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Beastly Verse

JooHee Yoon (Illustrations)

3.98 · Rating details · 338 ratings · 102 reviews

Poetry and children belong together, and for a long time, the music and playfulness of verse wove itself through children's days and lives. Beastly Verse aims to help return the wonder of poetry to children's lives through sixteen exquisitely illustrated poems, four of which have the surprise and pleasure of being foldouts. Consisting of playful as well as powerfully memor ...more

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Hardcover, 48 pages

Published April 7th 2015 by Enchanted Lion Books

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Average rating 3.98 ·

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· 338 ratings · 102 reviews

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Apr 14, 2015 Betsy rated it really liked it

Shelves: poetry

Poetry. What’s the point? I say this as a woman who simultaneously gets poetry and doesn’t get it. I get that it’s important, of course. I only need to watch my three-year-old daughter come up with an ever increasing and creative series of bouncy rhymes to understand their use. But what I don’t get is Poetry with a capital “P”. I have come to accept this as a failing on my own part. And to be fair, there are works of poetry that I like. They just all seem to be for the milk teeth set. With that Poetry. What’s the point? I say this as a woman who simultaneously gets poetry and doesn’t get it. I get that it’s important, of course. I only need to watch my three-year-old daughter come up with an ever increasing and creative series of bouncy rhymes to understand their use. But what I don’t get is Poetry with a capital “P”. I have come to accept this as a failing on my own part. And to be fair, there are works of poetry that I like. They just all seem to be for the milk teeth set. With that in mind I was particularly pleased to see Beastly Verse, illustrated by Joohee Yoon. Full of fabulous classic poems and art that manages to combined a distinctive color palette with eye-popping art, Yoon’s creates a world that takes the madcap energy of Dr. Seuss and combines it with the classic printmaking techniques of a fine artist. The end result keeps child readers on the edge of their seats with adults peering over their shoulders, hungry for more.

As I mentioned, the resident three-year-old is much enamored of poetry. This is good because it makes her an apt test subject for my own curiosity. I should mention that my goal in life is to NOT become the blogger who uses her children to determine the value of one book or another. That said, the temptation to plumb their little minds can sometimes prove irresistible. Now Beastly Verse is not specifically aimed at the preschooler set. With poems like William Blake’s “The Tiger” and “Humming-Bird” by D.H. Lawrence, the verse can at times exceed a young child’s grasp. That said, none of the poems collected here are very long, and the art is so entrancing that the normal fidgets just tend to fade away as you turn the pages. My daughter did find that some of the more frightening images, say of the carnivorous hummingbird or the spangled pandemonium, were enough to put her off. Fortunately, each scary image is hidden beneath a clever gatefold. If the reader does not want to see the face of a tiger tiger burning bright, they needn’t open the fold at all. Not only is it a beautiful technique, it makes the book appropriate for all ages. Clever.

One might not associate Yoon’s particular brand of yellows reds, oranges, greens, and blues with evocative prints. Yet time and again I was struck by the entrancing beauty of the pages. Yoon’s traditional printmaking techniques can bring to life the hot steam that rises even in the coolest shade of a tiger’s jungle. Another page and Lewis Carroll’s “The Crocodile” lingers below the surface of the water, his innards heaving with “little fishes”. Yoon saves the best for last, though, with a poem I’d not come across before. “Dream Song” by Walter de la Mare is set in the gleam of “Sunlight, moonlight / Twilight, starlight” when the sun is just a sliver of a white hot crescent on the horizon. All the forest is lit by the orange and red rays, and out of a tree pokes the head of a single owl. The hypnotic verses speaking of “wild waste places far away” mix with the image, conjuring up the moment moviemakers call “magic hour”.

Mind you, there is always a nightmarish mirror image to each seemingly sweet picture. The eyeless caterpillar all maw and teeth is turned, on the next page, into a beautiful but equally unnerving butterfly. Only Yoon, as far as I’m concerned, could have brought us the horrific implications of “The Humming-Bird” and its existence “Before anything had a soul.” Even the last seemingly innocuous image of Captain Jonathan cooking himself an egg takes on a dire cast when you realize it’s that of a pelican (of the poem “The Pelican” by Robert Desnos) he’s about to devour.

