A Penguin Called Samantha

-Margaret Ryan, author, "Black Raspberries"

In "A Penguin Called Samantha," Laura Seeman, always wry and wise, offers us a wide variety of tales in verse, depicting us animal clothed, in the tradition of the old fables. Laura exposes our greed, our vanity, our blunders, with a grain of salt, and a sly understanding.

My favorites: "The Parrot" who mouthed words he heard and knew nothing about; "Two Foxes Villanelle," an image of friendship in old age; and "The Cuckoo and the Rooster," each one needing the other to make his life seem sublime.

-Nicole Andonov, author, "Portraits"

Laura Seeman's fables are] witty and delightful-actually delicious would be more exact. My favorite is The 'Hippopotamus'. And the art is wonderful, too.

-Chana Bloch, poet, translator, "Song of Songs"