If This Bird Had Pockets

An ideal gift for children who love animals, this picture book is a celebration of Poem in your Pocket Day and a charmingly illustrated collection of playful poems about 19 different creatures.

Fascinating information about the animals (yes, sea otters have pockets!) tucked into short, lively poems and bright, bold artwork make this collection perfect for National Poetry Month—or any day of the year.

In honor of Poem in Your Pocket Day, a child imagines the poems animals might carry in their pockets, if they had pockets. What would a hummingbird write? A fox? A sea otter? These poems capture the essences of animals furry, feathery and finny, exploring what makes each unique. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird sings with its wings, Red Fox's poem is a fiery tail flashing in the dark, and Sea Otter’s poem is its secret pocket. Which poem will capture the heart of the child narrator? A poem about loving animals, of course!"As a child considers possibilities for Poem in Your Pocket Day, a bird outside provides inspiration...the imaginative, whimsical tone should easily resonate with children... throughout this delightful collection, VanDerwater (Read! Read! Read!, 2017) employs various poetic forms and attitudes, which enliven the reading experience, as do the vibrant, cartoon illustrations. Some Poem in Your Pocket Day information is included, and though this is connected to that celebration, this collection also provides an engaging introduction to both poetry and animals." —Booklist

"VanDerwater’s playful collection (is) fun to contemplate... each poem also imparts a information about its speaker, making for a group of brief lessons as pleasing as they are accessible about 'life in the/ wondrous wild.'" –Publishers WeeklyAmy Ludwig VanDerwater’s acclaimed books for children include Read! Read! Read! and Write! Write! Write!, both of which are NCTE Notable Poetry Books. A writing teacher and blogger at The Poem Farm, she lives on an old farm in Western New York with her husband Mark and their dogs, cats, chickens, and bees. Visit amyludwigvanderwater.com.

Emma J. Virján is the author-illustrator of the Pig in a Wig Book series, including What This Story Needs is a Pig in a Wig and What This Story Needs is a Hush and a Shush. Visit emmavirjan.com