Animals, The - Hardcover

Mado

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689505744 ISBN 13: 9780689505744

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry, 1992

Synopsis

A collection of twenty poems about animals, including the peacock, giraffe, and sea cucumber in both Japanese and English text

About this title

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Japanese

From School Library Journal

Grade 3 Up-- Mado reveals himself as a strong voice in children's poetry. These poems generally display a different sensibility from English language verse, ranging from the short, epigammatic "Zebra" ("In a cage/ Of his/ Own making,") to the longer "Ah, From Somewhere . . ." that laments that the mailman never notices the faithful sparrows and snails who see him off each day. The title piece, rightly saved for the last, touchingly and pithily examines humanity's separation from the rest of creation. The translations are quite literal, but strikingly rendered; they refreshingly retain Japanese onomatopoeia instead of substituting more familiar English equivalents. Their suppleness, level of language, and beauty show a formidable and astonishing command of English and its verse. Each selection appears in the original Japanese on the left-hand page with its translation on the right. Anno has produced two papercut borders that are repeated along the bottom of each successive spread; these daintily depicts about 18 animals, some of which appear in the text. The pages are beige, and although the monotony of color and repetition of illustration may soon pall, these beautiful and thought-provoking works will be returned to as a source of inspiration for young poets and dreamers. --John Philbrook, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0689505744
• ISBN 13: 9780689505744
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 47