Description
A look at the human condition through poetry written as though by animals.
Reader’s Reviews
‘We Animals Would Like a Word With You’ is a collection of poems about a variety of animals. Each poem in this book focuses on one particular animal (e.g. bear, kangaroo, skunk) and uses their distinct characteristics to turn them into ‘amusing’ characters. Examples include ‘Sir Grizzly’, ‘Hopaloo Kangaroo’, ‘Thinking Turtle’, ‘Mrs Skunk’ etc.
Underneath all this humour and creative use of language are important morals that are thought provoking. An excellent example of this is the poem ‘Mrs Skunk Writes a Letter to the Press’. This poem covers the topic of skunks and their ability to create a foul odour (referred to as bad breathe in the book), and how humans hate them for this. Agard intelligently gives Mrs Skunk ‘a voice’ and allows her to comment on humans poor traits. These included minor issues such as passing wind and major ones such as environmental pollution. The book raises topical issues throughout and keeps you engaged.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of poems and would definitely recommend it to others. It can be used with upper primary children, but with the help of an adult (whether teacher or parent). This help is needed if every child is to understand the moral of each poem. An example of this is the poem ‘A Reminder from Snake’. This poem not only speaks about the key characteristics of a snake (e.g. slimy, crawly, poisonous, venomous etc), but also refers to the role it plays in the Christian bible. Some children may not know the ‘Garden of Eden’ story and may need adult assistance if they are to fully understand the poem.
I would only use this particular book with upper primary children due to my reason in the previous paragraph. This book though could still be used in a variety of ways:
· English: not only for reading, but also practicing English writing techniques e.g. alliteration, repetition, rule of three etc.
· Cross Curriculum (Geography, History RE): introduce children to topical issues in a fun and creative way e.g. pollution, stress, illness deforestation, etc.
· Science: Could be used to introduce children to a variety of animals and their different attributes.
This book is a collection of poems from animals’ perspectives. It challenges preconceived ideas we have about animals through familiar stories. An obvious example of this is in the poem Frog Hop, which relates to the traditional story of The Frog Prince. However, the poem indicates that the frog was quite happy in his frog form and did not want to become human. Therefore, questions arise about our own actions and the consequences they have for other people.
In Hare I Am, Agard challenges the morality of hunting, and makes it a very accessible issue for children, though it could be upsetting for some younger readers. The theme of animal cruelty is prevalent throughout the collection. The Little Fish has Something to say to the Fisherman shares the theme of killing for sport and demonstrates contempt: ‘throw down your hook, silly man’. The Last Bird then goes on to demonstrate that humans have a great effect on wildlife, even without conscious decisions, specifically by not caring for the environment.
Agard also challenges religious ideologies about animals in various poems. A Reminder from Snake has clear references to the story of Adam and Eve, where the Devil is in the guise of a snake. Telling it Like a Pig challenges the idea that pigs are dirty animals. Rather, Agard portrays them as highly intelligent creatures who have a good motive for all their actions. Both poems offer an alternative view to those that have been perpetuated by religion. Essentially, Agard has attempted to pull down preconceived ideas about animals and have his reader view them as intelligent and sensitive creatures who would do very well without the interference of humans.
This children’s book offers an amusing insight into the mindset of animals, in particular, their take on the world in relation to humans. The book is appealing to children not just for its comical poetry, but also its imaginative context. Each animal is gifted with a sense of humor, wit and intelligence. On a more serious note, the book invites the reader to examine the rights of animals and the consequences of human intrusion into their natural habitat.
I highly recommend this collection of poems to all ages. The humor, imagination, illustration and underlying moral themes will make reading this book an enjoyable experience time and time again.
Parental Guidance
- Reading Age: 8-11
- Reading Aloud Age: 8-11
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on June 21, 2021
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Agard at his brilliant best — genius wordsmith and observant eye. A witty but political commentary not just how we treat/view animals but what it says about humans. ALL ages (not just children) will love the word play especially if you act along/get into it — in fact I would say to get the best from this it must be read orally. Agard is a performance poet and I have the honour of seeing him perform reading several poems from this book; believe me — a world of difference between just reading on a page.
- animals poetry
We Animals Would Like a Word with You
poems by John Agard, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura
This is a collection of poems written from the point of view of animals, addressed to humans. In fact, the title and contents pages feature pictures of small goldfish holding pencils. The animals are indeed the authors here, and they have some very important messages. Some of the poems make interesting observations about humans‘ understanding of the animal world and challenge our notion that humans are more intelligent or more powerful than other animals. Agard draws on some animal-related expressions we use in the English language, such as rat race and a school of fish.
Agard’s animals have an excellent sense of humour and the poems don’t follow a particular style, which gives each animal its own personality and authorship. The poems are very funny. However, some are also quite philosophical, like the goldfish in its bowl who has so much time to think and observe its owners that it starts to understand that humans too swim round and round in their own ‘big bowl’. Many of the poems touch on animals’ rights, and humans’ interference with the animal world. Agard puts onto paper what animals might say if they were able to respond to our actions: “I wanna go to university for fish, man, not end up in your frying-pan.” Finally, the poems highlight some key differences between humans and other animals, seeing them from the animals’ perspective. The turtle, for instance, thinks: “how can they leave their house behind? A shell like mine would suit them fine”, while Monkey, Dog, Lizard and others declare in turn “What a shame you humans lost your tail,” each one stating a benefit of having a tail.
