[review] Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals by Linda Ashman and Aparna Varma

~ jama

When it comes to the animal kingdom, just who is the tops?

Who’s the fastest flyer, the smallest mammal, the best long-distance runner?

Readers of all ages will have fun guessing the best of the best in Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals (Kids Can Press, 2023). In Linda Ashman’s lively, cleverly crafted mask (persona) poems, 19 animal contestants compete for the top prize by hinting at their identities, proudly citing what makes them amazing in some way.

AERIE ARCHITECT

No dreary cave,
No teensy cup,
No rocky shore will do.

I want the best:
A spacious nest
And dazzling penthouse view.

Each poem appears on a righthand page with an illustration showing only part of its body (a tail, a wing, a neck, a trunk). Readers then flip to the next page for a full view of the animal, its claim to fame, and a paragraph of fascinating facts, including how the animal’s superlative features were measured.

Poems are playful, engaging, and brim with personality. Who can resist such a fun guessing game while learning about creatures from the land, sea, and air? There’s a nice mix of familiar animals (skunk, crocodile, giraffe) with less familiar ones (Pronghorn, Eurasian Hoopoe, Etruscan Shrew). I was especially happy to see two of my favorite animals included: elephants and sloths (that sloths are the slowest of mammals makes me love them even more; besides, we both really like just hanging around). 🙂

SLOWPOKE

Although I know
I'm very slow
(the pokiest around),

I take first prize,
Endurance-wise,
For time spent upside down.

Though I was able to guess many of the animals, some took me by surprise, and of those I thought I knew, I still learned something new about them. I didn’t realize peregrine falcons can dive vertically at speeds of up to 200 mph, that the largest bald eagle’s nest on record is 9.5 feet wide, or that giant anteaters (with their 1.6 ft. long tongues) eat on average 30,000 ants and termites each day. Wow!

Aparna Varma’s digital illustrations, rendered in a palette of soft earthy tones, are appealing and kid friendly. Animal expressions are emotive and endearing, with the potential of perhaps sparking an interest in wildlife conservation. The more we learn about animals, the more we begin to care about their welfare and survival, which can lead to positive activism.

TOOTHY TOOLS

I built this sturdy lodge
Without cement or brick.
No chain saw, drill or chisel --
My incisors do the trick:
stripping,
felling,
gnawing,
towing.
Luckily, my teeth keep growing.

As an alphabet and typography lover, I was also delighted by the inventive use of font styles and sizes in the poems. Lines of text curve, descend, or stretch out, making words seem to have a life of their own. These poems are already a joy to read aloud; added visuals just ramp up the fun.

Back matter includes notes about protecting endangered animals, a bit more about methods scientists use to track animals in the wild, an explanation of mask poems, a recommended reading list, and a glossary.

Just who are the champion chompers and super stinkers of the animal world? Which venomous creature should you avoid at all costs? Who can skip eating and drinking for up to a year, and who is the biggest animal ever? Dive into this brilliantly designed and entertaining compendium of poetry, pictures, and fascinating facts to find out. As the closing poem states, they’re all winners.

Welcome back, contestants --
take your prizes!
That was fun!
Many thanks to all who entered,
And congrats to those who've won.

We celebrate your blazing speed,
Your pole-to-pole migrations,
Your fine design and building skills,
Your undersea creations!

Hats off to your endurance,
Your strength and grit as well,
Your appetite, your fearsome bite,
Your overwhelming smell.

We've witnessed just a sampling
Of astounding feats and features.
Look around -- we are surrounded
By extraordinary creatures!

*

There are two more first prize winners we need to acknowledge for their outstanding work on this project. They’re definitely the TIPPY TOP OF THE TOPS!!!

Congratulations, Linda and Aparna!!! Thank you for creating the BEST poetry + science picture book. You are extraordinary!!!

*

CHAMPION CHOMPERS, SUPER STINKERS AND OTHER POEMS BY EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS
written by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Aparna Varma
published by Kids Can Press, June 2023
Poetry-Nonfiction Picture Book for ages 6-9, 48 pp.
**Starred Reviews** from School Library Journal and Kirkus
***On shelves June 6, 2023.

Amazon
Bookshop

*

The lovely and talented Tricia Stohr-Hunt is hosting the Roundup at The Miss Rumphius Effect. Be sure to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere this week. Happy June!

*Interior spreads text copyright © 2023 Linda Ashman, illustrations © 2023 Aparna Varma, published by Kids Can Press. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2023 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

32 thoughts on “[review] Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals by Linda Ashman and Aparna Varma”

  1. What a great way to engage young readers in science, animal characteristics and the sometimes “much misunderstood and feared” world of poetry! Have a great weekend, Jama!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Pingback: chronological book review archive (2008-2023) | Jama's Alphabet Soup

  3. What a treat to discover this in my inbox this morning! I am especially honored by the Certificate of Achievement from Cornelius and Paddington. Thank you so much, Jama. You are the most, the tops, the best!!! ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Cornelius and Paddington were so excited to award special certificates to you and Aparna! This is the first time they’ve ever done this — just goes to show how much we all loved your new book. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. This is a new one to me, Jama, & it’s on order at my library! I’m sure it will be great to read the poems & see the illustrations. The ones you’ve shared are wonderful. I’ve seen sloths in the wild, wonderful, & I didn’t know about the “artful” puffer fish. I’ll look forward to learning more. Thanks much!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’ve seen sloths in the wild? Wow, I’m jealous, Linda! I became enamored of them after seeing one in “The Durrells in Corfu” PBS series. We all need to have a sloth in the kitchen, right?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. There’s a couple ideas I have for non-fiction poetry picture books. Neither are alphabet based but both have nature themes. I need to flesh them out and submit as a pitch. I’ll tell you more when I can. Fingers crossed! Thanks for your interest!

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Terrific post for this fascinating critter book, love all that’s packed into it—algae growing on 🦥 the puffer artist 🐠 and more. Watch out for those peregrine falcons, yesterday a man was dive bombed in Chicago and left with a 1” deep head gouge from a mom protecting her nest. Thanks Jama! 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

  10. How delightful! Thanks for sharing this endearing collection of superlatives from our fellow animals – congrats to Linda and to Aparma, especially for those coveted certificates from Mr. C. and Paddington B.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. That looks like a fun poetry collection. There are severa; kinds of sloths, and the ones I’ve seen in Costa Rica and in the Upper Amazon (probably 3-toed ones like the poem mentions) are fun to watch, though I do not recall seeing them actually upside down.
    best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Thank you for such a wonderful review! This book was a delight to work on. The certificates from Cornelius and Paddington Bear are frame worthy! 🙂 so cute!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So nice to hear from you, the “Best Animal Artist.” 🙂 Thanks for the brilliant work you did for this book!

      Like

  16. Oooh, this one looks wonderful! My daughter has picture book/illustrating ambitions and the are caught my eye as I know she would love it. Thanks for sharing this one, Jama!

    Liked by 1 person

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