[cuddly review + giveaway] Bless Our Pets by Lee Bennett Hopkins and Lita Judge

~ jama

Today we’re featuring a brand new Lee Bennett Hopkins poetry anthology on the eve of what would have been his 86th birthday. With an official pub date of April 16, it’s great to have one of Lee’s last edited books to help us celebrate National Poetry Month.

Back in 2015, when I asked him to be a HotTEA of Children’s Poetry for a short series I was running, this is what he said:

“You literally have me in stitches knowing I might be a HotTEA.  Of course I will get a photo to you as soon as.

I’ll have Charles take a photo of something very special with me and tea, a drink I adore…especially hot tea!”

He then sent a photo, asking, “Is this HotTEA enough? If not, I’ll send another.” Plenty hot, but he ended up sending another anyway. Both were so hot I needed oven mitts to handle them. 😀

Though Lee liked various teas, a particular favorite was Twinings of London Ceylon Orange Pekoe. He also wanted to make sure I noticed the purple flowers on his teacup.

Lee is deeply missed and this new book feels like a birthday gift from him to all of us.

With fourteen poems selected by Lee, lovingly illustrated by New Hampshire artist Lita Judge, Bless Our Pets: Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends (Eerdmans BFYR, 2024) is a book to hug and hold close.

Poets include:

• Ann Whitford Paul
• Rebecca Kai Dotlich 
• Linda Trott Dickman
• Eric Ode
• Ralph Fletcher
• Sarah Grace Tuttle
• Kristine O’Connell George
• Darren Sardelli
• B.J. Lee
• Charles Ghigna
• Lois Lowry
• Prince Redcloud
• Joan Bransfield Graham
• Lee Bennett Hopkins

We read about thirteen different furry, feathered, and scaled animals, from puppies to parakeets, goldfish to gerbils. Mostly written in the first person addressing the pets themselves, the poems are a mix of free verse and rhymers. All express the singular love of cherished pets in tender, gentle, intimate terms, citing the endearing traits and antics that make them special.

Love this beautiful, evocative illustration of a moonlight pony ride.

Lita’s realistic portrayals, rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, are appealing and emotive. Her animals brim with personality — sweet, playful, mischievous, eminently lovable. You can feel that trembling kitten wriggling in your hands, the gray bunny’s soft warm fur as it snuggles against you, and how adorable is the wee gerbil peeking out of that yellow overalls pocket?

Lita lives and works in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Lita used her own pets, as well as friends’ pets and family photos as models for her pictures. About doing the art for this book she said:

“I love that the collection of poems featured ways of giving gratitude for our pets because I feel that emotion so strongly toward the animals I have loved during my life . . . I grew up with dogs, cats, birds, several rescue mice, a turtle, a hamster, a kangaroo rat, two gerbils and a bunny. So basically I have loved almost every animal featured in this book, not to mention a variety of wildlife that my family cared for and rehabilitated.”

The first two poems I’m sharing today are about “pets” I’ve had in the past, and the third is a special one by Lee himself.

*

A LETTER TO MY GUINEA PIG
by Darren Sardelli

If I could pick
a pet to pet,
the pet I'd pick
is you.

I miss your friendly,
furry face,
and all your cuteness, too --

those little legs,
that scrunched-up nose,
the squeak that melts
my heart,

your sweet scent
on our sofa,
and your paw prints
on my art.

I long to pinch
those puffy cheeks --
so squishy,
soft, and smooth.

Your licks of love
like summer breezes,
comfort, calm, 
and soothe.

I'm grateful for
the endless joy
you bring to
all my friends.

I'll see you soon,
my treasured pal,
the moment
summer camp
finally
ends.

*

BOX TURTLE
by B.J. Lee

Helpless
little turtle
squirming on your back,

wriggling
polka-dotted legs,
tummy, hard shellac.

I place you
on all fours again,
hard dome beneath soft hand.

Your armored plates
so colorful --
your shell a wonderland

of black and orange
markings.
Geometric art

repeats . . . repeats . . . 
around your back.
I learn this map by heart.

I'd love to build
a home for you,
but something nags at me.

I pet you
until dinner,
murmur prayers,
set
       you
                free.

*

MY OLD DOG
by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Snuggle into me
while I scratch your ears

remembering
so many years
since you were
my precious, tiny pup.

Snuggle,
cuddle up,

let's cherish
the many wondrous
times we have together.

Snuggle, sigh,
dream with me,
old boy,

I'll forever
recall each and every
day
I had with you.

I know you'll forever
remember, too.

*

I delighted in Sardelli’s guinea pig poem even though I still suffer from “pet trauma.” After begging my parents for guinea pigs, my brother and I finally got them. One day I decided to take one out of its cage to play with it in the back yard. Not long after I set it down on the grass, my pet darted into the bushes never to be seen again. Tried to chase it, just couldn’t catch it. Thereafter, even at the slightest mention of getting another pet, my parents would say, “Remember the guinea pig!”

