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JELLYFISH WISHES AND POEMS ABOUT FISHES: A Picture Book Review and Autographed Giveaway

carolbaldwin

 It’s always a pleasure to introduce friends’ books. Janine Yordy and I met years ago when the SCBWI Charlotte group met at Morrison library in South Park. 

The inspiration for this book came from Janine spending summers at the beach with her boys as well as the beauty she found in nature. As a biologist she picked and researched animals she loved.

It’s now my delight to share her second picture book with you, JELLYFISH WISHES AND POEMS ABOUT FISHES with illustrations by Ellen Injerd (Paraklesis Press, 2021)

REVIEW

The book begins with children running down to the sea; here is the first poem:

        BEACH DAY

Sun pops up, and out we run.
Shovels, buckets surfboards, FUN!
And all around us life is brimming–
flying, crawling, floating, swimming.
Sticky sand beneath our feet.
Wonder who we’re gonna meet.

The reader is then introduced to  CRABBY:

The poems are full of figurative language and different rhyming techniques which will make the sea creatures memorable. Readers will discover shells with “someone smelly still inside” (alliteration); a lovely osprey who “wishes for a mate to date” (internal rhyme); a heron who goes “SWISH for a fish, and SSLLURP.” (internal rhyme and onomatopoeia); and a pelican whose “beaking is super for sneaking and high-dive techniquing” (unique internal rhyme scheme). 

Here’s a fun limerick:

Dolphins dance and glide (vivid verbs) and gulls “scuffled over pickled leeks, with yapping, snapping, beachy beaks.” (internal rhyme)

Have you ever thought about a stingray flying? Janine did!

Silly poems include a jellyfish waiting to meet her Peanut Butter, an eel that “slithers, swimming with a swish. He’s a special, snake-ish fish.” (alliteration, fun made-up word). 

A hammerhead shark complains, “No nails, no wood, no way I should be mending someone’s fence. My snoot is cute, so I dispute: my name does not make sense.”

Here is one of my favorites,


The book ends with the children who are seen through out the book, saying goodnight to the beach under a  darkening sky, and a lovely spread about sea turtles. 


 

Don’t you love the “moon-made map”? I do!

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win an autographed copy by leaving a comment by December 19 at 9 AM.  PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU ARE NEW TO MY BLOG. U.S. Postal addresses only. 

Congratulations to Susan Rice who won DINO PAJAMA PARTY.


Published by carolbaldwin

Carol enjoys teaching writing and has presented at many educators' and writing conferences. She has published widely in newspapers and magazines and along with Rebecca Wheeler, co-publishes Talking Story, a newsletter for educators and media specialists. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you’ll find her walking with friends, golfing, or gardening.

50 thoughts on “JELLYFISH WISHES AND POEMS ABOUT FISHES: A Picture Book Review and Autographed Giveaway”

  12. The beach and ocean are my happy places and I always enjoy learning more about life there. The illustrations are adorable and I enjoyed the surprising twists to these poems.

    Reply

  21. Absolutely love it! The poetry and imagery area are amazing! The illustrations are sweet! Beyond adorable! Want to read it to my grandson! Makes me want to go to the beach! Oceanic creatures come alive!!

    Reply

  37. The beach and ocean are my happy places and I always enjoy learning more about life there. The illustrations are adorable and I enjoyed the surprising twists to these poems.

    Reply

  46. Absolutely love it! The poetry and imagery area are amazing! The illustrations are sweet! Beyond adorable! Want to read it to my grandson! Makes me want to go to the beach! Oceanic creatures come alive!!

    Reply

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