Plum - Hardcover

Mitton, Tony

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0439364094 ISBN 13: 9780439364096

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2003

Synopsis

We're proud to "pear" a plum of a poet and a peach of an artist for a book that will be the apple of your eye!

Tony Mitton has been hailed in the U.K. for reviving the tradition of English lyric children's poetry. Now he makes his U.S. collection debut with poems for every mood -- thoughtful, funny, silly, fantastical -- all perfectly accompanied by the wondrous pastels of Mary GrandPre. Together they reveal the story of St. Brigid and the baker ... the mysteries that lie down Green Man Lane ... the pleasure of a special hat ... the joys of the Elegant Elephant Delicatessen and the talents of Mrs. Bhattacharya's Chapati Zap Machine. Like plums and poems, this book holds beauty inside.

About this title

Review

"Come to the Elephant Delicatessen./ Sample the delicate elephant treats." Lyrical poems about epicurean elephants, puzzled peas, and "freak cat-fleas" pepper Tripoli-born poet Tony Mitton's whimsical poetry collection, illustrated by Mary GrandPré, best known for her artwork in the U.S. editions of the Harry Potter series. Mitton anthropomorphizes objects from plums ("Don't be so glum, plum") to bubbles ("I am only/ a bubble,/ the ghost of a ball./ If I'm caught/ then I'm naught,/ I am nothing at all"). He also enjoys telling stories with his poetry, including the over-the-top, nine-page-long "Mrs. Bhattacharya's Chapati Zap Machine" about a complex chapati-making mechanism with a mind of its own, and "The Histon Boulder" about Moses Carter's stone in England. Many of the poems have a distinctly British feel, such as "Green Man Lane" and "Mrs. Rummage's Muddle-Up Shop" where readers will find the terms "loo-rolls," "button tin," and "plastic mac," all defined in the author's notes in the back. GrandPré's inventive interpretations swoop and swirl with bold, somewhat geometrical, larger-than-life imagery of serpents, giants, and scary tree roots to dizzying effect. (Ages 5 to 9) --Karin Snelson

About the Author

Tony Mitton writes wonderful poetry and is much in demand at schools and festivals to read and perform. After spending most of his childhood abroad with his soldier father, Tony studied English at Cambridge before becoming a primary school teacher. Inspired by his pupils he began writing poetry and has won awards for his collections. Tony Mitton lives in Cambridge with his wife and children and their cat. To find out more about Tony Mitton click here

Edition details

• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0439364094
• ISBN 13: 9780439364096
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: GrandPré Mary