As for box turtles, we often see them on our property — so many over the years that we name them according to behavior. Daring Boxcar insists on traveling down our long driveway despite the peril of being run over. Boxwood is pretty mellow and likes to hang out under the trees, while big BoxLunch clearly eats the most. I once painted an “x” on Boxcar’s back with nail polish so I could readily distinguish him from the others.

The largest one we spotted was the size of a dinner plate, the smallest, tiny babies. Mr Cornelius briefly played with them indoors before setting them free, just like the boy in B.J. Lee’s poem.

No doubt kids of all ages will enjoy these heartwarming poems. They’ll like the variety of animals and thinking about how different pets suit different people. What would humans do without the joy and unconditional love they bring?

*

BLESS OUR PETS: Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends
edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins
illustrated by Lita Judge
published by Eerdmans BFYR, April 2024
Children’s Poetry Anthology for ages 4-8, 40 pp.

Amazon
Bookshop

*

🐶 SPECIAL BOOK GIVEAWAY 🐴

The publisher is generously offering a brand new copy of the book for one lucky Alphabet Soup reader. For a chance to win, please leave a comment at this post telling us about your current pet, or a past favorite, no later than midnight (EDT) April 17, 2024. You may also enter by sending an email with “PETS” in the subject line to: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot) com. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only, please. Good Luck!

*

Lovely and talented Jone Rush MacCulloch is hosting the Roundup this week. Be sure to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere. Have a nice weekend!

*Interior spreads text copyright © 2024 by various authors, illustrations © 2024 Lita Judge, published by Eerdmans BFYR. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2024 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

52 thoughts on “[cuddly review + giveaway] Bless Our Pets by Lee Bennett Hopkins and Lita Judge”

  1. I love the idea of this book! I am so grateful for my pets, and I think it’s important to raise kids to love, respect and be kind to animals. I have currently four dogs and four cats. I am disabled and can’t get out much, so they are my world. They give me so much devoted and unconditional love, they make me laugh, and for them I get out of bed when I don’t want to or feel like it. 

    In my life of 63 years I’ve had lizards, yard snakes, Bobwhite quail, rats, gerbils, a smelly mouse, a ferret, turtles and many cats and dogs. The book art is wonderful as are the poems. Great book for kids, and I’d love to read it too!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Enjoyed reading about all your pets, past and present, Jan. Four dogs and four cats now? I’m guessing the pet food store and vet love you. 🙂 Smelly mouse made me laugh.

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  2. Pingback: chronological book review archive (2008-2024) | Jama's Alphabet Soup

    1. Lita’s love for animals really shines through in her illustrations. Thanks for the guinea pig sympathy. I’ve more than made up for that experience by reading about Beatrix Potter’s guinea pigs. 🙂

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  5. I just realized that I have the same birthday as Lee Bennett Hopkins! Tomorrow is my birthday too. I love his poems and the illustrations are so lovely! My favorite pet was my cat, a stray that we took in and stole our hearts for 17 years. He was the best “blanket” in winter! I will never forget him.

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  6. What a wonderful review and preview of this book. Every post I’ve seen about it makes me want to curl up with our cat and a kiddo (but my kiddos are all grown up now!) and read about precious pets. The illustrations have a lovely, nostalgic feel to them. Thanks for this, Jama!

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  7. This looks very touching, especially for animal lovers like me. Plus, big fan of Lita’s art (and she’s another animal lover–no surprise there!)

    Sorry about your guinea pig, Jama 😦

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  8. Thanks for reviewing this book, Jama, and for including my poem in your post. At first the title was: “Box Turtle: Pet For a Day”, which we had to shorten. But pet for a day is what I had in mind for my theme. This is the only way I could have a turtle for a pet as a child – just for a day.

    One time my brothers painted FRODO on one of my “pet” turtle’s back. Many years later we saw FRODO back in the yard. I was overjoyedl!

    I also want to give a big thanks to my dear friend, Lee Bennett Hopkins. He did such a wonderful job on this anthology along with fellow poets, Lita, and Eerdmans, of course! The book provides a welcome source (among others) where I can read my poem, and have the memories flood back of hobnobbing with him on this and other projects and enjoying his totally unique self. How I miss him!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Love hearing about Frodo, BJ! It’s amazing how the paint (and the nail polish I used) stayed on the turtles’ backs for years. Lovely to hear that you had such wonderful memories of working with Lee. We all miss him!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I loved reading this book. It made me miss my dog. Gosh, I loved that dog. Now, I have two cats that are just over a year old and full of the zoomies! So much fun to be with young pets again. I’m sure there will be poems about Ankles & Secret soon.

