Module 14 - A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsy Franco

Bibliography:

Franco, Betsy. (2009). A Curious Collection of Cats. Berkeley: Tricycle Press. ISBN: 9781582462486

Summary:

This is a book of poems, all about cats. Readers are introduced to over thirty cats, each with their own personality and spunk. There are cats that want to catch squirrels, there are cats that hang from a dog's mouth, there are cats that sleep on folded laundry and there are cats that pee on hats. Each poem is about a cat (or a couple), that artistically portrays each cat. For the cat who has a long tongue to lick her neck, the words are written in the shape of the long tongue. For the cat who paces in between legs, the words are written in such a way to show the cat pacing. The book combines poetry and illustrations perfectly, illustrating cats and the world they live in.

Impressions:

Being a cat lover and owner myself, I absolutely loved this book. I thought it was adorable. I loved how each poem perfectly described the quirks of cats. What made the book even better was the way in which the poems were illustrated and the words arranged. I loved how it wasn't just a simple book filled with poems in a structured form. The book clearly shows how much fun poetry can be and that there are no limits. The poems made me laugh and the pictures made me smile. The arrangement of words had me flipping the book over and sideways to continue reading, and the whole thing was a blast. I never knew reading poetry could be so much fun.

Reviews:
"Words and pictures blend in these concrete poems about cats, written in forms that include haiku, limerick, and free verse. Once kids get the feel of how to follow the lines up and down or in curving jumps or around the page borders--they will have fun with the playful images."

Rochman, Hazel. (March 15, 2009). American Library Association.  [Review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Franco understands the nuanced world of the fluffy, fractious, and faithful feline friend. Thirty-two unusual, concrete poems, one per page with a single exception, are matched by Wertz's monoprints. The words move in several directions and sometimes inhabit multiple objects. The poems are so embedded within the illustrations that it is hard to imagine them without the artwork; they are virtually inseparable."

 Pfeifer, Teresa. (April 01, 2009). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be a great way to introduce poetry. There are a wide range of forms and types of poetry included in the book, but more than that, these poems are fun and they are written in such a way to make them that way. This book shows readers that poetry can be fun and that it is not just about structure. In my opinion, this book should be read and passed around before any talks of structure even happen. A love of poetry and their meanings should be acquired before diving in deeper to such things as structure. This would be the puurrfect book to do that, especially since it deals with a topic everyone can relate to: cats!