The Wonder Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

April is "National Poetry Month". We are celebrating with The Wonder Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. The author of this book tells us, "You can open the book up anywhere and read." This is so true. Open to the middle of the book and you get:

Maternal Bureau of Investigation
If you're gonna sneak a cookie
Don't act like some young rookie
Wipe up your trail of crumbs
Lick the chocolate from your thumbs
Practice "nope, not me" faces
Just to cover all your bases
See, you never know which mother
Is working undercover
'Til the moment she yells
Freeze!
CHEF.B.I.
Drop the cookie please!

The illustrations enhance each word game, poem, story, and palindrome in this entertaining collection. ENJOY!

Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies by Shel Silverstein

Celebrating "April is poetry month" we wanted to share a great poet, Shel Silverstein. Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies was re-released in March 2008, it was originally published in 1964. This was Shel Silverstein's first collection of poetry. Anyone who has ever read Shel's poetry falls in love with the poems and his humor. He was a very talented children's poet and songwriter. Visit his website for many fun activities and information. Besides being his first ever collection of poetry Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies is also the only collection that features color illustrations. If you are familiar with Mr. Silverstein's books you know that all his illustrations are in black and white. Pick up Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies and enjoy the wonders of Shel Silverstein.

Intro to Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies

It's a zoo in here!

Have you ever . . .
Seen a Gritchen in your kitchen?
Dared to dance with the One-Legged Zantz?
Declined to dine with the Glub-Toothed Sline?

You haven't? Well then, step inside—but only if you are ready to be amazed, tickled, astonished and entertained by this most unusual bestiary of silly and scary creatures.

If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School by Kalli Dakos

April is poetry month! Children's poetry is often about life in school and this book is no exception. If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School is written by an elementary reading specialist, Kali Dakos. This book has 38 poems that children and teachers will relate to, poems about spending a lifetime in 3rd grade; forgetting your lunch money; messy desks; show and tell; and other challenges and excitement about being in school.
*********************
I Brought a Worm

Jane brought a baseball bat
And a ball for sharing time.

But I brought a worm!

Rich brought a goldfish bowl
Without a goldfish.

But I brought a worm!

Lizzy brought an egg with a yolk
And an egg without a yolk.

But I brought a worm!

Joe brought an eraser shaped like a knife
And an olive sandwich.

But I brought a worm!

Jane showed us how to hit
The ball with the bat.

Rich put the class turtle
In the goldfish bowl.

Lizzy showed us how to prick an egg
And take the yolk out.

Joe tried to cut his sandwich
With his eraser knife.

But I ate the worm!
Right there in front of everyone
I ate the worm!

(It was a candy worm.)

Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy

April is Poetry month! Comedian Jeff Foxworthy has written a children's poetry book (actually he has written two, see below).
The title poem is:

Dirt on My Shirt
There's dirt on my shirt
And leaves in my hair
There's mud on my boots
But I don't really care

Playing outside is so much fun
To breathe the clean air
And feel the warm sun

To stomp in a puddle
Or climb a big tree
Makes me quite happy
Just look and you'll see

The illustrations by Steve Bjorkman are perfect for each poem. Pick up a copy today and enjoy! The duo teamed up again for their second poetry collection which was released in February 2009 - Silly Street. Happy Poetry Month!

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

Jack is back! He is now in fifth grade and his teacher is Miss Stretchberry! Jack is thrilled that his fourth grade teacher moved up with his class, he tells her "you really get my brain". Last year Miss Stretchberry taught the class about poetry and had them write their own poetry. This year they will be expanding their knowledge of poetry and their exposure to different poets. In the same narrative format Jack takes us through his poetry journey with a lot of insight. We also meet Jack's parents and hear more of his life story. The cat that Jack hates, is a big black cat that torments him at his bus stop. In Love That Dog (see the review below) we learn that Jack's beloved dog, Sky, is killed by a car. In Hate That Cat, Jack cannot let go of the hurt of losing Sky until he receives a special Christmas gift that helps him get over the pain. Will Jack continue enjoying writing his poetry? What about those big words, onomatopoeia and alliteration? What do these words have to do with poetry? Join Jack on his poetry journey and you may learn a thing or two about writing poetry ... Miss Stretchberry (and your teacher) hope you do! Ms. Creech includes a great bibliography at the end of the book with the poetry books mentioned during the story.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Jack is a student is Miss Stretchberry's fourth grade class. The class is beginning to discuss and write poetry. Jack is not thrilled about this new development, after all, "Boys don't write poetry. Girls do." Soon Jack discovers anyone can write poetry ... you just have to write short lines. This is a great way to introduce writing poetry to students. They will enjoy Jack's comments throughout the story about how he does not like to write poetry, but when his teacher wants to type up Jack's works he starts to understand maybe he can write poetry. Jack begins to think poetry really isn't so bad, plus all the poems that Miss Stretchberry shares with the class are actually inspiring . Ms. Creech introduces us to poets such as William Carlos Williams and Walter Dean Myers. After hearing a poem by Walter Dean Myers called Love That Boy, Jack writes a poem about his beloved dog, Sky and he writes Love That Dog. The story is a truly enjoyable narrative by Jack. We learn so much about his life, and how we can all be a poet! Jack enjoys Walter Dean Myers' poems so much he invites him to school for a celebrity visit. Will Mr. Myers come? Read Love That Dog, I guarantee it is a winner! The story ends with the beginning of the next book, Hate That Cat (see the review above). Visit Ms. Creech's web site to see what other stories she has written.