Children's Literature
- Paula McMillen
This is Crawley's third book of poetry for kids (preceded by Cat Poems and Dog Poems). Whimsical and brightly colored cartoonlike drawings accompany this collection of thirty-one poems that address the everyday dilemmas of school life: cafeteria food, terrifying teachers, spelling tests, homework, and new kids in school. Poems are one to two pages long with lots of white space and large illustrations, making them very accessible to even reluctant readers. And of course the topics will be bound to entice many who would shy away from more serious fare. Why does Vanessa eat paste anyway? And how did the class pet snake get loose from his cage? This book offers options for enjoyable independent reading as well as a stimulus for introducing poetry reading and writing. Several of the topics covered here in lyric form could also serve as discussion starters or critical thinking activities about more serious issues like bullying and cheating. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D.
School Library Journal
Gr 1–3—In 20 rhyming poems, this book addresses the highs and lows of an average school year, including homework, teachers, social life, and vacation. Colorful cartoon illustrations and plenty of white space suit the poetry's bright humor. The selections are upbeat, and even the more serious topics, such as being the new kid at school or last chosen for games, have an optimistic tone. The poems vary in length, and some of the longer ones tend to go on a little too long. Purchase this lighthearted look at school for larger collections.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA
Kirkus Reviews
Crawley's latest anthology focuses on school-themed poems. The 20 poems range from amusing to thought-provoking and satirize the stereotypical attitudes and behaviors of school employees and students alike. From schoolyard crushes and cafeteria food to procrastination and the escape of the class snake, this covers it all. Here readers will find that Mrs. Riley is a teacher from the dark side of the moon, that teachers should not be allowed out in public on the weekend and that sometimes walking to school, no matter the weather or distance, beats taking the bus. "True or False" analyzes the difficulty one boy has with whether or not to cheat-he accidentally saw a smarter boy's paper-and "Last" explores the positive attitude of one child who is not athletically inclined. "I Before E, Except" deals with pesky spelling rules, while "New Kid in School" is likely to assuage some fears of the recently relocated. Callen's rather droll pen-and-ink-and-watercolor illustrations go hand-in-hand with the poetry, providing cartoon vignettes of hapless, racially diverse characters. A solid collection, but not a substitute for the likes of Silverstein and Prelutsky. (Poetry. 7-10)