This is by no means the first collection of animal poetry to grace our shelves. It was only two or three years ago that J. Patrick Lewis helped to collect the National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry. Many of the poems found in this book can be found in that one as well. However, while that book seemed to be going for sheer girth, Yoon’s selections here are carefully positioned. I was interested in the layout in particular. You begin with the aforementioned Carroll poem (which seems appropriate since a manic smiling cat graces the title page) and then transition into a nursery rhyme, a bit of typical Ogden Nash flippery (only three lines long), and then Blake’s best-known poem. Variety of length keeps the poems eclectic and interesting to read. They keep you guessing as well. You never quite know what kind of poem will come next.

Having read the deliciously multicultural Over the Hills and Far Away, collected by Elizabeth Hammill, it is difficult to pick up a collected work of poetry without hankering for a similar experience. Aside from artist Joohee Yoon’s own name and the fact that Robert Desnos was Jewish, there is very little in this collection that isn’t white and American/European. The reasons for this may have something to do with permissions. Every poem in this book, with the exception of a few, is in the public domain. None were commissioned for the book specifically. Mind you, it would have been possible for the book to follow Hammill’s lead and locate international public domain animal poems of one sort or another written specifically for children. It is therefore up to the reading public to ascertain if the book stands stronger as a collection of similar types of poetry or if it would have benefited from a bit of variety here and there.

In the end, it’s a beautiful piece. Children’s rooms are no strangers to beautiful art in their poetry collections, but Yoon’s distinctive style is hard to compare to anyone. The only poet/illustrator with the same energy that comes to mind (and that writes for kids) would have to be Calef Brown. And as debuts go, this is a stunner. A truly inventive and original collection that deepens with every additional read. Kids like it. Adults like it. It could have benefited from some diversity, absolutely. Overall, however, there are few things like it on our shelves. An inspiration.

For ages 3 and up. ...more

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Nov 23, 2018 Mathew rated it it was amazing

Shelves: animals, anthropomorphism, childrens-literature, nature, humour, key-stage-1, key-stage-2, illustrated-text, read-aloud, cautionary-tale

As an illustrator and printmaker, Yoon work is always a delight. This time, she has painstakingly chosen a small range of poems on the theme of animals to illustrate. From owls to yaks and from de la Mare to Rossetti, Yoon reimagines moments from each poem, her print humorously glows with her bright and engaging illustrations and some sections invite the reader to pull open pages in order to reveal the animal in all its majesty.

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Mar 28, 2016 Nathalie rated it it was ok

This is a book of children's poetry by various authors such as Christina Rossetti and Ogden Nash. It is a new book but illustrated to appear old style. I didn't like it as much as I thought I did. Here is my favorite:

THE EEL

I don't mind eels
Except as meals.
And the way they feels.

by Ogden Nash

I happen to have eaten eels as a child and never wanted to repeat the experience as an adult. Tastes very fishy with flesh more like a chicken and it does look like a snake...

My husband liked the following:

E ...more

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Nov 12, 2016 Natalie rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2016, poetry, junior-non-fiction, bhv

Compilation of famous animal poems written by many different authors. I was pleased to find two of my all time fave poems included, Eletelephony and The Spangled Pandemonium

(not a page from the book)

I liked how there was only one poem on each page. Poetry is always more enjoyable to read when it's not squished onto pages. The poems chosen were delightful but I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork. ...more

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May 13, 2015 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: animals, humor, read-aloud, imagination, nature, poetry

Sixteen previously published poems about animals, including "The Crocodile" by Lewis Carroll, "The Tiger" by William Blake, and my personal favorite for sharing--the hilarious and fun to read--"Eletelephony" by Laura Richards make this book delightful. Not only are the verses fun to revisit or visit for the first time, but the illustrations are literally drenched with color. Young readers and their parents will also enjoy the four gatefolds that expand the book's images. ...more

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May 11, 2015 Skip rated it liked it

Shelves: childrens

Colorfully illustrated poems about beasts and animals. The best two are Eletelephony and The Snail.

