What's for Dinner?: Quirky, Squirmy Poems from the Animal World (Junior Library Guild Selection)

Concise and interesting descriptions of odd strategies that animals--ranging from sloths to dermestid beetles--use to fill their bellies. There's even a poem about a carnivorous plant--the Venus Fly-Trap! Examples of feeding strategies covered include a description of how the little brown bat turns its body into a sort of bowl to scoop up insects at night, and how the wood turtle stomps the ground with its feet to make a sound like rain that convinces the worms to surface--whereupon the turtle--you guessed it--eats them. And where else are you going to find "species" rhymed with "feces"...? Illustrations are lively--capture the joy and desperation of eating and being eaten, respectively.

What a terrific combination of quirky humor, scientific accuracy and beautiful illustrations! Even icky things are fun in this book. Every poem is uniquely laid out on the page with its illustration and many different kinds of rhythms and rhymes are used. Make sure to read all the way to the back of the book for the scientific info on each critter - I finally learned what a phalarope is. This book is good fun for everyone, kids and grown-ups alike. It's a real gift to the field of children's books.

So glad to get this book! It is a great book and now seems to be out of print. Author is soooo clever and good.

I thought the poetry in "What's for Dinner" was outstanding! It was evident Hauth took extreme care and delight in carefully selecting each word in every selection. I would also add that Clark was not only in tune with Hauth but had himself a grand time illustrating her work. It's a book well worth reading and rereading. I find something new to chew on each time I go over it. Indeed, it's a book I highly recommend for all ages.

I bought three copies of the book and gave two to friends. The poems are wonderfully engaging for multiple levels - my twin twelve-year-olds love reading them aloud. I've shared the poems with my high school colleagues who teach biology and they enjoyed the depth of research that is clearly evident. The illustrations certainly capture this excellent book of children's poetry.

What a treasure of poetry and illustration!! A perfect book to illustrate the food chain and the balance needed in nature to insure our survial. An excellent, readable source of scientific information on a variety of animals, enhanced by extensive end notes. A great read for adults and students alike. My thanks to Katherine and David for creating such useful, energetic, informative, and humourous book that will be enjoyed by many throughout the years.