Pufferfish
Tiny sculptor
thinks grand,
builds a nest
out of sand
forty times
his own size,
trying to
attract a prize."
There are twelve poems here for readers to enjoy and share. The homes that the included creatures build are as varied as those that build them. They are not built for one reason only. While they certainly are built to provide shelter and a home for the family, they are often also built to attract a mate.
The final verses for the featured poem go like this:
"With tail and fin,
hoping he
will soon charm
a willing she,
he works hard
day and night.
Will he win
a mate?
He might."
In back matter, the pufferfish is described in a section called Builders in Water:
"To attract a mate, a male pufferfish may work for a
week shaping sand and shells into a colorful design on
the ocean floor. If it works, a female will lay eggs on it.
The male fertilizes and guards the eggs, blowing water
over them to keep them healthy. When the eggs hatch,
the male leaves the young to fend for themselves.
When danger threatens an adult pufferfish, it swallows
water and blows up into a ball with venomous spines
sticking out in every direction. The pufferfish is one
of the deadliest poisonous creatures in the world."
The poems provide plenty of information concerning the spiders, insects, mammals, birds, fish and one reptile included in the collection. Each is presented on a double page spread, and sorted into four sections: underground, on land, in the water, and in the air. Back matter is categorized in the same way.
The artwork was created using 'cut-paper relief on a variety of hand-painted papers', and lend accuracy to the settings, and to the information shared by Mr. Harrison. As well as the informative paragraphs included in back matter, there are suggestions for further reading.
This is another fine book that uses poetry to enhance science learning.
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