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A Strange Place to Call Home: The World's Most Dangerous Habitats & the Animals That Call Them Home
Of all the miracles of life, it is life's persistence that astounds the most. In the endless black of the deepest caves, blind fish find their way. In a frozen forest, snow monkeys find a cozy hot spring to keep warm. Even in the salt desert's barren cold, flamingoes bloom like vivid flowers. The 14 animals in this book defy the odds and make their homes in the unlikeliest of places—under the weight of seas, in the belly of tar pits, in the sandstorm's mouth.
44 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2012
About the author
Marilyn Singer
165 books105 followersMarilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.
In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.
Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist's Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can't Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children's Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.
Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.
In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.
Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist's Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can't Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children's Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.
Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 19, 2012
A neat look--through verse--at those creatures we rarely see. Those that live in harsh, and sometimes unexpected, habitats. Singer explores these through a number of poetic forms that she shares in the back of this slim volume of poetry that reads like a cross-content area teacher's dream. The book contains end notes for each of the creatures referenced within.
What a neat stretch it would be for young people to take on their own poems based upon the research they are doing on any given subject.
Ed Young's collage-based illustrations really bring this collection together nicely!
What a neat stretch it would be for young people to take on their own poems based upon the research they are doing on any given subject.
Ed Young's collage-based illustrations really bring this collection together nicely!
July 28, 2020
Do you believe penguin lives in the cold, snowy weather? Monkey lives on tree? Bird can only fly? Reading this book will make you think again.
Tho labeled as picture book, A Strange Place to Call Home I'd say geared towards older children due to the words use. What make it special is that it's written in verses and the illustrations are actually collages. It's so interesting that I was ready to give it 5 stars half way through.
February 5, 2018
Fairly well-done poems about some of the oddest adaptations in the animal world. The images are lovely but a little abstract, makes it hard to quite make out the adapted creature.
December 20, 2012
Highly adaptable animal survivors are the focus of the 14 poems in this illustrated collection. Each poem highlights a specific animal, the seemingly inhospitable habitat they live in, and the unique ways they have adapted to their harsh homes. From penguins that live in warm weather to monkeys that huddle in the snow, from blind albino cave fish to vibrant pink flamingos who feed in salt flats, the poems in this book will have readers eager to learn more about the animals that live in the world’s most dangerous habitats.
Singer’s poems cleverly incorporate science while also conveying her amazement and respect for these animals. Poems are written from a third person perspective and Singer’s words evoke the hot, cold, arid, wet, of these hazardous locales. The preface discusses the possible reasons an animal might move to a harsh environment. A note about poetry forms is included in the back of the book, explaing that most of the poems use free verse or a regular rhyme scheme without set rules. Singer also denotes which poems were written using formalized structures, such as triolets, haikus, cinquains, and terza rimas. The endnotes include a solid paragraph on each animal, their scientific name(s), and more about their adaptation to their habitat (although it would be nice to have a list of sources or recommended further reading). Young’s earthy collage illustrations use a variety of materials (many papers, cardboard, shiny plastic, woven mats, etc.) to create layered compositions. Some illustrations show the animals close up and larger than life, such as the big-eyed petroleum flies, while others show more of the animals environment, such as the snow monkeys and the urban foxes.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
Singer’s poems cleverly incorporate science while also conveying her amazement and respect for these animals. Poems are written from a third person perspective and Singer’s words evoke the hot, cold, arid, wet, of these hazardous locales. The preface discusses the possible reasons an animal might move to a harsh environment. A note about poetry forms is included in the back of the book, explaing that most of the poems use free verse or a regular rhyme scheme without set rules. Singer also denotes which poems were written using formalized structures, such as triolets, haikus, cinquains, and terza rimas. The endnotes include a solid paragraph on each animal, their scientific name(s), and more about their adaptation to their habitat (although it would be nice to have a list of sources or recommended further reading). Young’s earthy collage illustrations use a variety of materials (many papers, cardboard, shiny plastic, woven mats, etc.) to create layered compositions. Some illustrations show the animals close up and larger than life, such as the big-eyed petroleum flies, while others show more of the animals environment, such as the snow monkeys and the urban foxes.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
September 30, 2016
• This mesmerizing picture book tells readers about 14 incredible animals and the dangerous places they call home. Singer writes a different poem for each animal and habitat. The beautiful poems are accompanied by cut paper illustrations of the animals and their habitats by Ed Young. This book concludes with more information about each animal and with more information about poetry.
