Poetry and geography simultaneously? Interesting and entertaining? Absolutely!
I am not sure which is more enchanting in A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme, J. Patrick Lewis’ (of A Burst of Firsts and The Bookworm’s Feast) clever poetry or Alison Jay’s (Picture This) enormously appealing artwork.
Lewis’ humorous poems cover a multitude of topics from explorers Columbus and Magellan, to quirky commentary on the world’s unique geographic features such as Who Can Somersault the Andreas Fault? Perhaps most importantly for geophobes (like me) is that the poems simultaneously entertain and educate: Not sure about the difference between longitude and latitude? One reading of How to Tell Latitude from Longitude, a mere 4-line poem, should clear that matter up. (“Lines of latitude have flatitude. Longitudinal lines rise like porcupines.”)
Jay’s oil paint with crackling varnish illustrations have winsome appeal and makes what could be a dry subject highly approachable. This book is a fun quick read for kids from 5 to 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment