Poetry

AGEE, Jon. Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue. illus. by author. 48p. index. Hyperion/Disney. Mar. 2009. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0315-8. LC number unavailable.

Gr 1-5–Kids love tongue twisters and Agee delivers a whole volume of winners accompanied by amusing watercolors. B

LOWE, Ayana, ed. Come and Play: Children of Our World Having Fun. unpaged. map. photos. CIP. Bloomsbury. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59990-245-6; RTE $17.85. ISBN 978-1-59990-246-3. LC 2007039970.

K-Gr 5–Free-verse poems written by elementary school students are paired with expressive black-and-white and color photographs of people from around the world. A genuine model of children as writers and a testament to the universality of youth’s spirit. B

MARTIN, Bill, Jr., ed., with Michael Sampson. The Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry. illus. by Aliki, et al. 176p. index. S & S. 2008. RTE $21. ISBN 978-1-4169-3971-9. LC number unavailable.

Gr 2-5–Mingling old favorites with modern-day fare, this first-rate anthology presents a captivating collection of kid-pleasing poems. Arranged by broad themes, the selections are paired with visual interpretations by renowned children’s book artists, making this eye-catching volume ideal for classroom sharing or independent contemplation. B

RUDDELL, Deborah. A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems. illus. by Joan Rankin. unpaged. CIP. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. 2009. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4211-5. LC 2007038023.

K-Gr 5–From “Eau de Forest: A Woodsy Cologne” to “Chipmunks, Inc.” to “Woodpecker Feud,” this evocative collection of light verse showcases a wide variety of woodland flora and fauna throughout the year. Textured and often-humorous watercolors, done in earthy tones with splashes of bright color, enliven and energize the presentation for a perfect read-aloud selection. B

SINGER, Marilyn. First Food Fight This Fall and Other School Poems. illus. by Sachiko Yoshikawa. 40p. CIP. Sterling. 2008. PLB $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4027-4145-6. LC 2007043386.

K-Gr 4–From “First Day” to “Field Day,” 29 poems, written in the distinctive voices of 12 classmates, delightfully delineate familiar experiences and relationships throughout a typical school year. Beginning with the endpapers—featuring personality-filled “snapshots” of the poets—the lush-hued artwork depicts the children and their antics with warmhearted humor. B

It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles (unabr.). CD. 1 hr. Harper Audio (harperaudio.com). 2008. ISBN 978-0-06-145135-5. $14.95.

K-Gr 5–Jack Prelutsky performs 28 humorous poems from his book (Greenwillow, 2000), set to music. Some pieces are nonsensical, such as the title poem. There are humorous story poems (“I Chased a Dragon Through the Woods”), thoughtful pieces (“Plooters”), and exuberant wordplays (“Is Traffic Jam Delectable?”). Each poem is matched perfectly to a musical style. A

My Dog May Be a Genius (unabr.). CD. 70 min. Harper Audio (harperaudio.com). 2008. ISBN 978-0-06-145145-4. $14.95

K-Gr 5–In this delightful collection featuring more than 100 poems (Greenwillow, 2008) by the country’s first poet laureate for children, Jack Prelutsky’s signature zany rhymes, full of alliteration and exuberant silliness, have been set to toe-tapping music and performed by the author. Have the book available so listeners can peruse James Stevenson’s amusing illustrations. A