Module 14: Scranimals

Scranimals by Jack Perlutsky

 

Summary: Have you ever heard of a Potatoad?  Or how about some Camelberta Peaches?  Scranimals is a slightly silly poetry book, following in the tradition of Jack Prelutsky's other books, with the addition of great artwork from Peter Sis.  It is somewhat like a story, as two children travel throughout Scranimal Island with their raft, umbrella and scooter.  While on Scranimal Island they discover all sorts of mixed up characters which are a combination of plants and animals.

APA Reference: Prelutsky, J. (2002). Scranimals. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Impressions: This book is sure to be a kid pleaser, and would go along nicely with several projects in school.  The illustrations are intriguing, as the Rhinocerose seems to blend right into the landscape while managing to look like a subtle cross between a rose and a rhinocerus.  The Hippopotamushrooms, which are scattered between trees, appear just like mushrooms, or maybe rhinos, and the broccolions look like positvely fierce broccoli lions.  One of my favorite characters is the Radishark, which just seems like it should be fierce when you combine the hot spicy flavor of a radish with a shark.  Jack Perlutsky's poetry is amusing, and Peter Sis' illustrations are so detailed and textured that they really bring Jack's imaginary creatures to life.

Professional Review:

Gr 2-5 –Prelutsky introduces the curious inhabitants of Scranimal Island through his skillful and captivating poems. The creatures, such as the Mangorilla and Orangutangerine, are each a cross between an animal and a fruit, vegetable, or flower, and behave accordingly. For instance, "On a bump beside a road/Sits a lowly POTATOAD,/Obviously unaware/Of its own existence there./On its coarse and warty hide,/It has eyes on every side,/Eyes that fail, apparently,/To take note of what they see." Sís's illustrations are a wonderful combination of the eerie and humorous (readers might be reminded of his fantastical island in Komodo! [Greenwillow, 1993]), and give children a visual clue as to the creature's elements, in case they haven't figured it out yet. (A rebus-like chart on the back cover is more explicit, illustrating "potato + toad = potatoad", etc.) Hippopotamushrooms smile benevolently from their forest floor, the Pandaffodil munches bamboo beatifically, majestic Broccolions stalk the lithe Antelopetunia. These black-line and watercolor illustrations in a light palette take up three-quarters of each spread; the verses, in large and legible black type, accompany them on a pastel-tinged antique paper background. On occasion on this island, readers may come across a creature that is a cross of two animals (no plant matter involved), such as the Ostricheetah or the Stormy Petrelephant. Though as eloquently described, they are simply not as funny as the Porcupineapple or the Avocadodos, and somehow spoil the fun. The point of nonsense, after all, is to stick to the rules–just, the wrong rules. Nevertheless, Prelutsky and Sís have pulled off something great here–it is their best collaboration to date.

Lindsay, N. (2002, September 01). [Review of the book Scranimals, by J. Perlutsky]. School library journal, 48(9), 217. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/

Library Uses: In honor of the book Scranimals, the library could hold a contest to see who could make the most creative art project out of vegetables, fruits, or plants.  Several copies of Scranmimals could be kept at the library, for families to come read during National Poetry Month.  Everyone could bring their creations in during a week period, and they could be displayed at the library.  Prizes could be given for the most creative projects.