• Grades K-6
• This book can be used in the English classroom to discuss different styles of poetry or in the Science classroom to introduce habitats or adaptations it could also be used in an art classroom to introduce this. This book is a teachers dream, it includes a section at the back of the book that tells readers more about the animals and the habitats in the poems.
• Individual students that enjoy learning about unusual animals would enjoy this book. Students that like poetry would also enjoy this book.
• In small groups I would have students choose two animals from the book to compare and contrast. Which animal lives in a more dangerous environment? Why is that environment more dangerous? Why would that animal live there if it was dangerous? What adaptations has this animal developed to survive in this environment?
• I would read this book to the class then have students identify their favorite poem. What words the poet Marilyn Singer use to paint a picture in your mind? How does she appeal to each of the five senses?
• Other books like this include: Ice Bear: The steps of the Polar Bear by Nicola Davies
• This book is also available as an ebook on amazon.
• Grades K-6
• This book can be used in the English classroom to discuss different styles of poetry or in the Science classroom to introduce habitats or adaptations it could also be used in an art classroom to introduce this. This book is a teachers dream, it includes a section at the back of the book that tells readers more about the animals and the habitats in the poems.
• Individual students that enjoy learning about unusual animals would enjoy this book. Students that like poetry would also enjoy this book.
• In small groups I would have students choose two animals from the book to compare and contrast. Which animal lives in a more dangerous environment? Why is that environment more dangerous? Why would that animal live there if it was dangerous? What adaptations has this animal developed to survive in this environment?
• I would read this book to the class then have students identify their favorite poem. What words the poet Marilyn Singer use to paint a picture in your mind? How does she appeal to each of the five senses?
• Other books like this include: Ice Bear: The steps of the Polar Bear by Nicola Davies
• This book is also available as an ebook on amazon.
January 11, 2013
This book was a miss for me, at least from a nonfiction standpoint. I felt that the informative aspect would have been MUCH stronger if facts (even brief facts) had accompanied each spread, not been grouped together at the end notes, particularly for the briefer poems. The illustrations, too, varied widely in their quality (a particular least favorite was the insane-looking mountain goat) and for the most part served this informational text poorly. For some animals, like the spadefoot toads seen from above, it's impossible to discern their actual shape from these illustrations. With many of these creatures so rarely seen and animals many kids may not be familiar with, photos included with the end notes would have gone a long way. Although facts are presented in the end notes, no sources are cited and no author's or illustrator's note is included.
I love the idea of poetry illuminating a nonfiction theme, but this effort was poorly executed.
I love the idea of poetry illuminating a nonfiction theme, but this effort was poorly executed.
November 8, 2012
I enjoyed the poems for the most part. The juxtaposition of the cold and hot for the first two poems was well done. My favorite was Frozen Solid. But some poems and the animals were a little too mysterious. I don't know all these animals and I doubt children would. Having to go to the end of the book to find out about spadefoot toads, for example, was a little frustrating. Joyce Sidman does a better job in her books of poetry and animal/plant facts by pairing the info on the same page as the poem.
I was looking forward to seeing Ed Young's artwork with Singer's poems, but I was disappointed. The illustration for Wall of Sand was too difficult to ascertain the camels and people. The mudskipper artwork appears to be under water while the poem says these fish can walk on land. There must be a better way to depict that. The limpet and flamingo illustrations worked.
I was looking forward to seeing Ed Young's artwork with Singer's poems, but I was disappointed. The illustration for Wall of Sand was too difficult to ascertain the camels and people. The mudskipper artwork appears to be under water while the poem says these fish can walk on land. There must be a better way to depict that. The limpet and flamingo illustrations worked.
October 7, 2013
A Strange Place to Call Home / Marylin Singer / 2012
Genre: non-fiction
Format: picture book
Plot Summary: Poems about fourteen animals who defy the odds by thriving in Earth's most dangerous places where they live.
Considerations: no red flags
Review Citation: Publishers Weekly, 8/13/2012, Vol. 259 Issue 33, p68, 1p
Selection Source: Ed Young, illustrator, bibliography
Recommended age: 6-9
Genre: non-fiction
Format: picture book
Plot Summary: Poems about fourteen animals who defy the odds by thriving in Earth's most dangerous places where they live.
