Orangutanka: A Story in Poems

by Margarita Engle, Renée Kurilla (Illustrator)

Overview

All the orangutans are ready for a nap in the sleepy depths of the afternoon . . . all except one. This little orangutan wants to dance! A hip-hop, cha-cha-cha dance full of somersaults and cartwheels. But who will dance with her?
Written in bold poems in the tanka style, an ancient Japanese form of poetry that is often used as a travel diary, this exuberant orangutan celebration from acclaimed poet Margarita Engle will make readers want to dance, too!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627796248
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	05/19/2015
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	78 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Margarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. Her books include the critically acclaimed The Poet Slave of Cuba, winner of the Pura Belpré Award; The Surrender Tree, a Newbery Honor book; Tropical Secrets; Summer Birds; When You Wander; and many other books for children. She lives with her husband in Northern California.
Renée Kurilla has illustrated many books for children, none of which include this much fur. She, her husband, and their fluffy cat, Timmy, can be found in Boston, Massachusetts, approximately 9,410 miles from the Borneo rain forest.

Editorial Reviews

01/12/2015
Engle makes expressive use of the five-line tanka poetry form to study a family of orangutans living in a wildlife refuge. A sense of movement—sometimes dramatic, sometimes quiet—emanates from nearly every entry. Kurilla’s dynamic mixed-media images show an adult orangutan perched between branches (“papa/ is too massive/ for treetops—/ his great weight makes/ low branches waltz slowly”), while another spread follows another orangutan’s progress down to the jungle floor, where rangers have prepared a feast (“towering green trees/ shiver, sway, rattle, and shake/ when orangutans/ clamber toward colorful mounds/ of bananas and mangoes”). Information about orangutans and the threats they face closes out this warm, rewarding portrait of these intelligent apes. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Michelle Humphrey, Martha Kaplan Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

A sprightly introduction to orangutans through nimble wordplay and attractive book design . . . This well-crafted book, with its accomplished verses and smattering of facts, should earn a wide audience.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review

“[A] warm, rewarding portrait of these intelligent apes.” —Publishers Weekly

“* Like the firefly light, Engle's poetry is a gossamer thread of subtle beauty weaving together three memorable characters who together find hope and courage. Another fine volume by a master of the novel in verse.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review on The Firefly Letters

“Engle presents a delightful tale of five orangutans in a string of linked tankas, an ancient Japanese form of poetry . . . A playful and instructive introduction to a little-known form of verse.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Cleverly combining poetry with scientific information, Engle's modern tanka poems . . . express humor and energy. . . .The hilarious digitally colored pencil-and-ink illustrations depict the lush jungle environment and the furry orange orangutans' extended family at rest and play. Children will be inspired to move their arms and legs energetically like a happy orangutan, dancing the "Orangudance" to the music of the rain forest.” —Booklist

“* This book is an outstanding choice for young people of all reading skills.” —School Library Journal, starred review on Tropical Secrets

“* Readers will be caught by the compelling narrative voices.” —Booklist, starred review on The Surrender Tree

“* An absolutely lovely book . . . that should be read by young and old, black and white, Anglo and Latino.” —School Library Journal, starred review on The Poet Slave of Cuba

“* Readers will hear the stories—and never forget them.” —Booklist, starred review on The Poet Slave of Cuba

“* The moving poetry and finely crafted story will draw readers in and leave them in tears and in awe.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review on The Poet Slave of Cuba

From the Publisher

★ 12/01/2014
PreS-Gr 2—A sprightly introduction to orangutans through nimble wordplay and attractive book design. Kurilla's pen-and-ink illustrations frame Engle's tanka verses, which relate a simple story of an orangutan family in an animal sanctuary in Borneo. Massive papa, whose "great weight makes/low branches waltz slowly" and mama, baby, inquisitive big sister, and watchful grandma live an idyllic existence amid the tall trees. Child-friendly verse evokes the habitat and should have wide appeal: "Imagine/rain forest music—/insects/buzz, zoom, and hum/while green leaves swish." Teachers will also appreciate the page of orangutan facts, where they can find print and online suggestions for further reading. Readers learn that the long-term outlook for this species of gentle primates is in doubt as deforestation threatens their rainforest habitats in Borneo and Sumatra. Engle also includes a note describing tanka poetry, an ancient Japanese format; the modern form is unrhymed and consists of five lines (short, long, short, long, long) of linked poems. She concludes by inviting children to write their own poems and dance like orangutans "with energetic arms and legs." This well-crafted book, with its accomplished verses and smattering of facts, should earn a wide audience.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

2014-12-06
Follow an orangutan family through a day in the wildlife refuge.Engle presents a delightful tale of five orangutans in a string of linked tankas, an ancient Japanese form of poetry consisting of counted syllables on five lines with minimal punctuation and capitalization. "cozy morning / baby orangutan cuddles / with mama / in their leafy nest / while a breeze sways green trees." Big sister swings through the vines. Forest rangers bring juicy fruit. Humans watch from nearby. The rest of the family sleeps while big sister does "hip-hop / somersaults and cartwheels, / cha-cha-cha— / so many forms of orangudance / with lively arms and legs." After a rainstorm, grandma orangutan joins in, and so do the watching children. Kurilla's lush, digitally colored illustrations are as joyous and full of wonder as Engle's verse. The simple expressions of the apes in the spot, full-bleed and double-page-spread illustrations bring these gentle giants to life. A tanka invitation to orangudance, orangutan facts and further reading, print and online, follow the text. A playful and instructive introduction to a little-known form of verse. Listeners aping big sister's dance will hoot for a repeat. (Picture book/poetry. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews