This Is a Tiny Fragile Snake by Nicholas Ruddock, illustrated by Ashley Barron

Fifteen poems explore close encounters with animals and choosing to respond tenderly.

Whether it's helping a hummingbird escape, respecting a bear's habitat, admiring a heron's beauty, or giving way to ants at a picnic, the human response in these poems is to do no harm, and to help whenever possible. The poems follow a seasonal progression, ending with a final poem that imagines where each animal might be on a winter night.

Inspired by personal experiences, Nicholas Ruddock's poems are simply written, with a pleasing rhyme, and fun to read aloud. In the spirit of the text, Ashley Barron's cut-paper collage illustrations portray each creature with respectful realism, in environments ranging from rural and wild to urban and suburban.

A delightful dip into poetry for young animal lovers! (From Groundwood Books)

• 32 Canadian books for children to check out this spring
• Books by past CBC Nonfiction Prize finalists being published in 2024
• Books by past CBC Poetry Prize winners and finalists being published in 2024

Nicholas Ruddock is a physician and writer who has worked in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Yukon and Ontario. Hisnovels, short stories and poetry has been published in Canada, U.K., Ireland and Germany. He is married to the artist Cheryl Ruddock, with four children. He is the author of the 2021 novel Last Hummingbird of West Chile and previously made the 2016 CBC Poery Prize longlist for Storm as well as the 2016 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist for The Hummingbirds. Most recently, Ruddock was shortlisted for the 2023 CBC Short Story Prize for his story Marriage.

Ashley Barron is a multimedia artist and children's book illustrator. She currently lives in Toronto.