Considerations: no red flags
Review Citation: Publishers Weekly, 8/13/2012, Vol. 259 Issue 33, p68, 1p
Selection Source: Ed Young, illustrator, bibliography
Recommended age: 6-9
March 28, 2017
Everything about this book is great! The facts about bizarre animal habitats are fascinating as are the cut paper illustrations. I also really appreciated Singer's explanation at the end of all of the poetry types represented throughout the book. I could see this book being used in so many different ways in the classroom.
June 27, 2012
I love the artwork, and the poems are not just entertaining--they are also informative! This would be a great tie-in with Planet Earth/Blue Planet video excerpts. The verses can also be used to teach poetry forms. I especially like the triolet "A Fish in the Air".
August 14, 2014
Wonderful poems, as enjoyable as they are informative, describe the extreme habitats that are home to a variety of birds, fish, mammals, and insects. Illustrated with stunning abstract collage art by Ed Young.
October 25, 2019
grade: 1-6
Wow! I really liked this book! The illustrations are made from what looks to be torn scratch paper! This book is great for creating pictures in children's heads about "what if" an animal lived in an environment opposite from where they are now. I really enjoy how the author also somehow uses all sorts of different poetic structures, rhyming/not rhyming, short/long, etc. Such a great book also incorporates different formatting and a lot of similes or metaphors.
focus: climate change, poems
Wow! I really liked this book! The illustrations are made from what looks to be torn scratch paper! This book is great for creating pictures in children's heads about "what if" an animal lived in an environment opposite from where they are now. I really enjoy how the author also somehow uses all sorts of different poetic structures, rhyming/not rhyming, short/long, etc. Such a great book also incorporates different formatting and a lot of similes or metaphors.
focus: climate change, poems
January 23, 2020
As pure poetry maybe, but as non fiction, nope. The quality of illustration varies widely, some are much better representations of their species than others. It seems like when dealing with animals children probably aren't too familiar with less abstract is better. Also as nonfiction, having the information on the same page would be better than having it shunted to the back.
(Plus I think that goat is going to give me nightmares...)
(Plus I think that goat is going to give me nightmares...)
July 23, 2019
This book is a collection of poems that all describe animals living in harsh environments. Not only is it highly educational, but very well written. The poems and art are beautiful. It is pretty complicated, however. Even though it’s a picture book, I’d say it’s written at the middle school level. A younger student could read it if they study only one poem at a time.
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January 19, 2020This is a very educational and artistic book for upper elementary or even middle school who are learning forms of poetry. It is a little harder to read because of the poetry but fun informational aspect learning about the harsh habitats of some species. Fun further explanation of types of poetry used and animals mentioned in the back.
August 24, 2013
Richie's Picks: A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL HOME: THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS HABITATS & THE ANIMALS THAT CALL THEM HOME by Marilyn Singer and Ed Young, ill., Chronicle, August 2012, 44p., ISBN: 978-1-4521-0120-0
"Home is where I want to be
Pick me up and turn me round"
-- Talking Heads, "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
"WELL-OILED
petroleum flies
Thousands
of them are born
in carrion, water,
or soil. But not this crew. They hatch
in oil."
From one extreme (habitat) to another, A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL HOME offers readers some truly awesome examples our planet's ability to provide lodging for a mind-boggling assortment of beings. Talk about adaptation -- this is like Darwin on steroids!
And for each of these fourteen intriguing species explored, poet Marilyn Singer crafts both a poem and an endnote with further information:
"Petroleum Flies
Different types of flies are found all over the world and in every kind of climate. Some live in habitats that would kill most other beings. Among those are petroleum or oil flies (Helaeomyia petrolei). The larvae hatch in naturally occurring pools of oil, feeding on insects trapped in the petroleum. Then they pupate -- transform into adults -- on nearby grass. The adults live in cracks in the soil near the pools. They can walk on the oil as long as only their feet touch the surface."
Singer also provides the poetry form used, and a web address where readers can learn about each of the forms she employs. (The above poem is a cinquain.)
Meanwhile, each of the 14 poems is accompanied by an Ed Young collage. In the case of these petroleum flies, we feast our eyes a two-page spread of huge, satisfyingly hideous petroleum flies.
