Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Acrostics, poems wherein the first letters of each line make up a relevant word or phrase when read vertically, are some of the most accessible of formal poems, and Harley offers nearly a score of lively examples. Each poem treats an African animal, from crocodile to zebra, including both classic literary subjects (elephant and giraffe) and less common stars (African wild cat and kudu). The poems are nimble and crafty, demonstrating that acrostics can actually be effective verse as well as technical achievements. Harley tucks in rhymes, alliteration, and poetic tropes and seasons her verse with a playful sensibility ("But/ Even so, I know/ A rhino when I / See one, and this is the time not/ To"), making them entertaining to read across as well as down, perhaps even out loud. The layout is actually on the young side for the poetry, following the big print/colored background/portrait photo format familiar from many early verse collections, but the photos, taken in Namibia's Etosha National Park, are vivid close-ups. Young wordsmiths will itch to try their hands at the verse form after reading this; it would also make a useful complement to Janeczko's A Kick in the Head (BCCB 4/05) in discussing poetic forms and structure. A concluding spread offers more information about acrostics, including advanced versions such as double and multiple acrostics; another spread offers natural-history notes on the featured animals, while a statement from the photographer gives some insight into Namibia.