Roar Squeak Purr: A New Zealand Treasury of Animal Poems

In this beautiful hardback book, Paula Green has curated and edited a collection of animal poems by New Zealand’s best writers ranging in age and experience. Some well-known authors’ poems are in this volume e.g. Joy Cowley and Janet Frame, and younger talent is included e.g. I Wish I Had a Cat by Leo age nine; inspiration for younger would-be writers.

The language throughout the poems is rich and descriptive, making this volume a useful, fun tool for ESOL students and their teachers.

The book is divided into three sections: water, land and air so poems about different types of creatures are divided by habitat. There is also a useful animal index at the back making it easy to find a poem about a particular favourite animal. If the reader is interested in a particular poet, there is also an index by the author making it easy to locate all their poems.

Jenny Cooper has made this book a visual delight with her stunning colourful artwork. She has managed to capture the animals’ facial expressions beautifully matching their emotions as described in the poem. There is a variety of full-page illustrations interspersed with smaller drawings included with a poem.

Although this book may be heavy for small hands to hold, it would be a great volume in any home or school library for teachers and children to dip into and enjoy.

Title: Roar Squeak Purr: A New Zealand Treasury of Animal Poems

Author: edited by Paula Green

Illustrator: Jenny Cooper

Publisher: Penguin

Isbn: 9780143775140

RRP: $45.00

Format: Hardback

Date of Publication: 5 October 2022

Ages: all ages

Themes: animals

Advisory warnings: None

Would this book work as a read aloud: yes

Is there a particular part of the country it’s set in? No

Reviewer: Nova Gibson, Library Manager, Massey Primary School, Auckland

Opening Sentence: He swims in a sea of snow, short legs paddling through the shock of it.

Buy this book here.