While most of these habitats depicted involve extremely rugged, natural expanses of mountain, sea, or desert, another of my absolute favorites here is the seeming opposite. In a scene that causes one to readily imagine nearby blaring of car horns and clouds of petroleum fumes, the urban fox is one with which I can readily relate. Ed Young's illustration of a spilled-out pickup truck, an overturned dolly, an old-time water tower framing a full moon, and a couple of foxes hiding out amidst the debris, brings us to the fringes of our people world and the clash between man and nature that so often leaves the planet poorer for it.
"CITY LIVING
urban foxes
They have
quit forests and
fields for sheds, flowerbeds;
forfeited wild berries for shrimp
lo mein.
It seems
an easy life,
but in close quarters, cars,
capture, and contagion take
their toll.
Foxes
adapted to
city living find it
full of plenty -- but plentiful
in risk."
"When I'm home, ev'rything seems to be right"
--Lennon/McCartney "A Hard Day's Night"
This book is a great adventure. But I think I'll keep my current residence.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"Home is where I want to be
Pick me up and turn me round"
-- Talking Heads, "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
"WELL-OILED
petroleum flies
Thousands
of them are born
in carrion, water,
or soil. But not this crew. They hatch
in oil."
From one extreme (habitat) to another, A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL HOME offers readers some truly awesome examples our planet's ability to provide lodging for a mind-boggling assortment of beings. Talk about adaptation -- this is like Darwin on steroids!
And for each of these fourteen intriguing species explored, poet Marilyn Singer crafts both a poem and an endnote with further information:
"Petroleum Flies
Different types of flies are found all over the world and in every kind of climate. Some live in habitats that would kill most other beings. Among those are petroleum or oil flies (Helaeomyia petrolei). The larvae hatch in naturally occurring pools of oil, feeding on insects trapped in the petroleum. Then they pupate -- transform into adults -- on nearby grass. The adults live in cracks in the soil near the pools. They can walk on the oil as long as only their feet touch the surface."
Singer also provides the poetry form used, and a web address where readers can learn about each of the forms she employs. (The above poem is a cinquain.)
Meanwhile, each of the 14 poems is accompanied by an Ed Young collage. In the case of these petroleum flies, we feast our eyes a two-page spread of huge, satisfyingly hideous petroleum flies.
While most of these habitats depicted involve extremely rugged, natural expanses of mountain, sea, or desert, another of my absolute favorites here is the seeming opposite. In a scene that causes one to readily imagine nearby blaring of car horns and clouds of petroleum fumes, the urban fox is one with which I can readily relate. Ed Young's illustration of a spilled-out pickup truck, an overturned dolly, an old-time water tower framing a full moon, and a couple of foxes hiding out amidst the debris, brings us to the fringes of our people world and the clash between man and nature that so often leaves the planet poorer for it.
"CITY LIVING
urban foxes
They have
quit forests and
fields for sheds, flowerbeds;
forfeited wild berries for shrimp
lo mein.
It seems
an easy life,
but in close quarters, cars,
capture, and contagion take
their toll.
Foxes
adapted to
city living find it
full of plenty -- but plentiful
in risk."
"When I'm home, ev'rything seems to be right"
--Lennon/McCartney "A Hard Day's Night"
This book is a great adventure. But I think I'll keep my current residence.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
June 20, 2014
1) “Twin Text” – This is Our House, Hyewon Yum, 2013.
2) Rationale: I selected this twin text because it will open up the discussion about where people live. This brief story walks us through the narrator’s mother’s life growing up in the house that the narrator grows up in as well. This book will allow for students to discuss the different homes and communities we live in. This will help us bridge the discussion about animal habitats, and how their homes are different from other animals just like ours are different from others based on our wants and needs.
3) Text Structure: A Strange Place to Call Home uses a descriptive text structure, but it is also written in verse, a different style for nonfiction. I would use the webbing strategy for this twin text because students are given facts about each unique animal and are given more information about each animal’s unique habitat at the end of the book. This would be a great visual for students to see how different each of these creatures are and how truly amazing the habitats are. I would like to use the webbing activity, so students could create a home web for the fictional text and a home web for the nonfiction text. Pairs of students could be responsible for one or two animals listed in the text, and they could add details to their web based on the free verse poems and nonfiction information.
4) Citation: (2012, August 03). Publishers Weekly. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
2) Rationale: I selected this twin text because it will open up the discussion about where people live. This brief story walks us through the narrator’s mother’s life growing up in the house that the narrator grows up in as well. This book will allow for students to discuss the different homes and communities we live in. This will help us bridge the discussion about animal habitats, and how their homes are different from other animals just like ours are different from others based on our wants and needs.
