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Yuck, You Suck!: Poems about Animals That Sip, Slurp, Suck
this book sucks! It bites, slurps, and sticks too. Dare to open these pages and you'll find ticks, mosquitos, stingrays, elephants, jellyfish, and the particularly sucky lamprey. Sixteen slurpy poems from Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple introduce a suction-filled selection of animals, and spectacularly sticky illustrations from Eugenia Nobati spotlight these stupendous suckers. Ready to find out more? Prepare to get sucked in and read on . . .
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
6 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Heidi E.Y. Stemple
48 books45 followersHeidi didn’t want to be a writer when she grew up. In fact, after she graduated from college, she became a probation officer in Florida. It wasn’t until she was 28 years old that she gave in and joined the family business, publishing her first short story in a book called Famous Writers and Their Kids Write Spooky Stories. The famous writer was her mom, author Jane Yolen. Since then, she has published 20 books and numerous short stories and poems, mostly for children.
Heidi lives and writes in Massachusetts on a big old farm with two houses.
Heidi lives and writes in Massachusetts on a big old farm with two houses.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 28, 2022
Yuck, You Suck!: Poems about Animals That Sip, Slurp, Suck
by Jane Yolen
This author has written other delightful books for kids I loved so I am thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this one! This has the funniest and cutest poems and laugh out loud artwork to go with the poems! Perfect match!
While being entertained, kids will be learning while grinning! The 'suckers' in the line-up include the mosquito, flea, stingray, butterfly, remora, jellyfish, pigeon, lamprey, moth, honeybee, vampire bat, elephant, and leech. I bet you're thinking that some of those shouldn't be on that list! They do and sneaky Jane Yolen will explain why!
This is one book that is so hilarious to just look at, then add crazy, fun true stuff to really top it off! This would be the book to get that kid that has everything!
by Jane Yolen
This author has written other delightful books for kids I loved so I am thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this one! This has the funniest and cutest poems and laugh out loud artwork to go with the poems! Perfect match!
While being entertained, kids will be learning while grinning! The 'suckers' in the line-up include the mosquito, flea, stingray, butterfly, remora, jellyfish, pigeon, lamprey, moth, honeybee, vampire bat, elephant, and leech. I bet you're thinking that some of those shouldn't be on that list! They do and sneaky Jane Yolen will explain why!
This is one book that is so hilarious to just look at, then add crazy, fun true stuff to really top it off! This would be the book to get that kid that has everything!
January 8, 2023
This may be a kids picture book but it made this middle aged adult chuckle a few times. I also learned that elephants have 40 muscles in their trunk, pigeons beaks work like a straw, and that manta rays have teeth.
I’d buy this book for any science loving child in my life who love bright, colorful artwork and a interesting animal facts.
**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received.**
I’d buy this book for any science loving child in my life who love bright, colorful artwork and a interesting animal facts.
**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received.**
July 22, 2022
What an absolutely fun and creative book concept-
I am OBSESSED!!
Yuck, You Suck! was one of the neatest books I've had the pleasure of reading this year!
Inventive, humorous, lively and BEAUTIFULLY illustrated- I cannot say enough about it. The font, word choice and simplistic poetry style matched the vibe of the book - there is nothing worse than Times New Roman, long-winded paragraphs and big words to ruin a book that's meant to be enjoyable and entertaining for little ones.
This is a collection of rhyming poems about unique creatures in our ecosystem that thrive by 'sucking, slurping or sipping'. I was thoroughly engaged throughout and I can imagine this will ONE HUNDRED PERCENT keep the attention of some of those easily distracted kiddos. The illustrations are vibrant, quirky and the way the illustrator exaggerated certain features bring SO MUCH depth to the animals. Not only was I laughing and enjoying flipping through - I also learned a lot of cool facts about some of these well and little known animals.
Other praises about this book are that there were other suggested reads if you liked this, a list of anatomical terms for the parts of the animals that this book is about (with a description and interesting facts), more about each of the animals throughout the pages of the book, and ANOTHER glossary of other words that may need clarification.
I can't say there is a set age/grade level for this book because I think it's multi-faceted and can be versatile...while some of the poems and words may be too much for a young child, they will FREAKING LOVE to follow through with the pictures and as they grow up they can grow into the book more. As for older ages- I think the whole premise of the book is enough to entice them to want to read it...the name, the pictures, the gross nature of most of the creatures in the book- It's a WIN WIN for everyone!
DISCLAIMER- I do not have kiddos, and reading these are purely for recommendations to friends/family/educators AND to bring some silliness into my life....with that said, I'm 32 and I will be buying this book for my own personal library- yep, it's THAT good.
I am OBSESSED!!
Yuck, You Suck! was one of the neatest books I've had the pleasure of reading this year!
Inventive, humorous, lively and BEAUTIFULLY illustrated- I cannot say enough about it. The font, word choice and simplistic poetry style matched the vibe of the book - there is nothing worse than Times New Roman, long-winded paragraphs and big words to ruin a book that's meant to be enjoyable and entertaining for little ones.
This is a collection of rhyming poems about unique creatures in our ecosystem that thrive by 'sucking, slurping or sipping'. I was thoroughly engaged throughout and I can imagine this will ONE HUNDRED PERCENT keep the attention of some of those easily distracted kiddos. The illustrations are vibrant, quirky and the way the illustrator exaggerated certain features bring SO MUCH depth to the animals. Not only was I laughing and enjoying flipping through - I also learned a lot of cool facts about some of these well and little known animals.
Other praises about this book are that there were other suggested reads if you liked this, a list of anatomical terms for the parts of the animals that this book is about (with a description and interesting facts), more about each of the animals throughout the pages of the book, and ANOTHER glossary of other words that may need clarification.
I can't say there is a set age/grade level for this book because I think it's multi-faceted and can be versatile...while some of the poems and words may be too much for a young child, they will FREAKING LOVE to follow through with the pictures and as they grow up they can grow into the book more. As for older ages- I think the whole premise of the book is enough to entice them to want to read it...the name, the pictures, the gross nature of most of the creatures in the book- It's a WIN WIN for everyone!
DISCLAIMER- I do not have kiddos, and reading these are purely for recommendations to friends/family/educators AND to bring some silliness into my life....with that said, I'm 32 and I will be buying this book for my own personal library- yep, it's THAT good.
July 18, 2022
3.5 stars
A fun collection of things that suck. It's likely to grab the reader's attention, especially boys, who are often drawn to topics such as this. This would be a fun book for parents/child to read together or for teachers to read with their class. The illustrations are vibrant and inviting.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
A fun collection of things that suck. It's likely to grab the reader's attention, especially boys, who are often drawn to topics such as this. This would be a fun book for parents/child to read together or for teachers to read with their class. The illustrations are vibrant and inviting.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
August 13, 2022
Miigweetch NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This is an illustrated poetry anthology for children centered around creatures that suck, such as mosquitos, fleas, lampreys, and (a surprise entry for me!) stingrays. I enjoy Jane Yolden’s work and I enjoy learning about animals, so this was a no-brainer request for me. I liked that there were examples of different types of poetry, and the concrete poem about butterflies was particularly well done. Classes with poetry units will benefit from this book, and the writing is versatile enough to be used with middle grades as well. For this reason I recommend this book to elementary and middle school libraries. I believe this is also a good book to have in elementary science classrooms, as it introduces factual information about common animals in a fun and accessible way.
The illustrations are delightful, and I enjoyed seeing the various creatures depicted on the page. They are cartoonish, a bit exaggerated, and endlessly fun. Everything about the layout of the book seems thoughtful and aligned, including the font choice, which makes each page a delight to consume.
This is an illustrated poetry anthology for children centered around creatures that suck, such as mosquitos, fleas, lampreys, and (a surprise entry for me!) stingrays. I enjoy Jane Yolden’s work and I enjoy learning about animals, so this was a no-brainer request for me. I liked that there were examples of different types of poetry, and the concrete poem about butterflies was particularly well done. Classes with poetry units will benefit from this book, and the writing is versatile enough to be used with middle grades as well. For this reason I recommend this book to elementary and middle school libraries. I believe this is also a good book to have in elementary science classrooms, as it introduces factual information about common animals in a fun and accessible way.
