This document provides a summary of the poetry book "Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems" by Jack Prelutsky. The book features nonsense verse about imaginary hybrid creatures made from everyday objects and animals. The surreal poems use word play, rhyme, and onomatopoeia. The illustrations are integral to understanding the poems about creatures like the Lynx of Chain and Tearful Zipperpotamuses. A brief biography of the author Jack Prelutsky and illustrator Carin Berger is also provided.

1. Behold the Bold Umbrellaphantand Other Poems By Jack Prelutsky

2. Genre: PoetryCategory: Nonsense verseType: Single illustratedElements: Rhyme/sound pattern, pun, word play, onomatopoeiaTheme:Imaginary animalsSuggested grade level: 3rd-6th

3. A dictionary-like introduction and definition of silly, invented hybrid creatures. The creatures are combinations of everyday objects and animals. The objects serve to exaggerate the physical or behavioral characteristics of the normal animal.Surreal imagery, clever use of language. (nonsense words)The illustrations are integral to the poetry.Creatures: The Lynx of Chain, the Circular Sawtoise, BirzarreAlarmadillos,, the Tearful Zipperpotamuses, the Pop-up Toadsters, the Shoehornets, and the Panthermometer.

5. “The ballpoint penguins, black and white, Do little else but write and write. Although they’ve nothing much to say, They write and write it anyway. The ballpoint penguins do not think, They simply write with endless ink, They write of ice, they write of snow, For that is all they seem to know. At times, these shy and silent birds Will verbally express their words. But mostly they do not recite— They aim their beaks and write and write.”

7. Jack Prelutsky: AuthorBorn in 1940 in Brooklyn, NY

8. A teacher in grade school gave him the impression that poetry was the “literary equivalent of liver.”

9. “I was told that it was good for me, but I wasn’t convinced.”

10. Writes poetry for children to encourage love of verse

11. Married Carolynn in 1979

12. Was first published after encouraged by a friend to show his casual drawings and poetry to an editor

13. First ever U.S. Children's Poet LaureateBooks of Poetry“Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant “ (received the 2007 Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award)“It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles”“A Pizza the Size of the Sun”“Something BIG Has Been Here”“Pigs, Pizza, and Poetry: How to Write a Poem” … and many, many more!

14. Carin Berger: IllustratorOriginally a graphic designer

15. Unique in that she uses old ticket stubs, newspapers, and catalogues, to illustrate

16. Has won several awards