Imaginary Menagerie combines mythological creatures, crisp poems for the four-to eight-year old reader, and sumptuous illustrations into one first-class picture book. Imaginary Menagerie is an instant classic--one that will appeal to boys and girls, one that makes a great bedtime read and a classroom staple. It's a knockout.
Subtitled A Book of Curious Creatures, Imaginary Menagerie puts the emphasis on curious. Poet Julie Larios writes about, or from the point of view of, a variety of fascinating creatures--including the Centaur, Hobgoblins, Gargoyles, Naga, and the Sphinx among others. Larios's poems rhyme, but each individual poem has its own rhyme scheme and meter. Larios keeps it simple for her intended audience, but includes a sly touch of humor or moments of solemnity for older children and adults reading this beauty aloud. Take, for example, the final three lines of the six-line "Centaur": "Can he be half man, half horse?/The answer is no./And yes, of course." Or, consider the final four lines of "Sphinx": "But the cat-man sleeps./He never even stirs./No one can answer/the sand."
And Julie Paschkis's illustrations? They are dramatic, rich in color, and simply gorgeous. They resemble stylized woodcuts infused with deep, warm color. Paschkis modifies her paintings ever so slightly--but not too much so that she loses her own style--to match the culture from which the subject was born. Paschkis's Sphinx is more angular, more elongated than her other subjects, her Firebird explodes into a Russified sky, Thunderbird appears as a totem figure on the move.
Imaginary Menagerie: A Book of Curious Creatures is a book to treasure, a book to give, a book to keep forever.
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Other Blog Reviews:
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (Don't miss this one: Jules and Eisha share a poem from Imaginary Menagerie and illustrations from the book.)
Charlotte's Library
Kelly Fineman (scroll down)
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I thought of writing an original poem this week on the subject of grading final papers. Then I realized it would go something like this:
grading
grading
grading
grading
gra-
and decided to write a review instead. Here's wishing you a happy Poetry Friday. The Two Writing Teachers are on the roundup.
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By: Kelly Herold,
on 5/16/2008
Blog: Crossover (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Kelly Herold,
on 5/16/2008
Blog: Crossover (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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12 Comments on Book Review: Imaginary Menagerie (Poetry Friday), last added: 5/18/2008
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I have to find that book ... the cover alone is beautiful.
Poetry Friday! Awesome. Hopefully I can come up with something better than haiku about the impossible dream (for my fifth graders to calm down, even though it's nearly june.)
damned_cat
What a gorgeous cover!
Sounds like a fantastic book -- another one to add to my stack of "must-reads"!
Between you and the Imps, I really must have this book now. Especially since the closing lines are fabulous as quoted, even without the rest of the poems. That's impressive.
I'm giving you an Incomplete for that grading poem. :)
Maybe you could make it a found poem and include some of the funnier bits from whatever papers you are grading...? There is always something to make me chuckle in student writing.
That Imaginary Menagerie looks really fabulous. We need to put that one on our book list over here. Thanks for the review.
I'm glad you enjoyed the book, too. It's gorgeous, is it not?
I hope that grading's done soon!
I'm so glad you liked IMAGINARY MENAGERIE.
Julie Paschkis (such a wonderful artist) and I had a great time doing it. Amazing that you quoted from two of my favorite poems in the book, Kelly, and especially amazing that you liked "No one can answer the sand," which is a line that I knew might puzzle people. I wrote it hoping kids (and their parents) would go to bed wondering "What could that mean?" which is a very satisfying thought for any writer. I just want to add that I believe poetry comes in through the ear (music) and the mind (meaning) and the heart (mystery) - so wondering about what questions the sand can ask is all about that. Poetry Fridays are a great treat for me, and I've sent a link to your blog to my creative writing students.
Oh - one other thing - I teach, too, in a low-residency program (Vermont College) where student packets come to me via computer, and I found the "grading poem" inspirational. So inspirational that I have written my own, titled "Laptop"
Gradinggradinggradinggrading
gradinggradinggradinggra...
ohi'vegotemail
ohalinktoYouTube
ohit'sPoetryFriday
betterchecktheblogs
ohdearnewsaboutmyanmarandchinaand
IwonderwhatishappeninginWestVirginia
ohClintonwonwellfoxnewswillenjoythat
ohanotherlinktoYouTubeand
ohi'vegotmoreemailand...
oh-oh
[Sorry to run on a bit - poets can be terrible hermits and it's fun to "talk" this way after a day working alone.]
Julie
This seems like a great book to add to your mythology collection of late -- fun way to get the names of those mythological beasts into kids' imaginations!
Adore the cover and I'm totally interested to read more. I'll look for it at the library.
Julie: Thanks for stopping by. I loved your poems (obviously). And your grading poem is great and looks a lot like my grading experience--just add a reality show to the mix and it's me :)
Mary Lee: This one's great for the classroom!
MR: Definitely check this one out. Your youngest should love it.
Kelly: The good thing about grading is that it is a task that eventually gets done. Especially in May :)
Cloudscome! I love the found poem idea!!
Damned cat. Welcome to Poetry Friday. It really is fun.
Tadmack: Illustrations are truly awesome and
Jenny: Sorry to add to your stack, but you can't miss this one!!
This book is on my wishlist.
Such a blazingly beautiful book. Not trying to drive blog traffic, but we interviewed Paschkis this past week, and I pretty much just want her to adopt me. I can sleep on her studio floor around all that art. That'd be okay with me.
Jules, 7-Imp