Bless Our Pets

January 1, 2024

PreS-Gr 1-An anthology of poems celebrating all the things about animals that make them lovable pets. In this selection featuring children's authors and poets, pets range from furry to scaly and everything in between. The poems are simple and accessible, while offering complex vocabulary and imagery that celebrates the many layers of emotions around beloved pets. The range of feelings and topics is vast, such as in Lois Lowry's "Mouse Dreams," where the narrator imagines the scary nightmares a mouse might have, versus the whimsical and comedic "Pet Snake?" by Charles Ghigna, which serves as gratitude that the snake belongs to someone else. The real stars of the collection are Judge's illustrations, which beautifully give life to guinea pigs and bubbly goldfish. The children featured present some diversity in ethnicity and race, though most appear white. VERDICT An effective, quaint set of poems, this would be a good addition for collections with a high interest in poetry and animal books.-Kaitlin Malixi

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February 15, 2024
Fourteen poets express (mostly) affection for their beloved pets. With the sole exception of Charles Ghigna ("I pray some day I'll learn to love / a friendly snake or two. / But heaven knows I'm grateful that-- / this one belongs to you!"), the contributors offer misty-eyed sentiments sure to warm the cockles of any pet owner's heart. Between opening odes by Ann Whitford Paul and Rebecca Kai Dotlich to (respectively) a kitten and a puppy and closing tributes to aging companions of the same furry sorts by Prince Redcloud and the late Hopkins, each entry pours warm feelings on a different type of animal, from goldfish to guinea pig to galloping steed. Judge's lyrical but realistic watercolor and colored pencil scenes enhance the overall mood with portraits of cute, button-eyed creatures, usually in intimate pairings with children of racially diverse presentation...or at least glimpses of hands offering tasty treats or bare feet being warmed on a fuzzy tummy. The title for this work is appropriate, with several of the poems framed as prayers. Along with being short enough to read at one bedtime go, the book artfully transitions from poems about dancing and galloping to those about rest and sleepy coziness. Short and sweet. (Picture book/poetry. 5-8)

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March 15, 2024
Grades K-2 One of the last collections edited by the late Hopkins, Bless Our Pets includes 14 poignant poems about children's love for their pets, be they beloved old family dogs (Prince Redcloud's "Old Calico"), animals at home (Darren Sardelli's "A Letter to My Guinea Pig"), or petite critter companions (Eric Ode's "A Prayer for My Gerbil"). Homages to pets big and small, young and old, the poems are often written in free verse, with the exceptions of a few rhymes, and are gorgeous pieces of writing, though the youngest readers may indulge more in the soothing palette and warmth of Judge's illustrations. Ralph Fletcher's poem for a parakeet speaks to the beautifully wild nature of domestic animals, while Lois Lowry tells the tale of a dreaming, adorable mouse. Perfect for animal lovers, from odes to cute creatures that require our cuddles to blessings over animal companions who have been loyal for years, these poems are filled with raw emotion and love for a diverse collection of animals who unconditionally love us back.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.