Like Florian's Insectlopedia and Mammalabilia, this volume contains witty poems filled with comic word playDthis time about 21 scaly, slimy creatures. With the droll verbal dexterity of J. Patrick Lewis and the just slightly naughty humor of Jack Prelutsky, Florian regales his readers with unexpected rhymes. "It's wise to stay clear/ Of the dangerous cobra," he warns, "all the months of the year,/ Including Octobra." A picture of a costumed child holding a jack-o'-lantern is accompanied by the verse "I wouldn't wanna/ Be an iguanaD/ Except for Halloween." From the Midwife Toad ("On Dad's back the eggs are toted./ To his kids he's toadally devoted") to the Poison-Dart Frogs, Florian finds mischievous reptile lore that will make young readers laugh. At first glance his illustrations seem less varied than in the previous books, but these bug-eyed amphibians have a low-key style of their own. The newt reads the "Newt News" paper, and the Glass Frog camouflaged on a leaf labels various parts of the painting either "me" or "leaf." The medium is different, too: here Florian uses watercolors and collage elements atop brown paper bags. The warm, familiar tones and soft lines belie the idiosyncrasy of the compositionsDthese frogs and friends don't necessarily jump out at readers, but continually take them by surprise. Ages 5-10. (Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
In a starred review, PW wrote, "This volume contains witty poems filled with comic word play about 21 scaly, slimy creatures. From the Midwife Toad to the Poison-Dart Frogs, Florian finds mischievous reptile lore that will make young readers laugh." Ages 5-10. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Gr 2-6-Florian keeps adding to his collections of animal doggerel, and this one stands up to the rest. Twenty-one poems, each about a particular amphibian or reptile, are full of surprises, and are a delight to read aloud. "Along the ground I'm found-I slink./Through grass I pass-I am a skink./Bite my tail and it releases./I don't fight back-/I fall to pieces." That last line "falls" down the page, and the poet uses concrete shapes in a few other selections. Some of the selections are stronger than others, but each one is a pleasure, laid out on its own single page facing a quirky watercolor painting. Though the poems do include information about the various animals, they are less instructive than they are fanciful. Serious and unpoetic herpetologists, however, may find themselves won over. Beautifully designed, this title is as irresistible as Florian's others-put it out and watch it go.-Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
A Child Magazine Best Book of 2001 Pick
Reptiles and amphibians of all shapes, sizes, and colors are celebrated in this playful poetry collection. The short, snappy verses ("But did you know that alligators/Sometimes swallow second graders?") are infused with high spirits that extend to the impressionistic watercolor collages.
"It's wise to stay clear / Of the dangerous cobra / All months of the year, / Including Octobra." But it wouldn't be wise to stay clear of Florian's latest poetry collection, sixth in his successful series of witty poems and paintings about creatures of all sorts (Mammalabilia: Poems and Paintings, 2000, etc.). This volume includes 21 short poems about reptiles and amphibians, including common creatures such as the bullfrog and the box turtle and more exotic specimens such as the komodo dragon and the red-eyed tree frog. Teachers will like the way the rhyming poems integrate into elementary science lessons, imparting some basic zoological facts along with the giggles, and kids will love the poems because they're clever and funny in a style reminiscent of Ogden Nash, full of wordplay and sly humor. Florian's impressionistic full-page illustrations are done in watercolors on primed, brown paper bags, often offering another layer of humor, as in the orange newt reading the Newt News on the cover. A first choice for the poetry shelves in all libraries, this collection is toadally terrific. (Poetry. 4-10)
"Lots of fun for a wide age range—including adults."—Booklist (starred review)Publishers Weekly The Boston Herald
