Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise

Poems of Animal Opposites

Author: Bette Westera, Mies Van Hout and David Colmer

Hardcover

"Titled with antonyms such as 'Tidy' and 'Messy,' these poems introduce animal opposites like cats and dogs, snakes and worms, and sloths and ants"

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Summary

"Titled with antonyms such as 'Tidy' and 'Messy,' these poems introduce animal opposites like cats and dogs, snakes and worms, and sloths and ants"

Description

A whimsical portrait of animals--and antonyms--in action.

How do you contrast creatures as different as cheetahs and tortoises, or as similar as butterflies and moths? In this lively book of poetry, antonym pairs introduce thirty-two members of the animal kingdom. Each spread presents the voices of two unique creatures: are you more like an obedient sheep or a rebellious goat? What about a tidy pig or a messy warthog? A bossy gorilla or a meek monkey?

With bold, vibrant art and amusing free verse, this collection is a memorable way to explore vocabulary, opposites, and animal traits with young readers. Every flip of the page brings a new set of faces--and another chance to laugh.

Critic Reviews

The Horn Book Magazine
"The combination of bold, dynamic art and lively first-person poems makes this a great choice to read aloud and dramatize with young readers or listeners."

Kirkus Reviews
"A lighthearted lesson in antonyms . . . breezy, colorful, and fun."

School Library Journal
"Rich vocabulary, unexpected animal qualities, and clever poetry make this book an engaging selection for young readers and their families. "

About the Author

Bette Westera is the author of the Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book Later, When I'm Big (Eerdmans) and over fifty other books for children. She has also translated books by Dr. Seuss, Astrid Lindgren, and Julia Donaldson into the Dutch language. Bette lives in the Netherlands, where her books have received two Golden Pencil awards and six Silver Pencil honors. Visit her website at bettewestera.nl.

Mies van Hout is a Dutch illustrator and author whose work has been published in over twenty countries. Her books in English include Happy, From One to Ten, This Is My Daddy!, and What Cats Think (all Pajama Press). Mies lives in the Drenthe province of the Netherlands. Visit her website at miesvanhout.nl or follow her on Instagram @miesvanhout.

David Colmer is an Australian writer and translator of Dutch and Flemish literature. He has translated over eighty books throughout his career, including Little Fox (Levine Querido), I'll Root for You, and A Pond Full of Ink (both Eerdmans). His translations have won several prestigious awards, such as the PEN Translation Prize and the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. David lives in Amsterdam.