Book Review (Poetry): bow wow meow meow

Bibliography
Florian, Douglas. 2003. BOW WOW MEOW MEOW: IT'S RHYMING CATS AND DOGS. Harcourt: San Diego, CA. ISBN 0152163956

Summary
A collection of 21 poems featuring cats and dogs with colorful, fun illustrations.

Critical Analysis
Bow wow meow meow is a topical collection featuring the writing and illustrations of Douglas Florian. The topic of this collection is cats and dogs. The poems in this book have a natural rhythm that is especially apparent when the poems are read aloud. Most of the poems feature rhymes, with the exception of some of the shape poems, like "The Leopard". Some of the poems use sound to add to the effect of the poem, like in "The Sheepdog" using the sh sound frequently. Florian uses a variety of language choices to make the poems stronger, for example, in the poem "The Chihuahua," Florian equivalates the sound of the barking dog to the name of the dog. The purpose of Florian's poems are to entertain the audience with humor, although some of the poems felt forced, like "The Manx." The poems also rely on the illustrations to convey meaning.


Review Excerpt and Awards
Another of Florian's themed poems, awash with delightful plays on words, puns, and animal observations is just the ticket for cat and dog lovers. Poems are neatly divided, half for dog, and second half, as cat...chat. Illustrations are loosely painted, appealing, and most appropriately "toothy." My favorite poem is the familiar pointer who points, not at foxes or hares--but at Frigidaires. Florian should be declared a national treasure. Susan Hepler, Ph.D., Children's Literature

Strengths and Weaknesses
The strength of "bow wow meow meow" is in how the poems and illustrations playfully work together to entertain the readers. The poems will especially appeal to animals lovers of all ages. Young children will giggle at some of the play on words, like in "The Lion" when Florian calls the lions roar "fur-ocious." One of the weaknesses of the book is the simplicity of some of the poems, like the two-lined poem "The Manx." It's almost like it was included in the book just because it was about a cat, not because it was a good poem.

Personal Response and Connections
This is a fun book that made me smile a few times, I can see how young children would be especially amused at some of the poems. The rhymes and word play delivers fun lessons for children on different types of poetry, as well as the shape poems. I especially liked the poem "The Dachshund" that compared the dachshund to a stretch limosine for fleas.

This book cold be used to inspire students to write their own poems and draw their own illustrations about animals. This book would also be a good lesson for shape poetry, especially "The Poodles."