3) Text Structure: A Strange Place to Call Home uses a descriptive text structure, but it is also written in verse, a different style for nonfiction. I would use the webbing strategy for this twin text because students are given facts about each unique animal and are given more information about each animal’s unique habitat at the end of the book. This would be a great visual for students to see how different each of these creatures are and how truly amazing the habitats are. I would like to use the webbing activity, so students could create a home web for the fictional text and a home web for the nonfiction text. Pairs of students could be responsible for one or two animals listed in the text, and they could add details to their web based on the free verse poems and nonfiction information.
4) Citation: (2012, August 03). Publishers Weekly. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
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December 5, 2012Singer, M. (2012). A strange place to call home: The world’s most dangerous habitats & the animals that call them home. (Illus. by Young, E.). San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. 44 pp. ISBN 978-1-452-10120-0. (Hardcover); $16.99.
Filled with free verse, sonnets, cinquains, haiku, and other poetic forms, Singer takes us around the world exploring the world’s most inhospitable habitats. We have poems about tube worms living in the hydrothermal vents deep in the ocean. We caper with goats high up the rocky cliffs and we eek out an existence with petroleum flies. While the lack of sources and references for the nonfiction information that accompanies each poem prevents this book from being of much use in science classes, that should not deter those interested in language or art. Young’s torn paper collage compliments Singer’s careful collection of words. Singer’s book is one of those wonderful picture books that should find a home in a wide variety of grades, from elementary classrooms up past high school. Examine, for example, her poem about a most unusual fish:
Out of Sight
In these caves the blind are not bats,
but fish.
Small, pink, eyeless,
they navigate their pools with confidence,
easily avoiding obstacles.
Crystals, cave pearls, fellow fish,
no indecision, no collision.
Who needs vision
as long as this world remains
so wet
so dark?
Filled with free verse, sonnets, cinquains, haiku, and other poetic forms, Singer takes us around the world exploring the world’s most inhospitable habitats. We have poems about tube worms living in the hydrothermal vents deep in the ocean. We caper with goats high up the rocky cliffs and we eek out an existence with petroleum flies. While the lack of sources and references for the nonfiction information that accompanies each poem prevents this book from being of much use in science classes, that should not deter those interested in language or art. Young’s torn paper collage compliments Singer’s careful collection of words. Singer’s book is one of those wonderful picture books that should find a home in a wide variety of grades, from elementary classrooms up past high school. Examine, for example, her poem about a most unusual fish:
Out of Sight
In these caves the blind are not bats,
but fish.
Small, pink, eyeless,
they navigate their pools with confidence,
easily avoiding obstacles.
Crystals, cave pearls, fellow fish,
no indecision, no collision.
Who needs vision
as long as this world remains
so wet
so dark?
October 30, 2012
"A Strange Place to Call Home: The World's Most Dangerous Habitats and the Animals That Call Them Home" presents an interesting concept: relatively unknown animals and the challenging environments in which they live. I enjoyed the expanded information on each of the animals, as well as the explanations of the types of poetry that Marilyn Singer employed in each of the poems, which came at the end of the book. This information would be useful in the classroom. However,the poems themselves were generally sub-par. They lacked fluency and beauty of language and taught very little about the animal and its environment. The paper collage illustrations by Caldecott medalist Ed Young did not do justice to the subject matter - much too abstract - "Wall of Sand," for example, was nearly indecipherable - even by the adults in my book club. Photographs, or at least more realistic depictions of the environment, would have been a much better choice, especially because the book deals with environments that many kids will have little prior knowledge of. If the goal of this nonfiction piece is for kids to learn, the illustrations do not in any way facilitate that learning. This book was a disappointment for me.
December 29, 2012
there's a good deal of science here, but the poetic license and artistic style offers a product that's a little more engaging to the luddites in the audience. Though poet Marilyn Singer's writing wends its way through a myriad of poetic styles (including haiku, sonnets and--my favorite--the villanelle), the details about animals as varied as ice worms and flamingos are still clear and precise, encouraging a inquisitive mind to rush to the encyclopedia or internet for more information.
While the poetry works beautifully with the scientific factoids, the art from Caldecott winner Ed Young is a little more difficult to discern. Hodgepodging scraps and strips of paper into a collage that mirrors actual animal habitats makes for an innovative look, but one that stands out as stark and grim rather than passionate and inviting. Since the animals often live in grim surroundings, the choice makes sense, but it also seems underwhelming in contrast with the fine writing.
