What do you think?
Rate this book
Outside the Box: A Book of Poems
This laugh-out-loud poetry collaboration from a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author and a Caldecott Honor illustrator is anything but ordinary.
Dive in to Karma Wilson's latest collection of more than 100 poems: some humorous, some poignant, and all of them Outside the Box. Illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Diane Goode, Outside the Box has something for everyone. Appealing to kids and parents alike, poems such as Sick Day, My Pet Robot, Balloonaphobia, and Aliens Under My Bed are sure to delight and entertain.
Dive in to Karma Wilson's latest collection of more than 100 poems: some humorous, some poignant, and all of them Outside the Box. Illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Diane Goode, Outside the Box has something for everyone. Appealing to kids and parents alike, poems such as Sick Day, My Pet Robot, Balloonaphobia, and Aliens Under My Bed are sure to delight and entertain.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2014
About the author
Karma Wilson
115 books535 followersKarma Wilson grew up an only child of a single mother in the wilds of North Idaho. Way back then (just past the stone age and somewhat before the era of computers) there was no cable TV and if there had been Karma could not have recieved it. TV reception was limited to 3 channels, of which one came in with some clarity. Karma did the only sensible thing a lonely little girl could do…she read or played outdoors.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
February 1, 2021
Outside the Box...
a book of poems by Karma Wilson is a children’s book appropriate for ages 7-10.
The illustrations are done by Diane Goode.
This book has a similar look to Shel Silverstein’s children’s books with the black and white drawings.
It reminded me of “Where The Sidewalk Ends”, and “The Light In The Attic”.
The hardcover has a wonderful smooth silky feeling with its glossy finish.
All ages can enjoy this book — one just must have a little sense of humor... with a little ‘outside-the-box’ imagination
The copy I have is sparkling new. My neighbor had it in their little library box. I plan to pass it on to my friend Lisi to give to her granddaughter.
“When you think outside the box . . .
poems about Pigasus appear!
Not to mention Horaceoptamus, Gargantuans, and all sorts of monkey business.
You can snack on Greekwiches, build a pet robot, then dance with the Boogie Man.
Fly the largest kite, sleigh down the steepest hill, and find all those aliens under your bed!
Anything can happen outside the box”.
“The ladybug said,
You’re so dreadfully rude.
Stop calling me ‘lady’.
Please. I’m a dude!
a book of poems by Karma Wilson is a children’s book appropriate for ages 7-10.
The illustrations are done by Diane Goode.
This book has a similar look to Shel Silverstein’s children’s books with the black and white drawings.
It reminded me of “Where The Sidewalk Ends”, and “The Light In The Attic”.
The hardcover has a wonderful smooth silky feeling with its glossy finish.
All ages can enjoy this book — one just must have a little sense of humor... with a little ‘outside-the-box’ imagination
The copy I have is sparkling new. My neighbor had it in their little library box. I plan to pass it on to my friend Lisi to give to her granddaughter.
“When you think outside the box . . .
poems about Pigasus appear!
Not to mention Horaceoptamus, Gargantuans, and all sorts of monkey business.
You can snack on Greekwiches, build a pet robot, then dance with the Boogie Man.
Fly the largest kite, sleigh down the steepest hill, and find all those aliens under your bed!
Anything can happen outside the box”.
“The ladybug said,
You’re so dreadfully rude.
Stop calling me ‘lady’.
Please. I’m a dude!
January 30, 2014
Baby sister, roller coaster, imaginary friend. Kite, bat, Christmas tree, bubblegum and sand. Familiar objects and situations are given a sideways tweak in more than one hundred illustrated poems. A kid rats out a classmate - for being a tattle-tale; the scary alien under the bed turns out to be a moldy sandwich; and in an epic poem that recalls the old lady who swallowed the fly, a boy wears his coat upside-down, walks on his hands, sits on his head, and eats from his shoe. That kid is living life way outside the box!
Diane Goode’s ink and brush illustrations are full of swooping lines and flippy flourishes - energetic and graceful at the same time. The art picks up the punchline of the funny poems, amplifying the humor to laugh-out-loud levels; but is ornate and lovely for poems about the moon, dreams, or sunrise.
Ms. Wilson dedicates the book to Shel Silverstein, and indeed the black and white illustrations and mixture of wry observation and kooky supposition recall Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up.
—Paula Willey for Booklist Online
Diane Goode’s ink and brush illustrations are full of swooping lines and flippy flourishes - energetic and graceful at the same time. The art picks up the punchline of the funny poems, amplifying the humor to laugh-out-loud levels; but is ornate and lovely for poems about the moon, dreams, or sunrise.
Ms. Wilson dedicates the book to Shel Silverstein, and indeed the black and white illustrations and mixture of wry observation and kooky supposition recall Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up.
—Paula Willey for Booklist Online
March 17, 2016
The fun thing about reading children' poetry books is to find the gem that takes you straight back to your childhood and makes you shake your head in agreement "oh yeah...."
Sheet!
"When you're lying in bed and it's late at night
and there's thumpity-bumps, but no night-light...
When your toes are hanging over the bed
and you tremble and shiver and quake with dread..
When you're sure you will make a midnight snack
for the monster that's shrouded in shadows so black...
Remember:
Just use the force field to cover your feet-
the impenetrable, magical sheet!"
Hahaha! although even as an adult, I've caught myself carefully tucking in my feet under the blanket, just in case...
I also remember once having quite a dilemma as a chid--I wanted to wear a scarf at night to prevent vampires from biting my neck, while at the same being worried that the scarf would be handy for a burglar to strangle me...
Methink it was about that time that comprehension dawned and I stopped watching scarier stuff with my mother....
Sheet!
"When you're lying in bed and it's late at night
and there's thumpity-bumps, but no night-light...
When your toes are hanging over the bed
and you tremble and shiver and quake with dread..
When you're sure you will make a midnight snack
for the monster that's shrouded in shadows so black...
Remember:
Just use the force field to cover your feet-
the impenetrable, magical sheet!"
Hahaha! although even as an adult, I've caught myself carefully tucking in my feet under the blanket, just in case...
I also remember once having quite a dilemma as a chid--I wanted to wear a scarf at night to prevent vampires from biting my neck, while at the same being worried that the scarf would be handy for a burglar to strangle me...
Methink it was about that time that comprehension dawned and I stopped watching scarier stuff with my mother....
Read
April 2, 2014The poems are silly, funny, delightful, light-hearted, brothers, sisters, growing up and school. Some of the poems are short and some are long.
Hide-and-Sleep
I hid myself for hide-and-seek
in a place they'd never guess.
I curled up tight, way out of sight,
beneath my mother's favorite dress.
There in the closet, by the shoes,
I never made a single peep.
I waited, waited, waited...
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
and then I fell asleep.
Hide-and-Sleep
I hid myself for hide-and-seek
in a place they'd never guess.
I curled up tight, way out of sight,
beneath my mother's favorite dress.
There in the closet, by the shoes,
I never made a single peep.
I waited, waited, waited...
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
and then I fell asleep.
May 16, 2019
In this homage to Shel Silverstein, funny, clever, rhythmic poems (including poems with no flabby rhyming) are not only dedicated to the great children's poet, but they even look and sound somewhat like his creations. Such fun!
May 4, 2014
Poets who create for children of any age have a unique gift, the ability to get to the spirit of their subject. They see the world through the eyes of their intended audience. Outside the Box: A Book of Poems (Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division) written by Karma Wilson with illustrations by Diane Goode is a collection sure to appeal to any reader but especially to those who enjoy looking at life through the lens of laughter, thoughtfulness and absurdity.
My full review: http://bit.ly/1kxpj4W
My full review: http://bit.ly/1kxpj4W
July 31, 2018
We got this book because my son was reading my old copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends, and he loved the poems as much as I did. When I looked for similar silly poetry books for kids, Outside the Box appeared, and it really is similar to Sidewalk, almost too similar, right down to the stark, black and white imagery that accompanies each poem.
Not to say it wasn't a really fun read. This is just the tame version of Where the Sidewalk Ends. They both have poems about a sick day, except the twist in Shel's version is that the girl was lying about being sick. The Outside the Box version is the boy has to be sick on Saturday. They both have poems about annoying little sisters. In Shel's version, the older sister tries to sell the younger sister. In the Outside the Box version, the older sister hates the baby sister but still thinks she's beautiful...see the connection?
But don't worry, there are still plenty of boogers in it, like one my favorite poems in the book, Wishy Washy.
Then there was Professional Liar.
I'm a professional liar,
I tell tales most every day.
But I'll shed some light.
My job is to write.
And in fiction, lies are okay.
