Meow Ruff-A Story in Concrete Poetry by Joyce Sidman

Okay, I admit, I'm on a bit of a poetry kick.  And while I have only reviewed three children's books on the blog so far (this is the second, recent one), I have to mention this title.  Why?  Because it's as much fun for adults as it is for little kids.

I'm taking an English class that is studying poetry, and it discusses using 'concrete' words rather than 'concept words'.  So instead of addressing all the intangible aspects of description (love, freedom, etc), a poet will make more impact from using concrete words that describe actual tangible things.  So when I found this children's book at our local library, my son loved the pictures and I loved the words.  The illustrations are sweet, yet simple-almost a pop-art/anime style.  The illustrator incorporated the text into the actual artwork, so a tree is made up of words, as is the grass.  In the meantime, a cat, a dog, and some feisty crows create the story.

Here's the tree, where the font increases and decreases in size and width to create the canopy and narrows into the trunk: 
Each leaf
rippling and
quivering
each twig
nodding
and shivering
each branch
feeling the wind's
whisper but the
slim
chested
great
hearted gnarl-armed
strong
legged
one

stands

firm.

The grass is described in a long, thin font that looks like grass blades:
patchwork,
rabbit-nibbled,
mower-cropped,
wind-whispered grass
petunia-edged,
much-flattened
sturdy-bladed,
seed-studded grass

Later on, a table, rain, and even clouds are made up of concrete poetry.  A fun book for kids and moms...

Book courtesy of my local library!  Check out yours!