These short, sly, humorous animal poems with a dollop of science will tickle the funny bone of young readers and encourage imitation. The poet celebrates sloths, penguins, sharks, sea horses, camels, salamanders, lightning bugs, octopi and armadillos, among others. Most poems rely on “almost” rhymes—for example, Starfish: “I envy the echinoderm / Or starfish, by a simpler term. / It looks for dinner all about / And finding food, it doesn’t shout / It turns its stomach inside out. / No napkin needed for its mout.” Whimsical illustrations in pastel pen add to the charm. The author, a biologist, concludes with additional facts about each animal. Where the animal poems of Douglas Florian and Jack Prelutsky are popular, this will find an enthusiastic fan club. (Poetry. 8-10)
