Imaginary Menagerie (Julie Larios)

Title:  Imaginary Menagerie

Author: Julie Larios

Illustrator:  Julie Paschkis

Target Ages:  5-10

Genre:  Poetry Picture Book

Publisher Summary: 

Who is half gallop, half walk?

Who can turn you to stone with one look?

Whose voice do you hear in the splash on the shore?

         

Centaurs, mermaids, and other curious creatures populate these wondrous poems and paintings, inspired by a mythological world full of imagination and mystery.

Sample Poem:

“Phoenix”

Rising

from the ashes of her nest,

away she flies.

She is a bird that never dies.

Singer

and shape-changer,

she is a strange one:

Now a crane, now a drake,

now a turtle, now a snake,

now a swallow, now a swan—

she burns and is reborn.

And then she’s gone.

Evaluation:

This collection of poems is full of imagination and wonder.  Poet Julie Larios introduces young readers to well-known mythological creatures as well as several lesser-known ones.  The creatures included are dragons, mermaids, firebirds, centaurs, trolls, cockatrices, hobgoblins, sea serpents, thunderbirds, sphinxes, will o’ the wisps, gargoyles, nagas, and phoenixes.

Come for the poems, stay for Julie Paschkis’ stunning illustrations.  Using rich colors and exquisite detail, each one captures the beauty and essence of the highlighted creature(s) and builds on the descriptions in the poems.

Larios includes some further explanation of each creature in the author’s notes.   

Imaginary Menagerie is a fantastic introduction to many of the imaginary creatures mentioned in fairy tales, myths, legends, folk tales, and other literature. 

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Art:  Students can use the descriptions of each creature to draw, paint, or otherwise create what they think it looks like.  
• Literature:  Read stories that include these mythical creatures.  For instance, Greek mythology often mentions centaurs (such as Chiron). In addition, there are several mermaid books like Sukey and the Mermaid and The Mermaid and the Shoe.
• Recitation:  Assign individuals or groups of students a poem to memorize.  Encourage student to dress up, to use props, and to show emotion as they recite it from memory.
• Research:  Older students can pick a creature to research.  Then, present the information to the class in a PowerPoint or poster board.
• Writing Idea #1:  Write a story about one or more mythical creature. 
• Writing Idea #2:  Create an original imaginary creature which includes a description, abilities, and special powers.  Then, write an origin story for it.
• Writing Idea #3: Rewrite a well-known story or myth with one or more mythical creatures.

For more Poetry Friday selections, head over to Reading to the Core and the Link Up.