Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems

K-Gr 4—This fun and quirky collection begins with a one-page description of concrete poems, or poems about a particular object that are also laid out in the shape of that object. Readers are encouraged to write a poem before crafting it into a shape. The second page gives children a starter list of potential subjects, while the rest of the book contains examples of concrete poetry. Cleary has penned creative verses, some of which use letters to represent specific shapes. For instance, in "Best Fishes," the "O" in the word "trout" resembles a fish's eye, and in "An Invitation," the letters "O" and "J" look like Christmas tree ornaments. Although the description at the beginning of the book says that concrete poems don't have to rhyme, most of the examples here do. Bright, cartoon illustrations enliven the text. Readers who pick up this title hoping for poems about toilets may be disappointed to find that only the opening entry addresses that subject matter. However, this is a solid book of poetry with a variety of enjoyable examples to inspire readers' own efforts.—Andy Plemmons, David C. Barrow Elementary, Athens, GA