A review of "The Edible Zoo"

I just discovered this review of my children's poetry book The Edible Zoo. It compares the book to the writing of Dr. Seuss

http://www.writersforum.org/news_and_reviews/review_archives.html/article/2012/12/17/the-edible-zoo

For those who don't know, The Edible Zoo consists of poems I wrote for my children and niecephews (11 in number), beginning when the eldest was about two years old. Earlier (and shorter) editions of this book were photocopied and distributed to my young relatives. Half a dozen copies of those early editions were sold to other people.

You can buy The Edible Zoo directly from me. $9 postpaid via PayPal from jopnquog@gmail.com.

021716

Brontothere Buffet

Brontotheres were giant beasts,
Like rhinos, but tremendous, big,
The earth is shaking, you fall down,
A brontothere has come to town!
Hope your mom don't like her trees,
The brontothere will eat their leaves,
It'll scarf them, every one,
And pick its teeth when it is done,
This thing must go 'fore it eats the town,
But careful now how you throw down,
Cos if you hunt a brontothere,
You'll be eating sandwiches
For more than half a year.

Am writing for kids

I think I mentioned a while ago that when I read a children's poem at my local writing group everybody liked it a lot. So I thought, I should write some more children's poems and maybe I will get enough to make a chapbook of them. Most of my nieces and nephews are now too old to enjoy my original children's poetry chapbook ("The Edible Zoo," of which a few copies are still available from me (I don't think you can find it used, a testament of sorts)). However, I now have 5 great niecephews & a cousin once removed who is very young, so my work is not yet done. I wrote two suitable poems today. 3 down & X to go.

Elgin Awards announced

Pretty excited to take 3rd with my book of children's fantasy poems

SFPA 2013 ELGIN AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Best Chapbook

3rd Place: The Edible Zoo by David Kopaska-Merkel


The bigger winners were
1st Place: Out of the Black Forest by F. J. Bergmann
2nd Place: The House of Forever by Samantha Henderson


My book is always available from me, postpaid, for $11, Paypal to jopnquog@gmail.com or check to me at 1300 Kicker, Tuscaloosa AL 35404. However, for the rest of August, use Paypal & it's $9.

Review of The Edible Zoo with poems read aloud

http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2013/05/reviews-inhuman-edible-zoo/

submissions and so on

ETTT is an ezine published by the SF Poetry Assn. The call for submissions for the next issue is out (theme: immigration) & I sent a couple. Reprints are welcome, but I didn't have any that were suitable. I will be reading a few from my last book (The Edible Zoo) & my next book (Luminous Worlds) at the Unitarian church Sunday. I'm going to try to get the kids to help me with "Monkey Stew." Interactive presentations are not my thing, but this poem really needs that. I submitted a few other poems here & there, mostly 6 lines or shorter. And I'm working on a short story, but it's stalled.

An illustrated poetry book for children

Three sample poems and a sample illustration from "The Edible Zoo," my new book of poems for small children.


Horse-radish Sandwich


When the munchies come to call,
I’ll eat anything at all,
But my very favorite dish,
Is a horse-radish sand-a-wich.

I love to nosh on lady fingers,
Cos their fancy flavor lingers,
On a cruder plane or not,
Corn dogs really hit the spot,
But when I’m King I will decree,
Horse-radish sandwiches for me!

Hot dogs are a fave of mine,
Although I hate the fur,
And for catfish oft I pine,
Specially when they purr,
Still my favorite dish of all,
Horse-radish sandwich has it all!

What I’ll readily admit is,
I think by now you’ve guessed it,
What I love the most is,
A tasty, furry, maned and curried,

horse-
radish
sandwich!



The Aardvark


The aardvark is a curious beast,
But makes a tempting furry feast,
When dipped in chocolate or when greased,
And fried with cabbage and with leeks.

Oh aardvark! Culinary gem,
I like to nibble now and then,
On freeze-dried chips of aardvark dipped,
In cheesy spread with cognac sipped.

Or aardvark cutlets would be nice,
Laid upon a bed of rice,
And garnished with a hop-toad sushi,
Left to sit until it's mooshy.




Take me out to the ball game!


Hear the roar of the crowd,
It’s getting mighty loud,
But why do all the people cheer?
Is the team out on the field?
Does the half-time show appeal?
Or is it something else without a peer?

Hot dogs! Hot dogs! Tastiest of treats!
Hot dogs! Hot dogs! Friendliest of meats!

I like them hot, with ketchup,
Relish, mustard too,
I like them in a toasted bun,
With onions … how ‘bout you?

So take me to the ball game,
I’ll go with you there tonight,
But I don’t care who wins or plays,
To me that’s all the same.

I want some hot dogs! Hot dogs!
Hot and fresh and good!
Hot dogs! Hot dogs!
Please fetch them if you would!

Buy it here: http://sdpbookstore.com/poetrybooks.htm (books are listed alphabetically by title)

New review of "The Edible Zoo"

Children's Menu

The Edible Zoo

An illustrated book of children's poems about eating (mostly) and being eaten (almost). Written for my children and their cousins when they were very small. Twoish. They ARE related to me. But other kids like them too (please see reviews).


Color Cover

http://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/07/color-cover-of-edible-zoo.html


Contents

Horse-radish Sandwich
The Aardvark
Take me out to the ball game!
Yummy Bears
Toucan
The King of Feasts
Crocodilia
Rhinoceri
Genetic modifications; or, what's in your lunch?
Payback time
How to catch the lightning bird
Ouroboros
The Woodchuck
Whales
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Monkey Stew


Each poem illustrated by Valerie Bodell; color cover by Teresa Tunaley.


Reviews

http://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-of-edible-zoo.html

http://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-satisfied-customer.html

http://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-testimonial-for-edible-zoo.html

And one review forthcoming in the next Star*line


To Order

http://sdpbookstore.com/poetrybooks.htm#ediblezoo

Or, buy it from me. I have signed copies for sale at $9 ($13 outside N. Am.).

Contact me: jopnquog [at] gmail [dot] com

New testimonial for "The Edible Zoo"

"The Edible Zoo is page after page and animal after animal of delightful fun. It's full to the brim with Kopaska-Merkel whit and charm." --Mary Letcher

New minireview of "The Edible Zoo"

"So, last night, when I asked [young reader] what book he wanted to read, he went right for the Edible Zoo! He would not let go of it after I turned the light out and carried it around the house all morning. He then “read” Crocodilia to us while he ate breakfast this morning!! Thanks, it makes us all smile."

A satisfied customer

Review of "The Edible Zoo"

"When my nieces and nephews came, they immediately started reading. They
all loved it, even the fifteen year old. And so did I, sneaking it before I
gave them." -- J. Schwabach

Edible Zoo

I have signed copies for sale at $9 ($13 outside N. Am.). This profusely illustrated book of poems for children advocates carnivory, but in the nicest possible way. See recent posts in this blog.

Mailing The Edible Zoo

It's $9 in N. Am., as stated, but $13 elsewhere.

071512

The Edible Zoo, poems and drawings that provide an all-nonsense guide to childhood nutrition. That should've been the subtitle.

In other news

weeds reach
the sky's top
hand me the shears

The Edible Zoo is here!

It is MUCH cuter than I expected. I can't wait to hear what people say about it. FYI, I'll send you a signed copy for $9 to my paypal acct (jopnquog [at] gmail.com).

Edible Zoo links

Color cover

http://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/07/color-cover-of-edible-zoo.html

A sample illustration

http://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/05/edible-zoo-is-all-about-who-or-what-is.html

A sample poem

http://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/2010/04/from-edible-zoo.html

Where to buy it

http://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/06/edible-zoo.html

Color cover of the Edible Zoo

Pre-order the book, only $8, from Sam's Dot (www.samsdotpublishing.com).

Everything you wanted to know about animals, food, carnivory, etc. If you're a child, or like poetry for children.

Edible Zoo

http://sdpbookstore.com/poetrybooks.htm#ediblezoo

An illustrated book of silly children's poems about the eat or be eaten world of your typical zoo. Or kitchen.