Still, if the point is to offer both scientific and creative engagement for young minds, A Strange Place to Call Home succeeds with ease. Marrying poetry and science in a way not seen since my AP English teacher married our local Chemistry genius.
While the poetry works beautifully with the scientific factoids, the art from Caldecott winner Ed Young is a little more difficult to discern. Hodgepodging scraps and strips of paper into a collage that mirrors actual animal habitats makes for an innovative look, but one that stands out as stark and grim rather than passionate and inviting. Since the animals often live in grim surroundings, the choice makes sense, but it also seems underwhelming in contrast with the fine writing.
Still, if the point is to offer both scientific and creative engagement for young minds, A Strange Place to Call Home succeeds with ease. Marrying poetry and science in a way not seen since my AP English teacher married our local Chemistry genius.
August 15, 2012
No matter how unappealing a place may seem to each of us, there really is no place like home, and even the most inhospitable--to humans!--spot is a place where other creatures live. In these fourteen poems, the author describes fascinating living things, such as ice worms who somehow manage to live within a glacier and limpets that somehow endure the extremity of relentlessly pounding waves and the sun's heat and light during low tides. One poem, "City Living," even describes how some foxes have migrated to the city where they have "adapted to/ city living" (unpaged) and "find it/ full of plenty--but plentiful/ in risk" (unpaged). The poetry and the accompanying collage illustrations reveal surprising depths to these animals and their habitats. As the poem "A Strange Place to Call Home" states, "They survive/ strive to thrive/ in a world of risky places" (unpaged). The brief endnotes provide additional information on each animal for the curious. This is another must-have for the classroom shelves.
March 31, 2013
The book " A Strange Place To Call Home " by Marilyn Singer and drawn Ed Young, is about the strange places an animal calls their home. It is about how people think some animals have an easy lives but they don't. For example, urban foxes, they live in fields and quit forests, all though it may seem easy for them, it's in a really closed space, and they have to adapt to city living.Another strange place to live is in the water; you can't see and it's so dark. This book talks mainly about animals and how their homes are, and why it's so strange to live there.
I picked up this book because the title caught my eye. I was curious to see what was a strange place to live.
I finished the book because I wanted to know what else is a strange place to live.
I would recommend it to people who like wild animals, because it talks about animals and how and where they live.
Updates :
Out Of Sight - How do fishes see in water?
Well - Oiled - What are petroleum flies? And why do they grow in oil?
I picked up this book because the title caught my eye. I was curious to see what was a strange place to live.
I finished the book because I wanted to know what else is a strange place to live.
I would recommend it to people who like wild animals, because it talks about animals and how and where they live.
Updates :
Out Of Sight - How do fishes see in water?
Well - Oiled - What are petroleum flies? And why do they grow in oil?
September 27, 2012
Through evocative poetry, this book explores habitats that you would never guess something could even survive in. But they do! There are creatures who live in places with no water, no warmth, little food. And those are the creatures that star in this book, each of them celebrated in verse. There are penguins, mountain goats, and camels, which may be the animals that came to mind. But Singer looks deeper than that and introduces unlikely creatures to readers, including petroleum flies that hatch in oil, ice worms that live in glaciers, and blind cave fish from Texas and Mexico. She takes these creatures, known and unknown, and gives us a glimpse of them and their habitat in a variety of poetry forms. Each page is a discovery of a new animal and a new type of poetry.
Read the rest of my review on my blog, Waking Brain Cells.
Read the rest of my review on my blog, Waking Brain Cells.
June 19, 2013
A Strange Place to Call Home by Marilyn Singer, illustrated Ed Young, is a collection of poems and illustrations about animals that live in harsh environments and have adapted to their conditions. The poetry forms include free verse, cinquain, haiku, villanelle, sonnet, and others that give young readers a brief look at the animals in their habitats from the Humboldt penguins that live in the warmer climates of Chile and Peru to the blind cave fish that live in the dark deep. Included in the poetry book are at times abstract looking pictures of the animals or their habitats, though the images resemble collage techniques that incorporate various mediums. The book also includes a break down of what poems exemplify which form and end notes that give a little more information about each animal.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/06/a...
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/06/a...
