Elympics - Hardcover

Kennedy, X. J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399232494 ISBN 13: 9780399232497

Publisher: Philomel, 1999

Synopsis

A collection of fast-paced poetry follows a cast of spirited pachyderms as they compete for gold in a variety of Olympic sports, such as diving, triathlon, hammer throw, and figure skating. 20,000 first printing.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3 A fine collection of 13 short poems on various major events in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, illustrated with a wonderful team of elephant athletes. Basic facts about the games are included in a note at the back. The emphasis in the poems is on good sportsmanship, the value of practice and teamwork, trying your best and persevering, etc. Each selection merits a double-page watercolor-and-pencil illustration, that shows the competitors engaging in athletic endeavors with elephantine grace there are even elephant clouds looking down on the superstars. Sprinters, skiers, skaters, and gymnasts all have their moments of glory. The cover art shows the Olympic torch being lit in Greece, and the two sections (Summer and Winter) each begin with a picture of a runner taking the flame up the path to the stadium. A perfect introduction to the Games for the very young. Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews:

Kennedy's deceptively facile verse amuses as it places under scrutiny a herd of elephants engaged in summer and winter Olympic sports. Runner Trinket wins sprinting by a nose, and gymnast Trixie, her ankle carefully bound up, handles backflips on the beam. Elfantina's figure skating and Elmo's ski-jumping capture the eye and the heart. The remarkable watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations communicate the particular geometric form of every sportthe crescent-moon curve of Elijah's dive; the T-shape of Elfantina on ice; the whoosh of Tram in slalomwithout sacrificing the elephantine personalities. The poetry cheerfully renders some specifics on sports, too: Eliza and Lenore are the volley ``ball-wackers!'' while Tram defines slalom as ``all I did was go downhill/Not hitting anything.'' The observations are immediate and funny. (Picture book/poetry. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Philomel
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0399232494
• ISBN 13: 9780399232497
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32