Scranimals

Prelutsky, J. (2002). Scranimals. USA: Greenwillow Books.

Summary

Scranimal Island is a magical place filled with unusual creatures that are a scrambled mix of either two animals (like a PARROTTER) or a plant and animal (like a BANANACONDA). Scranimals is a book of poems depicting two children's journey to Scranimal Island. The children invite the reader to sail with them to Scranimal Island, and the poems describe the animals they see and how the two things they are made of work together to make the animal special. For example, the CARDINALBACORE (cardinal and albacore) struggles to keep its tail in the water but its head out, "yet the CARDINALBACORE/ seems undaunted by the fact/ that its life is nothing more/ than a full-time circus act" (p. 14). As the children leave Scranimal Island, they see a pair of AVOCADODOS, (avocado and dodo bird), who are sadly extinct because of their lack of speed, strength, and brain. At the end of the book, the children reminisce about their time on the Island, wondering if perhaps someday they can return to discover more Scranimals.

Worth a bookmark?

Scranimals is a clever book of poetry that is whimsical and funny. The illustrations that accompany each poem do an excellent job depicting the scrambled animals; without them, many scranimals—like the PORCUPINEAPPLE or POTATOAD—would be hard to visualize and understand. It was fun to try to figure out what two things were combining to make each animal, and even more fun to try to pronounce their names! The pronunciation guides at the bottom of each poem were very helpful. I also like the back of the book that illustrates putting the two things together like a pictorial math problem (hippo + mushroom = HIPPOPOTAMUSHROOM). Overall, Scranimals is a great addition to any poetry collection!

In my library…

This book would be great for story time for elementary aged kids. After reading the poems students could create their own scranimal, draw it, and write a poem describing what it is or what it can do. This activity could be adapted for both upper and lower elementary.

Reviews

The meisters of madcap are at it again. This time, Prelutsky and Sis (The Dragons Are Singing Tonight) head off on safari to Scranimal Island, an exotic spot full of odd hybrid creatures just ripe for their devious brand of silliness. Whether tracking a caravan of Camelberta Peaches ("All have humpy, bumpy backs, Stocked with water, juice, and snacks, So the creatures never need Wonder where to drink or feed"), avoiding the clutches of the dread Radishark ("Its appalling, bulbous body Is astonishingly red, And its fangs are sharp and gleaming In its huge and horrid head") or spying on the Bananaconda ("How sinuous and sly you are, How slippery, how yellow"), they scramble up a smorgasbord of flora and fauna. Prelutsky tweaks language with his characteristic glee, wedging in plenty of humor ("Poor Avocadodos, Ungainly and green, You're gone from today's Biological scene") and, as always when Si s is on board, his exquisite artistry raises the bar, adding depth to Prelutsky's light verse. Plying his trademark delicate line and crosshatching, Si s sets off the fantastic creatures against spare, expansive vistas, investing the muted ink-and-watercolor illustrations with a quizzically visionary style. A pair of brightly clad young explorers lurk at the edge of each scene, adding a droll visual grace note. All ages. (Sept.) (Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information-Publishers Weekly)