Galápagos: Islands of Change by Leslie Bulion

Abstract

Reviewed by: Galápagos: Islands of Change by Leslie Bulion Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Bulion, Leslie Galápagos: Islands of Change; illus. by Becca Stadtlander. Peachtree, 2023 [48p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781682634967 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781682635209 $11.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 3-6 After a brief prose opener on the Galápagos islands’ ancient volcanic origins, Bu-lion dives into a poetry collection focusing on the animals and ecosystems of the archipelago and its waters. The book is roughly organized into two sections, first exploring the islands’ surrounding ocean and air during the cool, dry season and then shifting onto the beaches and inner land during the warm, wet season. Most of the poems are free verse or free rhyme, and a helpful list in the back matter expands upon each poem and highlights the occasional different forms, from haiku to cinquain to soledad. Bulion’s cinematic verse calls up the oceanic and island ongoings with a skillful ease (“Slim fish swim with/mouths open wide,/ swarming silver appetites/ satisfied) while a delightful variance in tone, from the playful zippiness of a free-verse poem on sea lion pups to the more rhythmic, steady beat of an examination of giant tortoises, invites readerly engagement. Animal figures in the gouache and pastel art can occasionally be stiff, but balanced compositions keep the visual focus on the poem’s subject while still maintaining the energy of the natural world. Each entry is accompanied by informative tidbits, and the match between poetic art and direct, scientific info make this an easy classroom sell to aspiring writers or ocean enthusiasts. A final note discusses the effects of climate change on the islands, and back matter includes a glossary, map, poetry notes, further reading, and species list. [End Page 185] Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois