The Book:
PREDATOR AND PREY: A CONVERSATION IN VERSE
Author/Illustrator: Susannah Buhrman-Deever, illustrations by Bert Kitchen
Publication Info.: Candlewick, 2019
Ages/Grades: ages 6 to 9
Category: lyrical, compare/contrast, expository
Overview (from the publisher):
“Who wins, the assassin bug or the spider? The bat or the frog? The ant or the honey bee? The male firefly . . . or the female? The battle for survival between predator and prey is sometimes a fight, sometimes a dance, and often involves spying, lying, or even telling the truth to get ahead. Biologist and debut author Susannah Buhrman-Deever explores these clashes in poems and prose explanations that offer both sides of the story. With beautiful, realistic illustrations that are charged with drama, Bert Kitchen captures the breathtaking moments when predator meets prey. Readers who hunger for more about the art of survival will find an extensive list of references in the back. ”
What’s noteworthy for authors and educators:
I had to take my time to savor the brilliance of PREDATOR AND PREY. Dueling poems representing the POVs of both predator and prey on each spread…it’s just magical when structure and content are so perfectly aligned.
Kirsten W. Larson 