A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems

by Deborah Ruddell, Joan Rankin (Illustrator)

Overview

In a watery mirror
the rugged raccoon
admires his face
by the light of the moon:
the mysterious mask,
the whiskers beneath,
the sliver of cricket
still stuck in his teeth.

Take a lighthearted romp through four seasons in the forest with these whimsical poems. Marvel at the overachieving beaver, applaud the race-winning snail and its perfect trail of slime, or head off to be pampered at a squirrel spa.

Warning: Deborah Ruddell's quirky cast of animal characters and Joan Rankin's deliciously daffy pictures will cause giggles. The woods have never been so much fun!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442441033
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	07/12/2011
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	42 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Deborah Ruddell is the author of the celebrated picture books Who Said Coo?, illustrated by Robin Luebs, and A Whiff of Pine, A Hint of Skunk and Today at the Bluebird Cafe, both illustrated by Joan Rankin. Before writing children’s books, she was an art teacher and a graphic designer.  Deborah lives in Peoria, Illinois. Visit her at DeborahRuddell.com.

Joan Rankin has illustrated more than twenty-five books for children. She received the South African HAUM Dann Retief Prize for Children’s Book Illustration in 1986 and the Katrina Harris Award for Children’s Book Illustration in 1991. Books she has illustrated include A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson and Off to First Grade by Louise Borden. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Editorial Reviews

"The happy result is a lively and inviting collection that invites both examination of poetry and examination of habitat; the vivacious verses are suitable for reading aloud or alone, inside or outside."
--*Bulletin

"Once again, the poems and artwork create whimsical scenarios that will amuse kids even as they subtly incorporate basic zoological facts…Both lighthearted and substantive, this is a good choice for cross-curricular sharing."
--Booklist

K-Gr 5

Another winner from the accomplished duo that created Today at the Bluebird Café (S & S, 2007). In one poem, a toad enumerates what it ate for lunch, "But I made a mistake/with the slug-on-a-stick-/a smidgen too salty-/and now I feel sick." The classic art project of a turkey produced from a child's handprint inspires a delightful response from the turkey, "Finally, I'm baffled/that you've made me look so dumb./My head is quite distinguished/and it's nothing like your thumb." A fox with paws crossed explains why he will never be a pet, "I won't come when you call,/I won't jump for the ball," sounding humorously like Green Eggs and Ham . A lovely description of spring, "A million arms in woody sleeves/wave a zillion brand-new leaves," evokes the majesty of nature magnificently. Richly glowing watercolors accompany these delightful poems about woodland flora and fauna. A charming spread showcasing the animals featured in the poems is repeated on the endpapers, and the vivid cover is irresistible. This beautifully designed book displays large bold font that stands out clearly on bright white paper and is edged by robust watercolors. Perfect for sharing aloud-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA

School Library Journal

Twenty-three evocative poems about forest animals, beautifully illustrated. Literary variety serves this collection well, with many different lengths, rhyme schemes and moods. The common elements in Ruddell's verse are economy and an observer's respect for her subjects. Deer horns are "velvet crowns," and even the humorous poem about the beaver ("True Believer / Waterproof Weaver / Overachiever / Roll-Up-Her-Sleever") is praiseful. She avoids the cute and obvious metaphor; rather than trotting out tired masked-bandit imagery, she instead pictures the raccoon regarding his reflection: "the mysterious mask / the whiskers beneath, / the sliver of cricket / still stuck in his teeth." Other subjects include snails, a salamander, a raccoon and a hoot owl, "working on his timing / and his quavery technique." Similarly, Rankin's watercolors show respect via their accuracy and detail, while still capturing the various flavors of the poems. Her caroling coyotes look appropriately scruffy, and her feuding woodpeckers are sublimely hotheaded. A wild turkey glares at a child's hand-tracing portrait; a toad regrets eating "the slug-on-a-stick." An excellent collection with broad age appeal. (Picture book. 4-10)

Kirkus Reviews

"Twenty-three evocative poems about forest animals, beautifully illustrated. Literary variety serves this collection well, with many differenct lengths, rhyme schemes and moods...An excellent collection with broad age appeal." — Kirkus, Starred Review

"The happy result is a lively and inviting collection that invites both examination of poetry and examination of habitat; the vivacious verses are suitable for reading aloud or alone, inside or outside..." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review

"Once again, the poems and artwork create whimsical scenarios that will amuse kids even as they subtly incorporate basic zoological facts...Both lighthearted and substantive, this is a good choice for cross-curricular sharing." — Booklist

From the Publisher