An Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Book * A New York Public Library 100 Best Books for Reading and Sharing title * A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best title * A CCBC Choice

★ "Harley's poetry consists of carefully crafted descriptive word imagery that is right on target... the full-page, full-color photos of the animals are perfect companions to the facing selections. Noyes describes in an endnote how she snapped many of the photographs while camouflaged in blinds near small watering holes in game parks and preserves in Namibia... useful as an entree to writing an unusual and enjoyable type of verse, this short collection offers pleasurable reading, with a nature lesson thrown in as well."—School Library Journal (starred review)

"I love the poems in Avis Harley's African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways. Accompanied by bold (and sometimes very entertaining) photographs by the multi-talented Deborah Noyes, the playful pieces on these pages more than ably capture their subjects, in wonderful language that make them a true cut above most poems I've read in this form. I predict that teachers will go ga-ga for this one."—Alison Morris, Shelftalker, a Children's Bookseller's Blog

★ "Acrostic poems inventively highlight the animals of Africa... Noyes's photographs perfectly encapsulate the poems, the two creating a harmonious whole that is more than the sum of its parts...This belongs in every collection—for the poetry, for the photographs, for the information."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Striking... pages at the back explain more about acrostics, animals, and the photographs. A winning trifecta."—The Chicago Tribune

"Inspiration for budding poets and their masters."—Foreword Magazine

"Lively...with a playful sensibility...The photos, taken in Namibia's Etosha National Park, are vivid close-ups. Young wordsmiths will itch to try their hand at the verse form after reading this."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (recommended)

"A nice 'multi-genre' picture book of poetry and lots of information.... And what child would not delight in seeing the photograph of a hornbill?"— Booklights/PBS Parents

"Magnificent photography."—Journal Inquirer

 "Stunning photographs capture the grace, strength, or guile of the featured creatures. As well as being a great read, this book offers a ready model for young poets and photographers eager to create their own tributes to the natural world."—Washington Parent

"This book is a winner, from the poems to the photographs. I highly recommend it for all collections."—The Miss Rumphius Effect

"Harley shows that the form itself is far from juvenile in this collection of eighteen poems illustrated with vibrant color photographs.... Noyes's photographs, taken mostly in Namibia, are creatively composed and capture each animal's unique qualities. Together, poetry and photography make for a superb collection."—The Horn Book

"This dramatic picture book will draw readers with its mix of short poems and clear color photos of wild animals in the game parks of Namibia.... A good cross-curriculum title that kids will enjoy beyond the classroom, too."—Booklist