Amphibian Acrobats

by Leslie Bulion, Robert Meganck (Illustrator)

Overview

Step right up and learn all about the lively participants in the Amphibian Acrobat show— from the agile Wallace's flying frog to the bouncing Venezuelan pebble toad to the tricky salamander called the yellow-eyed ensatina.
These show-stopping creatures hail from around the world and your own backyard! They shape-shift and sky dive, balance and climb. You’ll marvel at the astounding agility of “The Olympic Jumpers” and you’ll be awed by the incredible stamina of the intrepid “Marathoners.” Plus, you may be surprised by the antics of the amphibians called caecilians. Come along and get to know all about these lively denizens with this entertaining collection of science verses.
Author Leslie Bulion includes a science glossary, notes on poetry forms, and resources for information about these extraordinary animals. Witty drawings by Robert Meganck add another layer of fun to this humorous and informative exhibition starring some of the world’s most remarkable frogs, salamanders, and caecilians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682631843
Publisher:	Peachtree Publishing Company
Publication date:	03/01/2020
Pages:	60
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Leslie Bulion has graduate degrees in oceanography and social work. She has written parenting and education articles and is the author of several children’s books.

Designer and illustrator Robert Meganck is Professor of illustration, graphic design, digital imaging, and color theory at Virginia Commonwealth University. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He has received over 300 regional, national, and international awards for illustration and graphic design work, and been recognized for excellence by such organizations as The Society of Illustrators New York and The Society of Illustrators Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

A completely satisfying package… It's impossible not to warm to herpetology after reading aloud poems… Meganck's wry cartoons amplify the humor. The backmatter, strong as the main text, serves young readers well but will also spur teachers interested in multidisciplinary units on to new heights… Child readers and educators will find themselves enthralled by short, punchy poems and the science behind them.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

From the Publisher

01/01/2020

Gr 3–4—Amphibians, seldom seen but vital to ecosystems everywhere, are often considered creepy, slimy creatures. This delightful collection of poetry challenges the reputation of frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. The joyful poems beg to be read aloud; the introduction sings amphibians' praises: "We're amphibians! We breathe through our skin / we drink the same way; we soak water in." Each poem highlights a particular attribute such as locomotion (jumping, skydiving, or bunching into a ball and rolling away), defense, and courtship. The jaunty illustrations amplify the text's humor. A section describes the form and rhyme scheme of each poem. The narrative ends with a plea from the amphibians to be protected from extinction. A two-page map indicates where each creature lives. Another two-page display shows their relative sizes and highlights their threat of extinction. The glossary succinctly defines terms like food loop, vernal pool, and ambush predator. VERDICT Although there are no pronunciation guides and the prose descriptions are written in small font, the glorious illustrations and poems outweigh these shortcomings to make a fun and informative addition for nature lovers.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

School Library Journal

★ 2019-12-08
The amazing antics of amphibian acrobats unfurl.

Bulion and Meganck (Superlative Birds, 2019, etc.) again combine their literary and artistic wits (and scientific knowledge) to create a completely satisfying package for young people who want to learn about frogs (toads are classified with frogs), salamanders, and caecilians. Bulion not only appeals to their interest in poetics, but encourages kids to “Get Your Boots Wet!” It’s impossible not to warm to herpetology after reading aloud poems with lines about star-fingered toads like: “Her skin grows pockets, capped with lids, / to shield her embryonic kids, / whose tails shrink as they sprout four legs, / no tadpoles hatch—they stay in eggs, / ’til star-shaped toe and pointy snout / poke through Mom’s skin…pop, pop they’re out!” Meganck’s wry cartoons amplify the humor. The backmatter, strong as the main text, serves young readers well but will also spur teachers interested in multidisciplinary units on to new heights, serving as a model for many subjects. The poetry notes will provide lots of fodder for adults who want to introduce poetry in a systematic way, discussing both familiar forms and more esoteric poetry types, such as kyrielle and Skeltonic verse. The backmatter also includes a map (unlabeled) and a combined key to endangered status and relative size but no index.

Child readers and educators will find themselves enthralled by short, punchy poems and the science behind them. (glossary, resources) (Informational picture book/poetry. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews

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