Florian Poetry

Florian, Douglas.  Mammalabilia.  New York:  Harcourt, Inc.  2000.  ISBN  0739821997

SUMMARY:  This book of poetry’s theme is to describe all different kinds of mammals.  Douglas Florian’s poems are short (most are 4-8 lines), humorous, and use vocabulary that beginning readers will be able to master.   

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:    This book of poetry is great for beginning readers. The book contains a Table of Contents, but no introduction. The poet uses rhyme, repetition, alliteration, and word play to give readers a humorous view of twenty-one different mammals.  These poems are short, most are four to eight lines. Some of the poems are written on the page so that they actually take the shape of the animal they describe.  The illustrations, also done by Douglas Florian, are unusual and primitive.  They were done by painting on brown paper bags.  They are simple like the poems, which makes them a perfect match.  Younger readers will love the humor, the descriptions, and the paintings of their favorite mammals.

POEM EXCERPT: 

The Tiger

“I am a cat---come hear me purrrr.

I’ve many stipes upon my furrrr.

I speed through forests like a blurrrr.

I hunt at night---I am tigerrrr.” (Florian)

EXTENTION ACTIVITY:  I would print out various animal shapes on paper, so students could choose one, then I would have them write a description of the animal putting the word s along the outline of the animals making the words into the shape of the animal.  Older students could first create a poem, then transfer to the paper.