Gibson, Amy. 2011. Around the World on Eighty Legs. Ill by Daniel Salmieri. New York. Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439587556
1. Review of Book:
In Around the World on Eighty Legs, Amy Gibson presents a collection of some sixty poems about animals located in different regions of the world. Throughout she describes animals found on most continents and regions such as the Sahara and Savannah in Africa to the Andes and the Amazon in South America. She organizes her book by separating each of these regions into sections and writes numerous informative poems about animals that live in these parts of the world. At the end of the book she also provides and index and a glossary of each of the animals that she wrote about and gives even more facts about them. All of Gibson's poems rhyme and add a touch of humor to each one. Young people ages 6 and up will enjoy and easily understand each of the poems, but they will also learn many new vocabulary words and add to their animal and geographical knowledge. Daniel Salmieri's illustrations will also draw children in because they look childlike and cartoonish, which children will enjoy. Overall, this book of poems is sure to be a hit with all children.
2. Classroom/Library Connection:
Before Reading:
Amy Gibson's poems are great for sharing aloud. So begin by choosing a poem or two to share from each region of the world such as, Chinchilla, from the Andes to the Amazon section.
Chinchilla
Way up high atop the Andes
(land that's mountainous and hilly)
lives a silky silver rodent
hurrying, scurrying
willy-nilly.
When the mercury starts dropping,
does he worry?
Don't be silly!
Though it's winter,
he's so furry,
the chinchilla's not
chinchilly.
Follow-up Activity: (Incorporate Science and Social Studies)
Then after reading and discussing each of the animals, assign students to choose one the animals mentioned to do further research on. Have the students focus on researching more about their animal's habitat and where they live and why. Then have children create a diorama using cardboard or an old shoe box to display what their animal's habitat looks like and what they need to survive in their habitat. Have the students also write a short report about their chosen animal and share with the class.
3. Review Excerpts:
Midwest Book Review (Children's Bookwatch, April 2011)
Amy Gibson's Around the World on Eighty Legs surveys animals of the world, features fun drawings by Daniel Salmieri, and provides fun little rhymes to accompany zany drawings of unusual world animals, from the quetzal to the walrus, zebra and lion, and arctic tern. An excellent blend of animal facts and whimsy creates a fun read. The Picturebook Shelf ...., Scholastic
Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Feb. 1, 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 11)
Biology and nonsense verse make a winning combination in this lively picture-book poetry collection about animals around the world. The rhymes are filled with wordplay, and kids will enjoy the sly jokes: “Although anaconda / is fond of / a hug, / to my liking, / his hug / is a little too snug.” The rhythm in many lines captures the animals’ movements: “Hush deer / Hush deer / Tiptoe through / the brush deer.” The cartoon illustrations, in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, extend the playfulness, as in the image of the anaconda with a sign that reads “free hugs” tucked into its coils. Along with all the humor and fun, kids will pick up plenty of information, starting with the animals’ natural habitats, which are featured in the book’s organization by continent and on an opening, double-page world map. Appended pages offer more fascinating animal facts that kids will want to memorize and discuss. A great choice for cross-curricular sharing.
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