Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman -- ADVISABLE

Sidman, Joyce. Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night, illustrated by Rick Allen. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children [Harcourt], 2010. $16.99. PICTURE BOOK.
Poet Joyce Sidman uses several different styles of poems to highlight creatures of the night, including formal riming patterns and blank verse. Sidman introduces the reader to unique woodland creatures like efts; in her “Ballad To the Wandering Eft”: “You’ll rove till you’re weary, / then return to the pond, / where you’ll dream of your life / as an eft vagabond.” She also includes a paragraph of information about each nocturnal animal. A unique and engaging collection of poetry. The fascinating illustrations have the look and feel of an antique book. These one of a kind illustrations were created using relief prints (a sketch transferred to a block of wood) and hand-painted watercolors. EL – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.