FICTION

Poem-Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems

LEWIS, J. Patrick & . illus. by Jeremy Holmes. 40p. ebook available. Random/Schwartz & Wade. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780375866906. LC 2011011023.
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K-Gr 4—The subtitle "Crazy Car Poems" correctly describes the contents of this collaboration-22 pieces of pure fanciful nonsense by two of America's cleverest and most inventive poets currently writing for young people. Offerings include a "Giant Bookmobile of Tomorrow," driven by the Gingerbread Man; a pirate-operated, ocean-going "Fish Car"; and a "Dragonwagon" that "feeds with greed on rusty bikes." The child whose dad navigates the 'Balloon Car' says "…boy, does he he get mad at me/When I call out- 'Hey, POP!' …and the elderly lady operating the first-prize, supersize 'High-Heel Car' "…wins every footrace/Then honks her shoehorn." It's quite possible that Holmes had the most fun of all creating his spot-on, detail-laden illustrations of bizarre imaginary worlds ranging from above the rooftops to beneath the sea. Parts of his digitally-colored pencil and watercolor paintings appear to be formed from mixed media: polymer clay, paper/cardboard collage, a folded sheet of lined notebook paper with a paperclip grille and ballpoint bumper. The number of clever eccentricities in the illustrations is eye-boggling. For example, in the scene accompanying 'Bathtub Car', the duck/king's 'royal throne' is the kind found in the bathroom. Younger children will like the silliness of the poems; older kids and adults will enjoy poring over the pictures. This highly entertaining collection is fun to read and will provide inspiration for youngsters trying to create their own humorous poetry.—Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH
Why should cars be limited to steel and glass? These two dozen short poems offer vehicle lovers delightful automobile alternatives with distinct advantages: e.g., the paper car ("if it breaks down, don't frown, just...quickly shred it") or the hot-dog car ("you just can't beat it. / And when you're done / You simply eat it"). Holmes's subdued-palette, retro illustrations extend the humor.

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