"Twosomes" by Marilyn Singer

Citation:
Singer, Marilyn. Twosomes: Love Poems from the Animal Kingdom. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011.
ISBN: 9780375967108

Plot Summary:
This charming collection of 15 "love poems" is witty and sweet.  Each poem is accompanied with an illustration of the type of animal who is the supposed speaker of the poem.  Each two line poem is intended to be from one of the animals to another.  This would be a perfect little poem collection to share with a little one that you love.

Critical Analysis:
Each poem is only two rhyming lines and includes a pun about the type of animal.  These should be fun for children, but some might need to be explained.  For example, the poem "Horses" comes to a close with the phrase "stable relationship".  This is a pun on the word "stable".  It is meant to be interpreted both ways: constant and unchanging and also as relating to a relationship which takes place in a barn!  The child would need to understand the meanings of both uses of the word.

Each of the coupled pages are somewhat matching animals.  Dogs and Cats are adjacent. Sharks and Dolphins are adjacent. Singer took every opportunity to couple things together-- even down to similar animal types!

Review Excerpts:
Publisher's Weekly: "Singer's endearing puns and Wildish's expressively love-struck cartoon animals should tickle young and old valentines alike."
School Library Journal: "The humor is sometimes quiet, sometimes silly, and often stems from puns. The smooth writing is simple (in a good sense) and accessible."

Connections:
*Children could create original poems about other types of animals not included in Singer's collection.  Mimic the two line length and rhyming ends.  Encourage them to be creative and witty!
*"Mirror Mirror" by Marilyn Singer 2011 Texas Bluebonnet book
ISBN: 9780525479017