The Alligator's Smile: And Other Poems
The Alligator's Smile: And Other Poems
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Library Binding ©2016--
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Millbrook Press
Just the Series: Nonfiction - Grades 4-8   

Series and Publisher: Nonfiction - Grades 4-8   

Annotation: Get up close and personal with alligators in all their tooth-filled glory in this photo-illustrated collection of poems by Jane Yolen, with rhymes and rhythms that reflect on how alligators hunt, keep warm, and care for young.
Genre: [Poetry]
 
Reviews: 3
Catalog Number: #124623
Format: Library Binding
Publisher: Millbrook Press
Copyright Date: 2016
Edition Date: 2016 Release Date: 08/01/16
Illustrator: Stemple, Jason,
Pages: 32 pages
ISBN: 1-467-75575-3
ISBN 13: 978-1-467-75575-7
Dewey: 811
LCCN: 2015044329
Dimensions: 21 x 26 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

The mother-and-son team of Bug Off! Creepy, Crawly Poems (2012) here focus on alligators in 13 poems, each accompanied by sidebar factoids and arresting full-color photographs of the creatures in their natural habitat. The opening "7 Words about an Alligator" ("Silently floating, / Silently gloating. / Not a log") includes a sidebar explaining the origin of the word alligator and a photo of gator gliding through water. Throughout, poems from droll to dramatic highlight various behaviors, characteristics, and physical traits, such as teeth or a thick hide. Others are written from alligator perspective, like "Kindergarten for Alligators," where "We learn to read . . . / the reeds." The sometimes-jaunty tone toward topics may occasionally be disconcerting, as in "What an Alligator Eats" (potentially "your poor pooch" if you're walking the dog near a bayou), and some vocabulary is sophisticated, though those are generally defined in the glossary. Nonetheless, this is an intriguing blend of wordplay-rich verse, visuals, and introductory information. Additional alligator facts and a list of annotated resources close out the volume.

Kirkus Reviews

Fascinating facts and playful poems about the dinosaur's smiling cousin.Prolific, award-winning author and poet Yolen presents 13 short descriptive poems about the alligator. Touching on topics from hunting style to parenting style, from diet to habits to physical characteristics, most are sneakily informative, and all are good fun to read aloud. "You think that gator's dozing / In the dreamy afternoon. / You're wrong if you're supposing / That he's having a sweet swoon. / He's probably just chilly. / He can't raise his body heat— / But with the warming of the sun, / Can lumber to his feet." Each poem is accompanied by a paragraph or two that expands on the topic highlighted in the verse. Each is also paired with a full-page, beautiful (and sometimes scary) photograph of a gator or gators taken by Yolen's award-winning photographer son (and frequent collaborator), Stemple. Many of the photographs were taken on a monthlong fellowship-funded trip to the Everglades. The aftermatter includes additional gator facts and a short glossary as well as websites and a few book titles for further investigation. A splendid addition to the creators' explorations of the natural world. (Picture book/poetry. 7-11)

School Library Journal (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 1-5 A fabulous merging of science and poetry, this latest addition from veteran author Yolen provides an up-close view of the American alligator. The poems vary in style, from haiku to limerick, while the photographs of real alligators in their habitats are enticing and chilling. Yolen knows how to create little moments of suspense; in the three-line poem "Seven Words About an Alligator," the first two lines build a slow, steady pace ("Silently floating,/Silently gloating"), making the reversal and the accompanying sense of danger in the third and final line ("Not a log") all the more spooky. Through these verses, readers will learn about alligator nests, teeth, diet, and hunting style, as well as how long these creatures live and how long they have existed (about 80 million years). Fact boxes on each spread expand on the subject of the poem. The lack of an explanation or guide to the poetic style used does not detract from the volume. VERDICT Beware: young readers with an interest in reptiles, science, or poetry are certain to snatch up this work. Recommended for most collections. Ellen Norton, Naperville Public Library, IL

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
Bibliography Index/Note: Includes bibliographical references (page 31).
Reading Level: 4.0
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Counts!: reading level:3.7 / points:3.0 / quiz:Q69752
Lexile: NP
Guided Reading Level: R
Fountas & Pinnell: R

Get up close and personal with alligators in all their tooth-filled glory in this collection of poems by New York Times bestselling author Jane Yolen. Rhymes and rhythms reflect on how alligators hunt, keep warm, and care for young.

Stunning, large-scale photographs zoom in on these mighty hunters, while fun fact boxes accompany the poetry, providing details that are sure to pique young readers' curiosity.

Seven words about an alligator
The alligator's smile
Alligator to himself
Mother and child, alligator style
Kindergarten for alligators
Sunning
Alligator in armor
So many teeth
Mother alligator on the path
Ambush
What an alligator eats
Obituary
Apex predator.

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