Creatures of Earth, Sea, and Sky

Georgia Heard has participated in Columbia University's Teachers College Writing Project, teaching writing to elementary school children within the New York City Public School System. She is the author of For the Good of the Earth and Sun, a book for educators on teaching poetry to children. She lives in Sag Harbor, New York.

Jennifer Owings Dewey has illustrated more than twelve books for children and adults, including Animal Architecture and The Secret Language of Snow. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Grade 4-6-- Simplicity is the key word to describe this slim collection of animal poems. There is nothing flashy here, no rhythmic roller coaster of rhyme. In these 17 poems, animals--from hummingbird to raccoon to frog--sing their simple songs with quiet eloquence. In Heard's graceful verses, an eagle is ``. . . a graceful kite with no string'' while a snake ``. . . changes its clothes . . . peeling down to its toes.'' There are a couple of poems for two voices, and there is a deep appreciation for the animals that are almost gone from this Earth. Dewey's soft, realistic watercolors are the perfect complement to the understated text. Although children will probably never clamor for this book, its stately content is accessible to them. While libraries with Fleischman's Joyful Noise (HarperCollins, 1988) and Carle's Animals Animals (Philomel, 1989) may pass it by, it is a fine, carefully crafted title that sparkles softly. --Amy Nunley, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, OH
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.