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Birds On a Wire: A Renga Round Town, written by J. Patrick Lewis/Paul B. Janeczko, illus. by Gary Lippincott, (Wordsong, 2008), 32p, Ages 4-8.
A day in the life of an American town is described in renga, an ancient Japanese form of poetry where writers alternate adding verses. Each verse links with the preceding one, but not the others. With the link, the story is taken in a different direction. Beautiful watercolors accompany a visit around town to a local florist, past the hardware store, and down main street with its busy activity. "'How's the good Dr. Darigan?' 'Did you hear? The librarian . . .' 'No, I wouldn't tell a soul.'/nothing quite as American as small-town gossip." An introduction explains the renga's usage, rules, and its importance in literature.

The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast, written by William Plomer, illus. by Alan Aldridge, (Templar Books, 2009), 96p, Ages 8+.
Beautifully written verse and stunning illustrations surround forest animals that prepare and travel to a magnificent ball given by butterflies and grasshoppers. Creatures with human-like attributes in Victorian-style clothing fly, creep, hop, and walk to the ball, being careful to stay away from the hornets and wasps. "From their sharp front teeth to the tips of their tails/The Rodents were thrilled by their trip on the rails/In a Midland express with the Princess of Wales." Toad is told by the doctor to stay in bed until the pollution that he swallowed was gone. Children will enjoy wadding through frog's water bogged house, playing cricket with the snails, dodging the hornets and wasps, and riding the train with the dangerous, crafty fox. Originally published in 1973 and awarded the Whitbread Children's Book Award, this new edition includes detailed notes on each creature by wildlife expert Richard Fitter.