza of the poem reads:
But in
The warm
Disarming
Weather of
Spring, doesn't
It long
To flower
Out of that
Cold bower
Of spines,
And fly
With the
Blithe petals
Of mice
And hares,
Scattered
Across the
Silky
Perilous
Meadows?
Young children would not be able to grasp the meaning of this poem without an incredible amount of teaching and discussion. The poetry is beautiful, but needs to be packaged and marketed for older readers.
May 2, 2019
Genre: Poetry- Collection of Poetry
Awards:
Audience: 3-5th grade
A. Animal Poems is a collection of 23 poems, each about a different animal. Each poem is free verse- they do not follow a rhyming pattern and have little rhythm.
B. Valerie Worth uses texture in her collage illustrations. Each animal made me want to reach out onto the page and touch it.
C. I would use this book in an upper level elementary classroom. There is some very rich vocabulary that would make this difficult for younger readers.
D. Write your own animal poem. Cows eat hay--they like to nap in the sun. Some have spots and others are only one color.
Awards:
Audience: 3-5th grade
A. Animal Poems is a collection of 23 poems, each about a different animal. Each poem is free verse- they do not follow a rhyming pattern and have little rhythm.
B. Valerie Worth uses texture in her collage illustrations. Each animal made me want to reach out onto the page and touch it.
C. I would use this book in an upper level elementary classroom. There is some very rich vocabulary that would make this difficult for younger readers.
D. Write your own animal poem. Cows eat hay--they like to nap in the sun. Some have spots and others are only one color.
July 21, 2008
Worth, Valerie. (2007). Animal Poems. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
This books contains a collection of animal poems. Each poem is about one particular kind of animal, with an accompanying illustration. From a literary perspective, I can see how the poems would be considered interesting and satisfying. Personally, they were not my style. Most of the lines in the poems were short, containing very few syllables. This, I think, made it hard for the poems to have much of a meter, or recognizable rhythm. On top of that, the poems were abstract. This might be a good way to get students to think about their world in new ways. For me though, I just did not care for them. I did not find anything that I could use in a music lesson plan, and I did not like the poems. I read a couple reviews of this book and other people seem to really enjoy it, so I would recommend that you check it out if you are interested. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
This books contains a collection of animal poems. Each poem is about one particular kind of animal, with an accompanying illustration. From a literary perspective, I can see how the poems would be considered interesting and satisfying. Personally, they were not my style. Most of the lines in the poems were short, containing very few syllables. This, I think, made it hard for the poems to have much of a meter, or recognizable rhythm. On top of that, the poems were abstract. This might be a good way to get students to think about their world in new ways. For me though, I just did not care for them. I did not find anything that I could use in a music lesson plan, and I did not like the poems. I read a couple reviews of this book and other people seem to really enjoy it, so I would recommend that you check it out if you are interested. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
October 17, 2013
Animal Poems was an award winner of the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. I believe this book won the award for its wonderful use of words and the excitement children would take in this book.This this was a book about many different types of animals and there was individual poems for each animal. Each page of the book was a different animal and it was not really a story but more of information on each animal. I found this book to be cute and fun to read. The pictures were fun and cute and I believe children would enjoy them greatly. I loved this book and found it informative and great for kids of any age.
July 30, 2016
Animal Poems is a collection of twenty-three animal poems. Valerie Worth's use of free verse and imagery bring to life a variety of kid-friendly animals, including the hummingbird, camel, star-nosed mole, and the owl. Each poem is accompanied by cut-paper illustrations that really add to the beauty of each poem and better allow each animal to be brought to life on paper.
Animal Poems could be used in a poetry unit or as a daily read-aloud. As a teacher, I might read-aloud one animal poem and ask my students to visualize what they see as they hear the words read to them. Animal Poems is appropriate for grades 1-6.
Animal Poems could be used in a poetry unit or as a daily read-aloud. As a teacher, I might read-aloud one animal poem and ask my students to visualize what they see as they hear the words read to them. Animal Poems is appropriate for grades 1-6.
February 11, 2015
Stunning illustrations (I especially love the porcupine) and beautifully crafted poems make this a treasured collection for any classroom library. This is one of those books that would be great to generate discussions about poetry because there are so many wonderful poetic devices used. Not every poem is going to make sense to students, but that's OK. That can be a great place to talk about this need teachers have to try to interpret everything to death. Sometimes we just need to celebrate and appreciate the beauty of language without having to understand every single word.
September 26, 2012
Animal Poems by Valerie Worth is a great book of poems for children ages 5-12 years old. Each poem describes a different animal with each 2 page spread illustrating the animal. The illustrations are comprised of just one animal representation, yet the animal is represented in realistic detail through paper collaging. The use of language in the poems may go over the heads of some young children, but the language combined with the imagery is a great way to introduce young readers to the new sound and difficult words.
March 25, 2013
This is a wonderful discovery to me, another book with those gorgeous collage illustrations by Steve Jenkins and he’s illustrating exquisite poems about animals by the late Valerie Worth. She writes of a whale floating easily in the sea, “light as dust in sun-baths”, a wasp as a ‘sharp flake of night” and a porcupine “held fast in the thicket of its own thorns”. Her poems don’t just teach us the basics of the animals, but hold questions to consider. It’s a book of poems that older students could enjoy and study.
July 30, 2014
Animal Poems by Valerie Worth is a wonderful book of poems for both children and adults of all ages. Each poem describes a different animal with illustrations of that particular animal represented in that poem. The illustrations by Steve Jenkins are crisp and in realistic detail through use of paper collaging which made it easier for me (someone visually impaired) to get the full effect of the breathtaking illustrations, making them more enjoyable. I understand how this book was an award winner of NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Definitely one to add to my classroom library.
June 14, 2008
Valerie Worth's poems are simple and easy to read. I really liked the way she looked at each of the animals from a different perspective. She is very creative. I think children would really enjoy this book.
The poem I read was "Porcupine." It was cute because it asked the question, "Does the porcupine ever want to escape from its quills and run and play with the other animals?" That's something you wouldn't normally think about! I liked it!
The poem I read was "Porcupine." It was cute because it asked the question, "Does the porcupine ever want to escape from its quills and run and play with the other animals?" That's something you wouldn't normally think about! I liked it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews