Dancing Across the Tripping Tongue and Tickling the Listening Ear

The Llama Who Had No Pajama

Author: Mary Ann Hoberman

Illustrator: Betty Fraser

Year: 1998

Publisher: Browndeer Press

ISBN: 0152001115

Plot:

 A llama has no pajamas and a cricket’s ear is in its leg. The folk who live in Backward Town are inside out and upside down.  The fun just never ends in this whimsical book of poetry by Mary Ann Hoberman. From the Birthday Bus, to the Hippopotamus this book is full of fun for the youngest to the oldest and everyone in between.

Critical Analysis:

 Hoberman’s rhymes are lively and lyrical. The subjects in this book range from animals to family and feelings. It thus lends itself to a variety of options for including poetry across subject areas in school curriculum or multiple readings in story times for many ages.

The language of the book is fast paced and rhythmic. The couplets in The Folk Who Live In Backward Town trip over the tongue and give the poem a dance like quality. While the upside down illustration lends a sense of play to the overall feel of this particular poem.

                                    The folk who lived in Backward Town

                                    Are inside out and upside down.

                                    They wear their hats inside their heads

                                    And go to sleep beneath their beds.

                                    They only eat the apple peeling

                                    And take their walks across the ceiling.

In Ocelot the rhyming couplets and the clever play on the ending of some words lend a bouncy rhythm to this poem.  You can even eliminate portions of the poem and still learn a lot about the ocelot.

                                    The ocelot’s a clever cat.

                                    She knowsalot of this and that.

                                    She growsalot of spotted fur

                                    Which looks extremely well on her.

                                    The places where it snowsalot

                                    She seldom ever goesalot.

                                    She much prefers it where it’s hot.

                                    That’s all about the ocelot.

 The gouache and watercolor illustrations enhance the beauty of the entire book and add a touch of color and fun to an already delightful work of art. The table of contents and the index of beginning lines renders this book easy to use.

Reviews:

 "Hoberman's rhythms are lively and agile, and her imagination and sense of humor are still in tune with young readers. Fraser's simple but detailed gouache and watercolor illustrations exhibit the same qualities . . . Good for beginning or experienced readers of poetry, this should indeed become a favorite."--School Library Journal

 "Poems drawn from Hoberman's previous works…are packaged to delight a new generation of youngsters. Children may be reminded of A.A. Milne's poetry…but Hoberman's poetry goes deeper, offering children a new way to look at things." Booklist

Gold Award Winner - 1998 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA)

Best Books of the Year - Child Magazine

Connections:

Use in science class as a connection to various types of animals.

Read selected poem to go with the story time theme.

Use in conjunction with musical instruments and movement to reinforce the Language Arts concepts such as syllables and oral reading skills.