Florian Poetry
Bow Wow Meow Meow: It’s Rhyming Cats and Dogs
By Douglas Florian
Bibliography
Florian, Douglas. 2003. Bow Wow Meow Meow: It’s Rhyming Cats and Dogs. New York: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 9780152163952
Book Review
As author and illustrator of his poetry books, readers will truly get a taste of the poetic style and artistic quality of Douglas Florian. This extremely talented poet delivers nonfictional themes of insects, mammals, reptiles, trees, and outer space in a poetic grace that ties in perfectly with any science related subject. Bow Wow Meow Meow is one such book that not only discusses the comical characteristics of our beloved pets, but also branches out to expose the unique habits and lifestyles of wolves, cheetahs, and panthers in a laughable fashion. It is apparent that Florian does his homework when writing about each animal, and makes an effort in delivering this quality of detail to his young readers. This is a fun and unique path to teaching valuable scientific facts about animals in their habitats.
The brilliant detail included in each of Florian’s illustrations also successfully accompanies each poem. His whimsical approach to his illustrations are reminiscent of pictures found in classical children’s books. The curvy torso of the hungry wolf with a fork in his hand and a napkin around his neck visually enhance the actual poem, “The Wolf.” This poem is the first of twenty-one within the collection that deviates from dogs and cats as our beloved pets, and ventures into the wild relatives that fit within this animal kingdom. It is with this poem, that children can compare the similarities and differences between a family dog and a wild wolf. Children can use Florian’s comparisons from this poem to start the brainstorming process.
The Wolf
The wolf is cousin to the dog -
Except the wolf eats like a hog.
It doesn’t use a bowl or dishes
But chews in any place it wishes.
Its table manners are quite rude:
The wolf will wolf down all its food.
And though a dog eats from a pan,
The wolf must feed catch-as-catch-can.
Extensions
A perfect supplement to any science lesson that covers animal habits and their environment.
After sharing this poetry book aloud to children, they will be encouraged to write their own poem about a cat, dog, or a favorite pet and illustrate their work with watercolors or crayons.
In the poem, “Dog Log,” Florian journals the daily events of a typical family dog. Children will equally enjoy writing a poem journaling the habits and events of their family pets or of a wild animal.
Read other poetry books by Douglas Florian:
Autumnblings - ISBN 9780060092795
Beast Feast - ISBN 9780152017378
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars - ISBN 9780152053727
Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings - ISBN 9781416979784
In the Swim - ISBN 9780152024376
Insectlopedia - ISBN 978015263358
Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs - ISBN 9780152052485
Mammalabilia - ISBN 9780152021672
Omnibeasts: Animal Poems and Paintings - ISBN 9780152050382
On the Wing - ISBN 9780152023669
Poetrees (Available March 2010) - ISBN 9781416986720
Zoo’s Who: Poems and Paintings - ISBN 9780152046392
Image Source: Barnes & Noble