Douglas’ Florian’s ‘beast feast, poems and paintings’ is a child pleasing compilation of 21 rhymes, odes and poetry spanning a wide gamut from The Caterpillar to The Kiwi and The Walrus to The Boa. Odes drawing attention to Birds include The Pigeon, The Kiwi and the Rhea, while insects feature The Firefly, The Grasshopper and The Caterpillar.
Eight Stanzas featuring mammals are offered along with three about sea life.
Each two page spread comprises verse on one leaf with a unique full page interpretation of the named critter.
Florian’s brilliant imaginative notions set down in individual rhymes coupled with an dependable flair for alliteration is highly engaging.
Osage County First Grade sit captivated, enjoying the flow of words and accompanying quirky graphics as we turn page to page to meet each new beast.
Artistic verse bring enthralled children to chuckles as they listen and view unanticipated enchanting images including energetic, multicolored and completely entertaining representations.
The Walrus; illustrated by a rust toned, long tusked fellow sitting, staring with unblinking eyes is a perfect foil to the four line ode: The pounding spatter Of salty sea Makes the walrus Walrusty
The table of contents catalogs a dandy feast of wondrous individuals from the grand to the diminutive, small as a mole or pigeon and the firefly; all receive attention. Short to tall, familiar to utterly odd; walrus and toad, bat and armadillo; they all can be found.
Oddities of nature fascinate, unite and dare children to learn more about the vast multiplicity found on our earth.
The Boa: Just when you think you know the boa, There’s moa and moa, and moa and moa.
Is met with wide eyes and some trepidation, while The Armadillo: The armadillo As a pillow Would really be swell Except For the fact That it comes in a shell Brings forth giggles and conversation about the small, nocturnal animal we see often in our area.
Writer; illustrator Florian's idiosyncratic, full page watercolors are as mischievous as his poetry.
Florian’s beast feast is an all around pleasing read. Happy to recommend Douglas’ Florian’s beast feast.
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Reviewed by Molly’s Reviews molly martin
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Internet search including the writer’s website indicates: About the Author: DOUGLAS FLORIAN is the creator of many acclaimed picture books including zoo's who; bow wow meow meow, a Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year; lizards, frogs, and polliwogs, a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book; mammalabilia, an ABA's Pick of the Lists; insectlopedia, an ALA Notable Children's Book and Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year; and omnibeasts, a gift collection of his best-loved animal poems. Writer Florian lives in New York City with his wife and five children.
He is the acclaimed author and illustrator of over 30 children's books. He won the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award and received an ALA Notable Children' Book Award for Beast Feast.
Florian has always believed that there are no rules with poetry (that’s his only rule). He plays on words, uses the wrong spelling and grammar on purpose, and makes up words.
Florian indicates that while he loves to both paint and write; he doesn’t do them on the same day.