The illustrations are delightful, and I enjoyed seeing the various creatures depicted on the page. They are cartoonish, a bit exaggerated, and endlessly fun. Everything about the layout of the book seems thoughtful and aligned, including the font choice, which makes each page a delight to consume.
August 13, 2022
Yuck, You Suck is a poetic journey exploring creatures that sip, slurp, and suck. Everything from vampire bats to elephant trunks, no stone or animal family was untouched. The poems vary in form, which adds a nice touch to the journey's flow. The illustrations were not to my taste, but I can see them being very popular with the younger crowd. Not all of the poems were to my liking, but I'm a bit older than the intended audience. Overall, this was a nice picture book that would go great in any classroom library.
Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group, Millbrook Press for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group, Millbrook Press for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
September 11, 2022
I received an electronic ARC from Lerner Publishing Group through NetGalley.
The illustrations make this book. Yolen's poems capture the various animals that eat less than appealing foods. They suck up debris, blood, other animals, etc. The poems will appeal to readers of all ages as each captures how the animal eats and why. Terrific for a science unit on animal eating habits. the artwork is vividly colored and pulls readers in to be part of each scene. I appreciate Yolen including a glossary and further information on each animal at the end of the book.
The illustrations make this book. Yolen's poems capture the various animals that eat less than appealing foods. They suck up debris, blood, other animals, etc. The poems will appeal to readers of all ages as each captures how the animal eats and why. Terrific for a science unit on animal eating habits. the artwork is vividly colored and pulls readers in to be part of each scene. I appreciate Yolen including a glossary and further information on each animal at the end of the book.
September 13, 2022
This poetry title offers children a fun way to learn about animals that suck and a couple of others that don't actually suck even though we may think they do. The poems are lyrical and fun while including facts that will have children wanting to know more. The back matter goes a step further with a glossary and facts about each animal included. This book will provide a great stepping stone into personal research as students will clamor to know more about these animals. High recommended for elementary school libraries.
October 27, 2022
I came across this gem of a book looking for a poetry picture book which would appeal to 5th graders. The title itself "Yuck You Suck" and the humorous and sometimes gross-out details about the animals make this perfect for that age group (and even lower grades). The illustrations compliment the witty poems by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple perfectly as well. Highly recommended to grade school readers eager to learn about animals and/or poetry styles. Bonus points to the authors for their "concrete" and "haiku" poems!
October 22, 2023
I read this book for the Charlie May Simon Award Committee. I read this book with my daughter and we both disliked it very much. The poetry felt very clunky and the poems were very off-putting. The book is totally about animals that "suck" -- whether it be water, fluids, or blood--and they each have a poem about them and how they suck. The illustrations are about the only thing that saved this book for us, but even they were not enough to give it above a two star rating. It will be getting a no vote from me.
September 18, 2024
From mosquitoes and butterflies to leathery elephants and remora, animals have a reason to suck. This is a great poetry book to help little kids learn from a genre often overlooked in schools. Bright colors, dramatic depictions and fun facts all help children enjoy poetry with this book.
November 21, 2024
Amazing poetry. I'm impressed how they took such yucky things and made funny poems about it that work. It tells the story well.
Great artwork. Creative, sort of gross, lots of color and energy in the artwork. Great stuff.
Kids love gross insects and things. They loved being grossed out. I think they will enjoy this book. There are plenty of facts in here and it's a great way to learn. Well done.
Great artwork. Creative, sort of gross, lots of color and energy in the artwork. Great stuff.
Kids love gross insects and things. They loved being grossed out. I think they will enjoy this book. There are plenty of facts in here and it's a great way to learn. Well done.
October 19, 2022
This is such a great book of poetry for kids. It is part poetry, part science. You learn about different animals in verse. The illustrations add to the poems and boy are they gorgeous illustrations! This book would be a great addition to your science or reading lessons, poetry tea time, or just to read before bed.
