Book Description
for Hoofbeats, Claws & Rippled Fins by Lee Bennett Hopkins and Stephen Alcorn
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Hopkins invited writers to create poems to accompany Alcorn's stunning monochromatic art featuring creatures such as a dog, cat, frog, cow, camel, and turtle. The 13 poets include Karla Kuskin, Prince Redcloud, Janet S. Wong, Joseph Bruchac, and former Madison resident Ann Whitford Paul. In "Full Moon and Owl," Paul writes, " . . . three round eyes watching night . . . Owl's cold gold warns Beware." The book's striking design involves varying sizes of type and page colors. Some of the poems are "concrete," suggesting their subject visually. The words of "Porcupine" look prickly, while the words of "She Likes to Hide" glide like a fish across a blue page. These poets make writing literally look like fun. (Ages 8-12)
CCBC Choices 2003 . © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2003. Used with permission.