Insectlopedia
Poems and Paintings by Douglas
Florian
cover image retrieved 2/10/13
from
Bibliography
Florian, Douglas.
Insectlopedia. [S.l.]: Harcourt Children, Inc, 1998.
Critical
Analysis
Who could immortalize
bugs, creepy crawlers, and arachnids in words that make them appealing? Douglas
Florian, that’s who! Insectlopedia
manages to shed enticing light on insects that have been much maligned in most
literature. Rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, and imagery combine in a fun romp
through the world of bugs, drawing in the reader like a moth to a flame.
Word selection by
Florian is one of the highlights of each poem. He masterfully blends choice
words with captivating rhythm and rhyme to catch hold of the reader’s
imagination. Consider these lines from “The Daddy Longlegs”:
O Daddy
Daddy O
How’d you get
Those legs to grow
So very long
And lean in size?
From spiderobic
Exercise?
Getting a spider to
appear cool is a feat Florian accomplishes, leaving a smile on the reader’s
face and in her heart. The sound of the words as they are strung together and
the figurative language in each poem leave the reader wanting more.
Florian has a way of
looking at many of the insects featured in the book in an unexpected manner.
The dragonfly is described as “the demon of skies,” rather than its traditional
countenance as an angel of the bug world. The giant water bug is cast as a
loving but unappreciated father, “…but does he ever get a card or gift for
Father’s Day?” The often maligned cricket is portrayed as an expert musician
who offers his music for free. The opposing views of these insects gives the
reader the opportunity to look at all insects through different lenses.
The title of each poem
is the name of the insect. All are listed in the table of contents. Poems are
written in a variety of styles. “The Inchworm,” “The Whirligig Beetles,” and “The
Termites” are written in concrete poetry. Offset text provides emphasis in “The
Locusts” and “The Army Ants,” as does
bolded text in “The Praying Mantis” and lightened text in “The Locusts.” The
variety of presentations keeps the book as fresh and unpredictable as the
insect subjects.
Florian is also an
acclaimed artist, and the original artwork accompanying each poem supplies a
new dimension to the book. He is a self-described abstract artist. Some
paintings having a cubist touch, such as the illustration for “The Inchworm.” Many
others have lettering placed strategically around the picture, connecting to
the poem, such as “The Weevils” and “The Treehoppers.” Humorous details appear
in many illustrations, such as tiny vials of blood with the blood types labeled
on the picture with “The Mosquitoes.” All of the artwork extends the sensory
experience of the poetry.
Insectlopedia is an interesting, original look at commonplace menaces. Florian
creates fun and frivolity in unexpected ways. Readers of all ages will enjoy
this collection, even though it is found most often in elementary libraries. It
is a wonderful choice for everyone from reluctant readers to seasoned poetry
lovers.
Book
Reviews
Carolyn Phelan
(Booklist, March 15, 1998 (Vol. 94, No. 14))
Florian, the
author/illustrator of beast feast (1994) and on the wing (1996), now presents a
witty collection of short poems about insects and spiders. The clever artwork,
deftly constructed, and the entertaining collection of insect and arachnid
verse it illustrates will delight readers. Category: Middle Readers. Gr. 3-5.
Starred Review.
Deborah Stevenson (The
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, July/August 1998 (Vol. 51, No.
11))
In his elegant and
cleanly formatted volumes, Florian has versified on behalf of mammals (beast
feast, BCCB 7/94), birds (On the Wing, 4/96), and fish (In the Swim, 5/97), and
he now turns his attention to the world of insects (as well as their common-law
cousins, the arachnids). Those who have relished the other poetic bestiaries
will want to buzz on over to this one. Review Code: R -- Recommended.
Best
Book lists
Adventuring with Books:
A Booklist for PreK-Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999 ; National Council of Teachers
of English; United States
Best Books, 1998 ;
Parents Magazine; United States
Best Children's Books
of the Year, 1999 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review
Stars, March 15, 1998 ; American Library Association; United States
Books to Read Aloud to
Children of All Ages, 2003 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 1998 ;
The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog,
Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Catalog,
Nineteenth Edition, 2006 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Choices,
1999 ; International Reading Association; United States
Children's Literature
Choice List, 1999 ; Children's Literature; United States
Keep Smiling!, 2001 ;
Bank Street College of Education; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best
Books, 1998 ; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles
Unified School District; United States
Notable Children's
Books in the Language Arts, 1999 ; NCTE Children's Literature Assembly; United
States
Notable Children's
Books, 1999 ; ALSC American Library Association; United States
Publishers Weekly Best
Children's Books, 1998 ; Cahners; United States
Reading Magic Award,
1998 ; Parenting; United States
Recommended Literature:
Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002 ; California Department of Education;
California
School Library Journal
Book Review Stars, April 1998 ; Cahners; United States
Awards
ABC Children's
Booksellers Choices Award, 1999 Winner Special Subjects United States
Beehive Award, 2002
Winner Poetry Book Utah
Poetry
Break!
Spotlight
Poem
The Army Ants
Left
Right
Left
Right
We’re
army ants.
We
swarm.
We
fight.
We
have no home.
We
roam.
We
race.
You’re
lucky if
We
miss your place.
Learning
Extensions
·
Introducing
the poem: Have students line up, preferably in a double column format. Tell
them they will practice marching around the room. Begin the procession,
emphasizing the rhythm of marching. After marching partway around the room,
begin the chant, “left, right, left, right,” encouraging students to chant with
you.
·
After going
around the room once or twice, have students stop and drop, like good little
soldiers. Ask them to share observations about their marching experience.
·
Inform
students that you will now share the poem “The Army Ants” with them. Tell them
to listen for action words that tell what the ants do. Read the poem orally,
emphasizing the marching cadence and action verbs.
·
Ask
students to share the actions they heard in the poem. Students will also
describe how it is that ants perform these actions, and how they relate to a
human soldier.
·
Extension:
This poem is terrific for choral reading. Give each student a copy of the poem
and read it chorally while seated. Then, have students return to their double
column marching lines with their copies of the poem. Students will read the
poem chorally, marching when called for in the poem and acting out the other
motions in the poem.
Other
Books by Douglas Florian:
Douglas Florian’s
website: http://www.douglasflorian.com/
Douglas Florian’s blog:
http://floriancafe.blogspot.com/
Shiver Me Timbers!
Poem Runs: Baseball
Poems
UnBEElievables
DINOTHESAURUS
Poetrees
Comets, Stars, the
Moon, and Mars
zoo's who
bow wow meow meow
Omnibeasts
insectlopedia
mammalabilia
Handsprings
in the swim
lizards, frogs, and
polliwogs
Laugheteria
beast feast
Winter Eyes
Summersaults
Autumnblings
