Bless Our Pets: Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends

Bless Our Pets: Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A celebration of creatures--and one of the last books edited by beloved children's poet Lee Bennett Hopkins.

In this adorable, often amusing collection, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Lois Lowry, and twelve other poets give thanks for those who bark, purr, chitter, and slither. The poems feature fourteen different animal companions, including a cat snoozing in her bed, a goldfish dancing in her bowl, and a gerbil nestling in an overall pocket. Illustrated in warm, tender detail by Lita Judge, Bless Our Pets captures the charms--and antics--of pets and the people who love them.

From puppies to mice to turtles to ponies, this endearing anthology expresses children's gratitude for creatures big and small. Bless Our Pets is the perfect tribute to the friends who bring so much joy into our everyday lives.

Poems by... - 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

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Hardcover
$18.99

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1--An anthology of poems celebrating all the things about animals that make them lovable pets. In this selection featuring children's authors and poets, pets range from furry to scaly and everything in between. The poems are simple and accessible, while offering complex vocabulary and imagery that celebrates the many layers of emotions around beloved pets. The range of feelings and topics is vast, such as in Lois Lowry's "Mouse Dreams," where the narrator imagines the scary nightmares a mouse might have, versus the whimsical and comedic "Pet Snake?" by Charles Ghigna, which serves as gratitude that the snake belongs to someone else. The real stars of the collection are Judge's illustrations, which beautifully give life to guinea pigs and bubbly goldfish. The children featured present some diversity in ethnicity and race, though most appear white. VERDICT An effective, quaint set of poems, this would be a good addition for collections with a high interest in poetry and animal books.--Kaitlin Malixi

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Booklist
"Perfect for animal lovers . . . filled with raw emotion and love for a diverse collection of animals who unconditionally love us back."

Kirkus Reviews
"Short and sweet."
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780802855466
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Publication date
April 16, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF042000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Poetry | General
JNF003170 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Pets
JNF053200 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Values & Virtues
Library of Congress categories
Pets
American poetry
Children's poetry, American
Poetry

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