Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2005.Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? And Other Disasters: Poems. Illus. by Wolf Erlbruch. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Ages 7-10
Reviews—
School Library JournalGrade 2-5 - These 14 short poems all depict little moments of being human. The disasters referred to in the subtitle range from big to small, from comic ("Hello apple!/Shiny red/CHOMP, CHOMP/Hello worm/Where's your head?") to sad (a child is shown holding a dead rabbit, a classroom pet: "His tall straight ears, his long quick feet/Trailed like falling velvet drapes."). Embarrassment, shame, fear, chagrin: all of these feelings are so common in childhood that a collection of poems about them seems natural. Erlbruch, a well-known German artist, creates pictures that show this range of emotions beautifully. At first glance, they are deceptively simple and spare. A closer look reveals that what seems to be a quietly colored drawing actually has the subtle variation in texture of a collage. Ample white space, simple backgrounds, and a font that looks both childlike and elegant all combine to enhance this lovely book. A winner from a prolific poet/editor/compiler and a talented illustrator.
Who said only adults can have bad day? Children do too! This collection of poems brings together fourteen verses about different disasters experienced in childhood. The first-person narration in each poem makes it easy for readers "to identify with the situations and emotions. The calamities in the book were well chosen and very much from a child's perspective (being left at camp, losing a pet, dreaming of being at a dance without your pants). Many of the poets are well known for children’s writing and the poems included in this collection are wonderful. The illustrator did a marvelous job of depicting kid’s emotions and embarrassments. The choice of colors is subdued with a faintly nostalgic almost caricature feel to them. Overall, this is a collection that teachers, parents, and librarians will enjoy sharing with kids when a "horrible, embarrassing, nothing in life can compare, bad day" occurs.
Reviews—
School Library JournalGrade 2-5 - These 14 short poems all depict little moments of being human. The disasters referred to in the subtitle range from big to small, from comic ("Hello apple!/Shiny red/CHOMP, CHOMP/Hello worm/Where's your head?") to sad (a child is shown holding a dead rabbit, a classroom pet: "His tall straight ears, his long quick feet/Trailed like falling velvet drapes."). Embarrassment, shame, fear, chagrin: all of these feelings are so common in childhood that a collection of poems about them seems natural. Erlbruch, a well-known German artist, creates pictures that show this range of emotions beautifully. At first glance, they are deceptively simple and spare. A closer look reveals that what seems to be a quietly colored drawing actually has the subtle variation in texture of a collage. Ample white space, simple backgrounds, and a font that looks both childlike and elegant all combine to enhance this lovely book. A winner from a prolific poet/editor/compiler and a talented illustrator.
Who said only adults can have bad day? Children do too! This collection of poems brings together fourteen verses about different disasters experienced in childhood. The first-person narration in each poem makes it easy for readers "to identify with the situations and emotions. The calamities in the book were well chosen and very much from a child's perspective (being left at camp, losing a pet, dreaming of being at a dance without your pants). Many of the poets are well known for children’s writing and the poems included in this collection are wonderful. The illustrator did a marvelous job of depicting kid’s emotions and embarrassments. The choice of colors is subdued with a faintly nostalgic almost caricature feel to them. Overall, this is a collection that teachers, parents, and librarians will enjoy sharing with kids when a "horrible, embarrassing, nothing in life can compare, bad day" occurs.
1 comment:
this is going to be so funny
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