Well the human finally finds his voice at the end of the book: “yes, we lost our tail (…) but we have a brain and we make things that heal and things that kill.”
I highly recommend this collection of poems for use in Key Stage 2, as it provides an excellent starting point for discussion on important issues related to our environment, our relationships with animals and the differences between us and them. The philosophical questions raised will encourage children to consider our existence from a different angle. The poems are very enjoyable and children with developing literary awareness will appreciate the various styles used, the play on words and the humour. I would also use them as a basis for poetry writing, since pupils can take on the role of an animal of their choice and imagine what it would want to say to humans if it could talk.
My favourites in the book are: Rat Race; The Little Fish has something to say to the Fisherman; Swimming Teeth; Goldfish Reflections; Thinking Turtle; and What a Shame You Lost Your Tail.
This book is a great collection of humorous poetry from the viewpoints of a whole range of animals. Each poem is short, quick witted and embedded with moral undertones. For example debates relating to the un/ethical treatment of animals and mundane careless actions like destroying a spiders web. I think this would be a really useful book, particularly for KS2 children when looking at different styles of poetry and potentially citizenship related issues. A great book to share that can also offer other learning opportunities beyond literacy.
A collection of poems written from the viewpoint of the animals addressing issues directed at humans.
There were a couple of poems I enjoyed, and although I love the concept, I wouldn’t rush to read it again.
Some of the poems are enjoyable and others are a tad boring, not a huge fan of poetry though.
74 reviews6 followers
A witty book about how we treat animals and what that says about humans. — my review is on simply honest reviews
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October 2, 2022
A humorous approach to helping children understand how animals are treated.
We Animals Would Like A Word With You is a 1996 book of poetry by John Agard (illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura) which marries fabulous and inventive poetry with brilliantly observed illustrations. I rate this book very highly and consider it would be suitable for any age group given the correct guided reading. It is much more than fun animal poetry and the animals questioning tone towards humans both engages and informs. For example, we see a donkey who literally bears a cross as well as the skunks admonishing message on pollution ” …from the fumes of your factories.”. However, there is also great humour, particularly with the love-struck hippos. I recommend this book highly for cross-curriculum, junior classrooms where its simplicity of message would promote environmental awareness and a clear indication of the natural juxtaposition between animals and humans.
17 reviews
Rat Race: struggling to find a rhythm. No meaning?
Frog Hop: no rhyme. A lot of half rhymes.
Elephants dreaming:
Hare I am:
Book of short poems, about animals and their perspective.
Simple illustrations, black and white
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We Animals Would Like a Word with You Paperback – May 1, 1998
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$5.63
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This is a humorous and facetious look at the human condition through poetry written as though by animals.
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Dimensions
6.02 x 0.2 x 9.25 inches
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Publisher
Transworld Publishers
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Publication date
May 1, 1998
Product details
- Publisher
:
Transworld Publishers; New edition (May 1, 1998) - Language
:
English - Paperback
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64 pages - ISBN-10
:
0099688514 - ISBN-13
:
978-0099688518 - Reading age
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7 — 9 years - Grade level
:
2 — 4 - Item Weight
:
4.7 ounces - Dimensions
:
6.02 x 0.2 x 9.25 inches
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As described and promptly received. My 7 yr old loves this.
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by John Agard
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). We Animals Would Like a Word With You : This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping.
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.
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Paperback. Condition: Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine.
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). We Animals Would Like a Word with You This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping.
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Paperback. Condition: Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). Minor shelf wear. Previously water damaged, slight waving to the pages Good condition is defined as: a copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day.
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Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). 1674654516. 1/25/2023 1:48:36 PM.
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Hardback. Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.
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Hardback. Condition: Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine.
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Paperback. Condition: Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). All orders are dispatched the following working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we have over 500,000 books in stock. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping.
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping.
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Condition: Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). New edition. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
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Condition: Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). New edition. Ships from the UK. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
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Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). **Simply Brit** Shipped with Premium postal service within 24 hours from the UK with impressive delivery time. We have dispatched from our book depository; items of good condition to over ten million satisfied customers worldwide. We are committed to providing you with reliable and efficient service at all times.
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Hardcover. Condition: Used; Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). EX library copy **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). 1996. Hardcover. Good clean copy with some minor shelf wear. . . . .
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Condition: Very Good. Kitamura, Satoshi (illustrator). 1996. Hardcover. Good clean copy with some minor shelf wear. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.
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Hardcover. Condition: New. Satoshi Kitamura (illustrator). 1st Edition. Bodley Head, London, 1996; As NEW, a FIRST Editiion, FIRST Printing, laminated Hardback; SIGNED by SATOSHI with DOODLE, to half title page. REF D. Signed by Illustrator(s).