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  11. It is a beautiful book for so, so many, young and old, Jama. Bless Lee for getting it all together late in his life and Lita for bringing each poem the gift of her art. We had many dogs and cats through the years, though I don’t have any now. I do get to dogsit a granddog once in a while, a real pleasure. Two fun pets we did have long ago was a pair of tarantulas, yes, really, & they had different personalities. Who knew? Thanks for the lovely review!

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  12. Jama, this is such a beautiful book. I’m getting a copy for my grandson, who already has his first pet, Bobby, who he calls Bob-Bob. The illustrations and gentle poems are just so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Jama, you never disappoint!  I bow down to your review of Bless Our Pets.  Bravissimo!  The picture of Lee Bennett Hopkins in the gold jacket is priceless.  I love that Lita sent you a picture with her furry friends (and models).  Love your review!  (Please exclude me from the giveaway, as I have a copy.  I am sure whoever receives it will be overjoyed.)

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  14. That’s a joyful review if a book that pet lovers young and old will appreciate. I’m sure they’ll first search for a poem about the animal they love most, and then go back to read about all the other pets, too. Cats have been my most memorable pets… we often had them in pairs- like Lovey and Dovey, and Autumn and Wintee.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Ah Jama, thank you for spotlighting this beautiful collection of love. My heart squeezed seeing the illustration for Lee’s “My Old Dog.” It’s a hymn I sang to my last beautiful Bernese who lived only four short years. I didn’t know my heart could hurt so much to lose her. Yet, so much love found in all these poems about our pets. My boys had a box turtle as a pet growing up – and it gave them such joy! Cannot wait to get this anthology!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sorry to hear your Bernese only lived four years — that makes the time you spent with him all the more precious. Did your sons’ box turtle live a long time?

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  16. This is a book that will satisfy every reader — those with pets, those who long for pets, even those with a little bit of pet trauma (wink wink)!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I’ve been waiting for this book! I’ve had pets my whole life — dogs, cats, guinea pigs, fish, a turtle, a parakeet and hamsters (the first one given to me for my sixth birthday by Lee himself!) Today I have two dogs who are always underfoot. I can’t imagine a life without pets.

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  19. This is such a lovely anthology that kids of all ages (and their parents and grands, too!) will love. When I was a kid, I had a cat named Jinglebell. He went missing for several weeks but eventually found his way home. I still wonder about the adventures he must have had.

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  20. Pets have always been a big part of my life. Currently I have seven aquatic frogs and two adorable guinea pig brothers named Merlin and Arthur. Growing up, we had cats, dogs, fish, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Animals are truly gifts.

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  21. Thanks for sharing this beautiful book, Jama. Last spring I did a poetry reading where one of the poets said not to write about pets. I didn’t understand it then, and I don’t understand it now. Especially when writing for children, writing about pets is so relatable. I’m glad there a book like this.

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  23. I am excited to see the love that Bless Our Pets is getting. It’s such a wonderful treasure. I have a copy of the book so please don’t include me in the giveaway.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s a great subject for an anthology — adults reading the poems probably enjoy the poems just as much as kids do. Great conversation starter too.

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  24. Jama, oh my, what an amazing book! I love pets and animal analogies. Both children and adults are going to relate to the heartfelt poems and the beautiful watercolor illustrations. I can’t wait to read the whole book. I have a child in mind that I will buy a copy for; she will love it.

    Growing up we always had our beloved cats. I have always loved all animals, but cats are our daughters’ favorite animal and mine. Over the years our family has been fortunate to have many loving cats as pets. My first cat I had as an adult was a fluffy charcoal black cat, I named Babah. He was so lovable and enjoyed being carried around like a baby. He would retrieve thrown toys and jumped high in the air to catch them; he was such a smart cat.

    We still had Babah when I was pregnant for our second daughter. One day we were picking strawberries with our two-year-old daughter on a farm. My husband noticed a sign and a huge cardboard box that said, free kitten. He said let’s take Maegan to see the kitten. I said, okay, but you know what could happen, right? I took one look at the kitten, and I had to bring the baby home for Babah to father. Babah licked the kitten, who we named Oreo, slept with him, and played with him.

    When our second daughter arrived, who we named Heather Babah purred in her ear while I nursed her as he had done with Maegan. He would watch over the girls and Oreo like a nanny. As Heather became older, she liked to lie on her stomach snuggling a fleece blanket under her. She was about one and half when I noticed her on the floor on top of Babah snuggling him under her belly like he was a blanket. Luckily, Bahah tolerated Heather’s snuggling for a little while each day with a the-things-I-have-to-put-up-with-look. Thank you for sharing the wonderful pics and book.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful Babah memories, Gail. What a cool, caring cat. Loved hearing how he parented Oreo and was so gentle and tolerant with your daughter. BTW, love the name Oreo!

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