Genre 3--Book Review 1

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Prelutsky, Jack. 2007. IN AUNT GIRAFFE’S GREEN GARDEN. Ill. by Petra Mathers. New York: Harper Collins.
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-623868-5

PLOT SUMMARY

Jack Prelutsky, the inaugural winner of the Children’s Poet Laureate award from the Poetry Foundation, has written more than thirty-books of verse for children of all ages. The collection, IN AUNT GIRAFFE’S GREEN GARDEN, is an eclectic mixture of twenty-eight humorous poems. The short poems cover a variety of topics including adventurous animals and humans with quirky habits. A central theme in the poetry is geography and the animals-as-tourists travel from Mexico to Toledo. In a departure from the main theme, the last poem of the book, “There Was a Little Poet,” is, perhaps, a bit autobiographical. The last four lines of the poem are delivered in the voice of a poet, “He woke a little later / and he thought a little while / then he wrote a book of little rhymes / and smiled a little smile.” This volume, illustrated by Petra Mathers, is full of rhymes to make the reader, like the poet, smile.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jack Prelutsky’s poetry collection, IN AUNT GIRAFFE’S GREEN GARDEN, invites readers to sit in a large comfy chair and share his humorous poems and Petra Mather’s vibrant illustrations with a young child. The poems are pleasing and readers are sure to smile at the silliness of animals that drive trucks, discuss philosophies, and sing. Prelutsky uses regular meter (much of the time the same trochaic form found in traditional nursery rhymes) and regular rhyme. Clearly the poetry is meant to be read aloud and shared. Most of the poems are grounded in place and when a few appear that do not have that connection, it’s a bit awkward.

The illustrations play with the words and match the liveliness of the poet’s language. The vibrancy of the color palette matched with the broad brush strokes creates a feeling of freedom that parallels the free-spirited tone of the poems. The best art in the book illustrates the title poem. Aunt Giraffe’s green garden is a riot of poppy-like flowers and butterflies. Aunt Giraffe’s faraway expression points to a place that the reader is sure to follow.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Review from BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS, September 2007
This is Prelutsky for younger audiences, with the compact verses musing rather than snappy and the subjects simple...-Deborah Stevenson

Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, August 1, 2007
A playful collection that features an array of animals and geographical locations.-Donna Cardon

Review from BOOKLIST, July 1, 2007
A lighthearted, high-spirited collection for sharing any time, in groups or one-on-one.-Gillian Engberg

CONNECTIONS

These poems are meant to be read aloud.

Since many of the poems have a distinct geography, readers may find the poem’s location on a map or globe.

Have students write place poems or stories: Choose an animal and take them on a vacation. Be creative. Where are they going? How are they traveling?

An abundance of online connections are available for Jack Preluctsky and his work. One of the best that I encountered is: http://www.harperchildrens.com/webcontent/teachers_guides/pdf/0688077781.pdf