Review: Pug and Other Animal Poems

Worth, V. 2013. PUG AND OTHER ANIMAL POEMS. New York: Margaret Ferguson Books. ISBN 9780374350246. 

Pug and other animal poems, a topical collection of poems written by late author Valerie Worth (1933-1995), was published in 2013. The book features beautiful cut-out collage pictures by Steve Jenkins. The book's eighteen poems each focus on a different animal.Worth’s animal poems feature many different poetic elements throughout book. Since the poems are all about animals, the most obvious element is that of personification. Young readers will be captivated by how Worth describes the various animals and insects. The rhythm of the poems vary. 

Almost all of the poems are succinct, and in only a few lines, give the reader a glimpse of the mouse, rabbits, the wood thrush, the cat, the fox, toads, fireflies, along with other animals and insects. The beautiful illustrations complement the poems well. 

What is so great about Worth’s poetry style is that her concise, seemingly simple poems will appeal to young children who are being introduced to poetry. Who doesn't love poems about animals? Worth weaves intricate details of some of the most mundane insects, like the cicada, for instance. Readers may be surprised that their perceptions of certain animals and insects may change after reading Worth's poems. Here is the poem "Cicada":

            A fairy

            Tale come

            True: the

           

Humped brown

            Gnome split

            Up the back,

            The silver-

            Caped prince

            Set free.

(Worth, 2013)

This poem's three stanzas depict Worth's clear style: the imagery is clear, the lowly cicada becomes an exalted prince! One way to introduce this book to young children would be to print out copies of footprints for each of the animals mentioned in the poems, and have the children match up the footprints to a photograph of the animal.

After the children have worked together to match the footprints to their correct animal owners, the teacher or librarian could lead a short discussion on how/why the children chose the footprints for their respective owners. Afterwards, each child could choose an animal and the group can read the poem that corresponds with that particular animal.