December 8, 2022
Jane Yolen's latest picture book is a collection of poems about animals that suck, in one way or another. It features mosquitoes, elephants, jellyfish, bats, and more. After the poems, there is a section in the back with more information on each. Another terrific book from a talented and prolific author.
May 30, 2024
Fantastic! While I think perhaps some of the illustrations may be seen as a bit creepy for kids, I found them really neat to behold. I loved the odd nature of this collection of poetry. It really hits on interesting information for the different animals presented. The poetry was fun and the additional information at the back of the book was great.
July 15, 2022
Fabulous high interest poetry for mid-to-upper elementary. Loved how Yolen chose such topics to grab student attention. Poetic devises abound. Great example of one way to classify and group topics….the boys (especially) in my classes the past few years would have jumped on this bandwagon for sure!
July 16, 2022
This book has such a unique concept! There are so many creatures that "suck" that I didn't even know about until reading this book. The illustrations are gorgeous and the poems are so much fun to read. This is definitely a great addition to a classroom/ school library.
October 9, 2022
If you loved EEK, YOU REEK, you’ll love YUCK, YOU SUCK from the fab mom-daughter duo Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple. These poems are filled with fun science facts around a another great STEM theme. The illustrations heighten the kid-friendly tone.
October 27, 2022
I can tell from the title that this book is supposed to be funny but I didn't find it that humorous. I ekpt reading it, expecting to like it more than I did. Will my 5-year-old grandson like it. I'll let you know.
November 7, 2022
Lively and colorful illustrations, clever rhymes, and a cheeky title make this STEM poetry collection a delight. I had no idea there were so many sucking animals including elephants, honeybees, moths, and jellyfish, so I learned a lot myself.
December 2, 2022
Very fun book! I recommend this in any classroom library. The usage of wordplay and rhythm was great, and the words create lots of pictures in the readers mind. I especially enjoy how some of the poems are shaped like the animals that they are based on.
March 15, 2023
The animals in this book suck! You can find out why in Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple’s engrossing poems about leeches, mosquitos, fleas, and other yucky suckers. The pages are fun and lively. This science-y book will suck you right in!
Read
March 19, 2023The mother-daughter team of veteran authors Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple collaborate on a humorous examination--in pithy poetry--of animals tghat suck, bitge, slurp, and suction. Science-loving kids who enjoy slightly gross biological facts will whip through this book in no time!
Reviewer 13
Reviewer 13
February 10, 2024
Poetry at its best! Kid-friendly! Different kinds of poems included and could be useful for teachers as they introduce concrete and haiku poems (and more)! Good back matter-I like the inclusion of a glossary and other helpful resources! Two thumbs up for this book!
July 17, 2024
Poetry—
Yuck, you suck is not an insult; it’s a suckers intended result!!”
Some animals bite or chew. And some suck. Like a mosquito. Or a honeybee. Or a jellyfish!! This book tells poems about all kind of animals that suck up their food.
Yuck, you suck is not an insult; it’s a suckers intended result!!”
Some animals bite or chew. And some suck. Like a mosquito. Or a honeybee. Or a jellyfish!! This book tells poems about all kind of animals that suck up their food.
December 1, 2024
This was a collection of poems about creatures that literally suck, most often for food, like a butterfly.
I wanted more science facts about the animals. Also, the illustrations were not to my taste. My kid thought the book was just okay.
I wanted more science facts about the animals. Also, the illustrations were not to my taste. My kid thought the book was just okay.
February 13, 2025
While these poems might come across as just silliness- there is A LOT to learn as you read each poem! I kept learning new things about different creatures while laughing out loud at the illustrations!
November 5, 2022
This a great book filled with different types of poetry all about animals that suck to get food and water.
December 13, 2022
Illustrated poems about animals that "sip, slurp, and suck". Fun, with some good information tucked in as well.
January 19, 2023
Just read this aloud to my kids. The boy loved it the girl thought it was disgusting. I loved it I even learned something along the way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews