IMAGINARY ANIMALS: Poetry and Art for Young People

That many of these animals are not imaginary hardly detracts from the excellent selection of more than 80 poems juxtaposed with stunning works of art--photos, paintings, drawings, and sculpture--in this sequel to Sullivan's Imaginary Gardens (1989). Among the creatures are the Sphinx, the ""Nessie"" of Loch Ness, the gargoyles of Notre Dame Cathedral, and St. George's dragon. Poets writing about them include Jorge Luis Borges, e.e. cummings, Marianne Moore, Jonathan Swift, Sylvia Plath, Ogden Nash, and a host of others. It may be the illustrative material that sets this book apart. Richard Wilbur's poem ""The Ride"" is illustrated by one of Marc Chagall's gentlest paintings, ""The Poet Reclining."" A reproduction of Julia Kunin's ""Red Suede Saddles"" illustrates Rita Dove's ""Horse and Tree."" Barbara Angell's lyrical ""The Crow"" is accompanied by two pieces: Romare Bearden's ""Morning of the Rooster"" and Alexander Calder's ""Cattails and Bird."" It all makes for a book to be savored. Lovely.