September 20, 2012
Wonderful poems featuring some of the hardiest creatures in our complex world, living in the harshest, most challenging environments. Singer uses a variety of poetic styles, from haiku to villanelle and free verse. Creatures such as flamingos living on salt flats, tube worms clustered near deep ocean vents, camels and mountain goats are marveled over and celebrated in skipping, swirling poems. None of the verses are too long or too hard to grasp, making it a delightful read for young and old. The EndNote gives a brief description of each animal and it's challenging habitat as well as an overview of the poetic forms. I found that reading the back pages and then the related poems in matching sequence made the most sense, enabling us to get the context of the environment and then understand the amazing adaptability of each life form.
August 31, 2013
Animals thrive in even the most unforgiving places on earth. Dangerous places where humans and most other animals would find it impossible to live. Renowned poet, Marylyn Singer and award-winning illustrator Ed Young introduce readers to fourteen fascinating creatures from all over the world who make their homes in treacherous habitats.
Blind cave fish are right at home in dark, wet caves. Beautiful pink Flamingos live in salty lakes, marshes and swamps. Mudskippers are strange fish living in mangrove stands; areas of marsh and tidal areas. There they skip across the mud and sand. Petroleum flies hatch in oil and camels live in hot deserts, using the dunes to shelter them from sand storms.
These lovely poems are barely an introduction for each creature, but they can be a launching place for the curious.
Blind cave fish are right at home in dark, wet caves. Beautiful pink Flamingos live in salty lakes, marshes and swamps. Mudskippers are strange fish living in mangrove stands; areas of marsh and tidal areas. There they skip across the mud and sand. Petroleum flies hatch in oil and camels live in hot deserts, using the dunes to shelter them from sand storms.
These lovely poems are barely an introduction for each creature, but they can be a launching place for the curious.
July 24, 2012
Terrific poems explore the weird habitats of particular animals. (I prefer the rhyming and/or poems in specific forms to the free verse ones.) Here's just one fun one!
A Fish in the Air
Welcome to this mangrove stand.
Go on, you're allowed to stare.
Here, fishes walk on mud and sand.
Welcome to this mangrove stand,
Not quite water, not quite land.
Here, fishes perch to breathe the air.
Welcome to this mangrove stand.
Go on, you're allowed to stare.
I immediately had to go online and find some pictures of these unique creatures. And that's one of my favorite things about this collection--it makes me curious. I want to know more! That's exactly the effect I want when I either read or write nonfiction poetry: awe at what the poem shares, and curiosity about what else there is to learn.
A Fish in the Air
Welcome to this mangrove stand.
Go on, you're allowed to stare.
Here, fishes walk on mud and sand.
Welcome to this mangrove stand,
Not quite water, not quite land.
Here, fishes perch to breathe the air.
Welcome to this mangrove stand.
Go on, you're allowed to stare.
I immediately had to go online and find some pictures of these unique creatures. And that's one of my favorite things about this collection--it makes me curious. I want to know more! That's exactly the effect I want when I either read or write nonfiction poetry: awe at what the poem shares, and curiosity about what else there is to learn.
July 11, 2016
A collection of poems in a variety of forms about animals who live in unusual habitats.
This was only a three star until I read the further information in the back. Singer provides not only great information on each of the animals featured and their unique habitats, but she also informs readers what kind of poetry form she used for each poem and provides a link so readers can understand the rules for each one. I suggest reading this part first. It really helps you appreciate the poems better when you know the requirements for the poetry form. My favorite was "Salt of the Earth" about flamingoes which was a villanelle poem. Ed Young's illustrations were ok, nothing that had me awed, but not horrible.
This was only a three star until I read the further information in the back. Singer provides not only great information on each of the animals featured and their unique habitats, but she also informs readers what kind of poetry form she used for each poem and provides a link so readers can understand the rules for each one. I suggest reading this part first. It really helps you appreciate the poems better when you know the requirements for the poetry form. My favorite was "Salt of the Earth" about flamingoes which was a villanelle poem. Ed Young's illustrations were ok, nothing that had me awed, but not horrible.
January 17, 2013
What to expect from this book: the illustrations are awesome but then again what do you expect when you have Ed Young as your illustrator. Next up the poetry is really fun the best part in the back is an explanation and of the different forms of poetry used the book and which poems use that form. And to top it off the science is interesting and so is the subject matter. Really how can you not love a book that gives poetry and science equal footing and I think will appeal to young readers with a science interest but also reads aloud delightfully from the use of poetry.
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