Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary

Julie Larios (2006), 32 pages

Illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Larios brings a colorful menagerie to life in her book of poems, Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary. Using clever and imaginative language, the author wonderfully pairs an animal with a specific hue (examples include Green Frog, Gray Goose, Black Fish, and Red Donkey, etc) elevating color from everyday to extraordinary. This book reads like a dream (perfect read-aloud) as it is not only visually but lyrically stunning, a sure way to introduce poetry to young children while learning about animals and colors.

-Black Fish-

Now all silver quiver

Now all dark flash

She’s all water and wonder,

this black fish.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors (Caldecott honor) by Joyce Sidman or Poetrees by Douglas Florian

Other books by this author: Imaginary Menagerie: A Book of Curious Creature, and Have You Ever Done That?