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Feb 24, 2020 Dolly rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: parents reading with their children

Shelves: nonfiction, 2020, rhyming, childrens, poetry-song-music

This book presents sixteen poems by different authors about various animals, featured along with artwork "created by hand drawing and computer techniques. Three Pantone colors were used in the printing of this book," creating a woodblock print style of illustrations that have unique layers of colors and often silly designs.

Many of the poems were familiar to me, written by authors such as Lewis Carroll, Ogden Nash, William Blake, and D.H. Lawrence. Others were less so, but still entertaining.

Ove ...more

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Apr 20, 2018 Alisha rated it really liked it

A great collection of children's poetry and rhymes about animals. The illustrations are vibrant and colorful...actually maybe a little bit too colorful. Like maybe your eyes will bleed if you look at it for too long.

thor

But otherwise I think it would make for a fun read aloud to kids and an excellent introduction to poetry.

...more

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Sep 08, 2015 Ann rated it really liked it

Bright, primitive-style illustrations perfectly complement short animal poems by the likes of Lewis Carroll and Walter de la Mare. An intriguing collection that may serve to spark an interest in poetry in young people and their grown ups.

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Dec 21, 2015 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: youth, poetry, 2015

Loved the bright, distinctive, fanciful graphic illustrations that accompany these animal poems by a variety of writers. My favorite poem might be "The Pelican" by Robert Desnos--new to me. Impressed with every single page of graphics.

Would kids like it?

4.5 stars ...more

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Jan 13, 2016 Edward Sullivan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: poetry, anthologies

A rich, gleefully illustrated and beautifully designed collection (including some great gatefolds) of playful verse about critters by such poets as William Blake, Lewis Carroll, D.H. Lawrence, and Christina Rossetti.

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Jan 30, 2015 Emily Scheinman added it

Shelves: favorites, poetry

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! A collection of fanciful poems matched with bold color art work. Releasing in April; perfect for poetry celebrations and a must have for your home library

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Feb 22, 2015 Mary Lee rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015, animals, poetry, picture-book

Lots of fun gatefolds!

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Jan 01, 2021 Michael Wager rated it liked it

Joohee Yoon has compiled and illustrated this collection of animal poems, in a wide variety of forms. Poems include “The Tiger” by William Blake, “Eletelephony” by Laura E. Richards, “Humming-Bird” by D. H. Lawrence, and “The Yak” by Hilaire Belloc. Illustrations are abstract, done with childlike drawings and primary color layering.

Yoon has put together an excellent selection of poems for children in this book, with a wonderful variety of flavors and personalities. The book ranges from Ogden Nas ...more

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Apr 19, 2018 YingYu Chen rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-with-rp, a-book-a-day

For winter and spring, my kids and I try to approach different poetry books. This pictured verse collection compiles almost poems that illustrate different kinds of animals. Not sure how the artist made the compilation, but the overall quality, along with the quality and texture of the book, made an astounding piece for family reading or individual collection.

As an always admirer of William Blake, "The Tygre" is the most known. I am happily introducing William Blake and the imagery of his poem w ...more

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Jun 16, 2020 Bruce rated it it was amazing

Sixteen poems by fourteen notable authors and two anonymous ones have been complied and illustrated by printmaker and graphic designer Yoon. It’s a feast for the eyes. On the copyright page it reads, “The artwork in this book was created by hand drawing and computer techniques. Three Pantone colors were used in the printing of this book.” The visual effect is an overlay of vivid block prints. Yoon, who designed the volume, in addition to illustrating it, provides a continuing visual narrative fo ...more

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Jan 25, 2022 Hallie Nelson rated it really liked it

