Sidney's Animal Rescue Store
Cats, dogs, turtles, emus -- there's a place
and poem in SIDNEY'S ANIMAL RESCUE STORE for every kind of critter. Meet
heavy metal cockatoos who like to rock and roll, snooty llamas speaking
French, alley cats with attitude, and even a batch of baby alligators.
Kids will tweet, howl or hiss along to the romping rhythms of Liz
Swados' poems and the colorful fun of Anne's Wilson's illustrations.
Scroll down to read the rave
reviews that this book has received...
Click here to buy this book.
Hey You! C'mere!
One summer
morning in the sizzling city, seven kids gather on a street corner to
share the power of poetry. As they move through the neighborhood, the
kids transform their experiences -- standing up to a tough kid, slurping
spaghetti and ice cream, a good "hiccup cough sniff" cry -- into a
poetry slam celebrating the strength and energy of their own unique
voices. Elizabeth Swados' wonderfully aural work is given visual
dimension by Joe Cepeda's colorful, character-ful paintings.
Click here to buy this book.
Other Children's Books
Liz Swados'
other books for Children include Dreamtective: The Dreamy and Daring
Adventures of Cobra Kite (Kid Genesis), and Inside Out: A Musical
Adventure. Click here to learn more about or buy these books.
Reviews for "Sidney's Animal Rescue Store"
Orlando Sentinel by Nicolas A. Basbanes
The inviting, cleverly
rhyming tribute is modeled on a real place, beautifully choreographed by
playwright, poet and composer Elizabeth Swados, whose lively, funny
lines suggest she is well-versed in the ways of the animal kingdom.
The story has an important message -- every abandoned creature is in
need -- that is handled with grace and sensitivity.
Kirkus Reviews, New York,
March 1 2005
The author's background
in writing and composing for the theater is evident in this unusual
collection of poetry that begs to be read aloud in dramatic voices or
acted out as a class play. The 21 poems form a narrative arc that
describes the inhabitants of a combination animal-rescue center and pet
store, a fantastic sort of shelter that will take in a llama or a
lobster. The unnamed narrator, usually an African-American teenaged boy
who seems to be a helper at the shelter, introduces the owner of the
store and a wide variety of potential pets. Swados uses
stream-of-consciousness musings, invented words and animals sounds,
snappy conversations and wildly imaginative characterizations to give
the store owner and each animal a unique personality. She isn't afraid
to use rap conventions, near-rhymes or incorrect grammar when it suits
the narrator, and she doesn't worry too much about her rhyme schemes or
use of commas. Somehow, it all works together, enhanced by Wilson's
vibrant illustrations, bright background colors and a jazzy design.
(Poetry. 5-10)
School Library Journal,
New York, March 2005
This collection of
poetic verse tells the story of Sidney, who runs a special shop in which
he takes in and tries to find homes for an eclectic assortment of
animals including a buzzard, a llama, and tarantulas. Some of the poems
speak from the heart of people of all ages who want pets, or those who
just want to look at the curious wildlife. Others tell humorous tales of
animal rescue from a variety of venues. Amusing illustrations in
mixed-media collage add bold color and a cheerful, rollicking tone to
the mix. Many of the selections are clever, well worded, and funny, with
lots of sound effects and alliteration, while others have awkward rhythm
and rhyme schemes and several go on too long. Adept teachers could use
these poems to create a unique and interesting performance piece.
Collectively they tell an amusing and sometimes moving tale. (Be
Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL)
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