Jack Prelutsky has written a series of truly inventive and entertaining poems that are perfectly paired with Carin Berger’s witty collage pieces. It’s a beautiful picture book with a look and feel unlike any of Prelutsky’s prior work. So put on your pith helmet and prepare to explore a wilderness of puns and rhymes where birds, beasts, vegetables, and flowers have been mysteriously scrambled together to create creatures you've never seen before—and are unlikely to meet again! Your guides—Jack Prelutsky, poet laureate of the elementary school set, and award-winning illustrator Carin Berger—invite you to join them on an adventure you will never forget! Starred Review. Grade 3-6–Prelutsky is one of the best word crafters in the business, and this collection does not disappoint. Each entry is about a creature that is part animal and part inanimate object. For instance, the Alarmadillos have alarm clocks for bodies, and the Ballpoint Penguins can write with their beaks. The poems are full of fun and wit, with wordplay and meter that never miss a beat. The whimsical illustrations use cut-print media, old-fashioned print images, and a variety of paper textures to create a rich visual treat well suited to the poetry. The detail in the mixed-media pictures makes this a good choice for individual or lap reading, but the poetry begs to be read aloud. This is definitely a do not miss poetry pick. –Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. What do you get when you cross . . . A toaster with a toad? A tuba with a baboon? A clock with an octopus? A hat with a chicken? An umbrella with an elephant? Why . . . A Pop-up Toadster A Tubaboon The Clocktopus A Hatchicken and . . . The Bold Umbrellaphant And what do you get when you cross this book with a kid? Why . . . The Happy Kibook! Jack Prelutsky is the best-selling author of more than fifty books of poetry, including The New Kid on the Block , illustrated by James Stevenson, and Stardines Swim High Across the Sky , illustrated by Carin Berger. Jack Prelutsky lives in Washington State. Carin Berger is an award-winning designer and illustrator. Her cut-paper collages are made using ephemera, such as catalogues, old books, receipts, letters, and ticket stubs. In a starred review, Kirkus said of her Forever Friends , “Sophisticated, sensitive, and accessible, this picture book will offer new insights and pleasures with each season.” The Little Yellow Leaf was a 2008 New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books selection , and in starred reviews, Publishers Weekly called her A Perfect Day “lovely” and her Finding Spring “exceptional.” She is also the illustrator of the acclaimed Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant , both by Jack Prelutsky, among other books. She lives with her family in New York City. www.carinberger.com