Shelves: poetry

Beastly Verse has multiple poems in it. Each poem is about something completely different. Each poem also has different rhyming patterns. This is something that you could use with students to get them to identify the different rhyming patterns on each page. The illustrations are amazing. Just by looking at them you can see what the story is behind it. They are detailed, bright and colorful. This makes the pages interesting and helps you really see the meaning in each poem. The illustrations are ...more

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Mar 23, 2020 Delaney Andrews rated it it was amazing

Genre: poetry
Grade range: K-5
I think that the poems in this book could be read and used at any level of elementary school. Although some of the poems were a little more difficult, there were some that were more simple. Therefore, this could be used at many different grade levels. It is not a book that you would necessarily sit down and read through the whole thing with your class. It would be good book to pick through and find different poems that are applicable to your grade level, or maybe one ...more

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Apr 18, 2020 Megan Hosinski rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 21, 2020 Jennifer Ruvalcaba rated it really liked it

Genre: Poetry
Grade Level: Preschool-3
What I love about this book were the illustrations and how some poem created the animal they were describing. This book is more of choosing a poem from the book not reading it all in one sitting for younger readers. It can be use to open or close the classroom. As you are reading the poem, children can draw on how they think the animal looks through their ears.

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Apr 13, 2019 Molly rated it it was ok

Shelves: picture-books, juvenile-books, poetry

I mostly liked the illustrations- vibrant, psychedelic-colored prints of animals. But I didn't realize the poems were a collection of what I would largely call "oldies." Nothing wrong with a little 'Tiger tiger burning bright' but I was hoping for something fun and modern to accompany the illustrations. Just not for me. ...more

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Mar 23, 2020 Emili rated it really liked it

Shelves: children-s-literature, poetry, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Poetry

1-3rd grade reading levels

The poets in this book have a way with words! The poetry is so endearing and inviting. This book makes me want to grab a cup of coffee and sit and listen to these poems. As much as I liked the poetry, I thought the illustrations were even better. They are so visually appealing. Joohee Yoon is an extremely talented artist.

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Mar 26, 2020 Allison Nicholas rated it liked it

Primary

Poetry

I love that this story was more of a collection. Different poems about animals, each one drawing you in. The illustrations also added so much to the overall book. I'm only giving it a 3/5 because it hasn't been my favorite, but it was still very unique and interestingly written for children. ...more

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Apr 16, 2020 Taylor Relacion rated it liked it

Shelves: animals, poetry, read-aloud

Beastly Verse is a book that is composed of a compilation of famous animal poems written by various authors. There are sixteen poems with colorfully illustrated pictures. My favorite poem from the book had to be Eletelephony by Laura Richards. I would recommend this book for younger elementary grade levels because the content isn't heavy at all and would be very easy for younger children to follow.
I would use this in my classroom as a read aloud or if I were introducing the topic of poetry to y ...more

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Apr 24, 2020 Jordyn Kilmer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: children-s-lit

Genre: poetry grade: 1-4
This has a cute book full of poetry about animals. The poems are cute and interesting, but the real treasure of this book is the illustrations. I loved seeing the art throughout the book and the wonderful fun ways they’re portrayed. I love this story and would definitely recommend it!

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Mar 31, 2020 Gloria Linkiewicz rated it it was amazing

Poetry
2nd- 3rd grade reading level
This book is amazing because it has multiple poems in one book. I love how fun the poems are and the fun illustrations. An activity with this book you can use is read a poem a day. This can get students involve in the activity and explain what poetry is.

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Apr 07, 2020 Susan added it

Shelves: for-the-kiddos

Great book combining classic poems with fun abstract drawings (paintings?) that really help kids picture and enjoy the imagery.

My son and I both agreed that the Spangled Pandemonium is our favorite!

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Apr 18, 2020 Mady Beaver rated it it was amazing

Poetry
K-3
This book is full of fun and vibrant poems with some extraordinary illustrations that just pop off the page. This is a great book to teach kids about poetry and how creative it can be and it causes the kids to use their creative minds as well!

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