"What good is a mosquito,
this bloodsucking "little fly."
I always want to zap her
each time that she zips by.
She's filled up to her eyeballs
With blood from every host.
But I am certain she prefers
My blood more than most.
I know she's no newcomer.
Her kin were found preserved
in millions-year-old amber.
It's what they all deserved."
If you live where the summer is rife with those nasty mosquitoes, winter can be a relief. It is one of the real advantages of cold weather to not have to deal with that annoying, blood-sucking insect for the better part of six months.
There are 15 poems here that are sure to have readers feeling a bit yucky indeed. I am no fan of the mosquito and think the above poem fully describes my aversion. Readers will find their own favorites as they read and then reread the poems presented by this accomplished mother-daughter team. It follows an earlier collaboration called Eek! You Reek! (Millbrook, 2019), a book about animals that stink, stank, stunk.
In this book, the authors' title poem describes what brought this group of animals to their attention.
"Yuck, you suck.
You really
do.
Yo! Suckers -
we've got
our eyes on
you!"
To add to the appeal for moving on to the next poem, the artist Eugenia Nobati has included every creature whose poem is included as the backdrop to this introductory poem. Such a wonderful way to get kids keen to see what they are, and what they do. They begin with the mosquito, and move on to the flea, the stingray, the butterfly, the remora, and so on ...
Each poem is placed on spreads that are filled with humor and of great interest to young readers. Sure to elicit chuckles and conversation, they add to the appeal of this winning book of poetry. Although they may find themselves liking a number of the creatures included, readers will also find some that gross them out.
Back matter offers an explanation for why animals suck, additional resources, anatomical terms for body parts that suck, informational paragraphs and thumbnail illustrations on each creature featured in the book, and a glossary of scientific terms. It's sure to be a hit with many readers.
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