Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Carin Berger

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Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems is the newest book of poetry from Jack Prelutsky (author of the classic The New Kid on the Block, illustrated by James Stevenson) pairs him again with the wonderful collages of Carin Berger. The two first teamed up for Prelutsky's 2006 book, Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant, which, like this new book, is a mash-up of animate and inanimate objects. Berger's collages using found and created objects are perfectly paired with Prelutsky's created creatures, two dozen specimens in all. As the jacket flap tells us, Prelutsky is an "indomitable naturalist" who, "having returned safely from far-flung places with an extensive collection of unique creatures" has written two dozen poems after discovering and recording their "precise qualities." Berger's collages, besides being really fun, lend a scientific/naturalist notebook feel to the book that I think will also inspire some young artists to grab some glue and scissors and make some mash-ups of their own.

I hope everyone reading this is familiar with Jack Prelutsky. He was the first National Children's Poet Laureate and I tend to think of him as a more prolific, sillier version of Shel Silverstein. And kids love his work. While his newest book is very fun to read, it lends itself so easily inspiring young writers, just like Berger's collages will inspire artists. Just to give you a taste of what Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems is all about, I'lll share a few of the illustrations and one poem...



SWAPATIS


FOUNTAIN LION


SLOBSTERS

SLOBSTERS are slovenly,
SLOBSTERS are crude.
SLOBSTERS love mashing
And smushing their food.
Their sense of decorum
Is woefully small.
SLOBSTERS don't have 
Many manners at all.

SLOBSTERS don't seem
To be happy unless
They're dropping their supper
And making a mess.
They're simply so sloppy
We have to conclude
That SLOBSTERS are slovenly
SLOBSTERS are crude.



BRAINDEER



Images shared by Carin Berger in an interview at 
Seven Impossible Things

Source: Review copy


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