Eek, You Reek!: Poems about Animals That Stink, Stank, Stunk

Millbrook Press October 1, 2019
with Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Illustrated by Eugenia Nobati
ISBN-10: 1512482013
ISBN-13: 978-1512482010

So I had a brilliant idea. Humorous poems about stinky animals. Lots of back matter. You know–skunk, stink bug, mink, ferret,. Had a moment’s doubt that there wouldn’t be enough. Google set my mind at rest. Talked to daughter Heidi about doing the book with me.

“Terrible idea,” she said. “Not enough different animals.”

I showed her the list.

“Who would read it?” she asked.

Every fourth grade boy in the universe.

“I’m not convinced.”

I wrote about six poems, handed them to her.

“Okay, I’m in, but I’m not writing my poems till the book sells.”

Thanks to Carol Hinz at Lerner’s Millbrook Press who found them amusing, asked for more, Heidi did her research, wrote her own poems. The illustrations by Eugenia Nobati  are howlingly funny and beautiful at the same time.

Check out the sequel: Yuck, You Suck!

Accolades:

• Massachusetts Book Award 2020 “Must Read”

What reviewers have said:

• *STARRED REVIEW* “Nobati’s green-tinged, digitally painted pencil drawings depict the reeking wretches and virtually make the stink visible. A paragraph on each creature graces the close, as does a glossary of smelly words and a fetid further reading list. The tone is fresh, however, and the foolish foulness may just hook those who think poetry stinks.” — Kirkus
• “Highly recommended for school and public libraries. Both educational and hilarious, this fun book of poetry written by Yolen and Stemple will not only please language arts teachers but will appease science teachers.”―School Library Journal