Really cute, really funny, definitely influenced by Shel Silverstein, and in comparing the two, I like his work a little better because he pushed the envelope further, into darker places. But if you found his poems a little too harsh and disgusting, and you don't want your kid to get ideas about selling his baby sister, then you will probably prefer Outside the Box.
Not to say it wasn't a really fun read. This is just the tame version of Where the Sidewalk Ends. They both have poems about a sick day, except the twist in Shel's version is that the girl was lying about being sick. The Outside the Box version is the boy has to be sick on Saturday. They both have poems about annoying little sisters. In Shel's version, the older sister tries to sell the younger sister. In the Outside the Box version, the older sister hates the baby sister but still thinks she's beautiful...see the connection?
But don't worry, there are still plenty of boogers in it, like one my favorite poems in the book, Wishy Washy.
Then there was Professional Liar.
I'm a professional liar,
I tell tales most every day.
But I'll shed some light.
My job is to write.
And in fiction, lies are okay.
Really cute, really funny, definitely influenced by Shel Silverstein, and in comparing the two, I like his work a little better because he pushed the envelope further, into darker places. But if you found his poems a little too harsh and disgusting, and you don't want your kid to get ideas about selling his baby sister, then you will probably prefer Outside the Box.
December 26, 2021
4.5
This collection of poems is a pastiche (learned a new word just for these words!) of Shel Silverstein's works. I could tell just from the cover. Was a little wary but it ended up being a good somewhat-homage while also doing it's own thing.
This collection of poems is a pastiche (learned a new word just for these words!) of Shel Silverstein's works. I could tell just from the cover. Was a little wary but it ended up being a good somewhat-homage while also doing it's own thing.
January 31, 2018
I love the pictures as they are sketched. It gives it a simplistic feel and the color of black and white. I love the way the pages are used with words. For different poems the words are placed differently on the pages given it a unique style. If you like silly poems or fictitious then this is good for you. I am not much of a poem person, but I really liked this book.
November 22, 2016
Outside the Box is a book of poems written By Karma Wilson with fun illustrations by Diane Goode. This poems in this book are easy to read and well written. As easy as they may be to read, each poem can spark debate and conversation about the point the author is trying to get across. There are several poems that I read that I felt would be a wonderful hook for my fifth grade students because even in all of its simplicity, there is depth in every poem. Two of my favorite poems were titled "The Meaning of Lucky" and "Sheep in Wolves Clothing". In both of these poems you can discuss perspective from different characters. This was a wow book for me because within in this one poem book I have so many different standards and concepts that I could address. I liked how the wording is not too complex so that my students can focus more on the ideas that the poem is trying to convey. I would recommend this book for grade 2 - 5.
July 19, 2014
This is an entertaining collection of poems that is dedicated to Shel Silverstein and pays homage to his whimsical rhyming style and black and white illustrations. In fact, when I first saw the book at our local library, I thought it was another book of his poems that was published posthumously.
The poems range across a wide variety of topics and really speak to children's hopes, fears, dreams, and desires. A few of the poems have awkward rhymes, but on the whole we found this book to be highly entertaining and very creative. We really enjoyed reading this book together and we all took turns reading the poems aloud.
The poems range across a wide variety of topics and really speak to children's hopes, fears, dreams, and desires. A few of the poems have awkward rhymes, but on the whole we found this book to be highly entertaining and very creative. We really enjoyed reading this book together and we all took turns reading the poems aloud.
April 5, 2014
I highly recommend starting your day with a silly fun poem or three! As we went along I found a new favorite each day, one of them being:
My Friend….Imaginary
My best imaginary friend
Said the rottenest thing to me.
So now I have a super-mean
make-believe enemy
OR
Dorks and Geeks
Dorks and geeks,
Artistic freaks,
And nerds especially
Become the great,
inventive souls
that make our history
O.k. no more looking through the book or I will end up re-reading them all again! Kids will love each one and their simple complimentary pictures.
My Friend….Imaginary
My best imaginary friend
Said the rottenest thing to me.
So now I have a super-mean
make-believe enemy
OR
Dorks and Geeks
Dorks and geeks,
Artistic freaks,
And nerds especially
Become the great,
inventive souls
that make our history
O.k. no more looking through the book or I will end up re-reading them all again! Kids will love each one and their simple complimentary pictures.
June 7, 2014
Written in homage to Shel Silverstein (check out the dedication on the verso), this solid book of humorous verse will please readers, although it is not particularly memorable. Ink cartoons add to the fun, and Wilson is adept at consistent rhymes. The only thing missing is Silverstein's subversive underlying messages. If kids and tweens are seeking some fun new poetry books, this is a good choice.
November 19, 2014
I wanted to like this as much as "What's the Weather Inside?" But for some reason the illustrations distracted from the poems. Also, maybe my mood when I read it, but I really only found one or two I wanted to share aloud. When reading they seemed too much alike, too sing-songy, and to need too much explaining. I will try it again before I return the book to the library.
May 29, 2024
We are a Karma Wilson loving family, yet there are a few of hers that I haven't liked as much. This one fits in the "love" category. I love the whimsical style, and the artful illustrations add so much to her artful words. Well done Mrs. Wilson!
September 20, 2012
Funny & Cute collection of YA poems - My favorite, "Inside, Outside, Upside Down"!
April 19, 2014
A fun collection of lighthearted verse with a quite obvious nod to Shel Silverstein. Great whimsical line drawings by Diane Goode.
June 5, 2014
I loved the poems, reminiscent of the poems of Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends". This poems are funny, cleaver and often quirky with illustrations to match.
August 19, 2014
Silverstein-esque...very good poetry for the kiddies! The graphics are great and make the poetry come alive.
September 4, 2022
Outside the Box: A Book of Poems by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Diane Goode.
This book brings you into the imagination of a young soul. It is started out by the author writing about going into a box to think, but no thoughts come to mind and they figure out they need to think outside of the box. It is a play on the iconic saying of being creative and original. The book then goes into a new poem almost every page about different ironic and comical mini stories, for example “T.P.” pg 111. They all seem separate, but then slightly go together. For example, sometimes the “writer” of the poem will be a girl like in “When Naming Crocodiles…,” pg 89 or a boy “Ick…Gross…Ew…” pg 60. However, the books also connect poems together like in a sequence, such as in “Stripeless Zebra” pg 106 and “Definition of a Unicorn” pg 107. Another interesting connector of the book I found out was that the entire book symbolized a year because throughout the book it has series of poems that have something to do with a season or holiday in the year, its sporadic and doesn’t necessarily go in order, but covers a lot. “Thieves” pg 52, “A Halloween Secret” pg 124, and “For Pete’s Sake!” Pg 125 all cover the Halloween season. The poem “Leaves” pg 68-69 gives the fall season feeling with art of leaves falling down all over the pages. “Suckers!” Pg 118 talks about Valentine’s Day, and “Poor Pete” pg 119 and “Mistaken Identity” give the feeling of Easter. Lastly, a few poems talk about Winter and Christmas, “Oh, Tree!” Pg 126-127, “The Last Gift” pg 128, and “The Day After” pg 129.
The internal illustrations on each page really bring the words to life and show the reader what an imagination can be through art and reading. Sometimes the illustrations even give a preview of what the next couple of poems with be about when it gives two pages only for pictures and art like on page 30-31 its a big picture scene of “scary” creatures and monsters, and then the next few poems were about specific scary creatures.
The cover art gives the reader a visual understanding of the kind of imagination is found when looking outside the box. The picture shows many of the made up and creative creatures in the poems around the box.
I felt like the book was humorous and entertaining, but also kept feeling like I wanted a story, rather than new characters and ideas each poem. This is why I rated the book only three stars. I also feel like it could have had a more complete ending to the entire book than what was given.
I would use this book with my students to teach creativity and show all of what can come out of one single topic, like the “Pigasus” pg 105 and “Horaceopotamus” pg 109. Also I feel like this book would be good for students who need a break and give them an escape from reality. This book is intended for ages 7-10.
This book brings you into the imagination of a young soul. It is started out by the author writing about going into a box to think, but no thoughts come to mind and they figure out they need to think outside of the box. It is a play on the iconic saying of being creative and original. The book then goes into a new poem almost every page about different ironic and comical mini stories, for example “T.P.” pg 111. They all seem separate, but then slightly go together. For example, sometimes the “writer” of the poem will be a girl like in “When Naming Crocodiles…,” pg 89 or a boy “Ick…Gross…Ew…” pg 60. However, the books also connect poems together like in a sequence, such as in “Stripeless Zebra” pg 106 and “Definition of a Unicorn” pg 107. Another interesting connector of the book I found out was that the entire book symbolized a year because throughout the book it has series of poems that have something to do with a season or holiday in the year, its sporadic and doesn’t necessarily go in order, but covers a lot. “Thieves” pg 52, “A Halloween Secret” pg 124, and “For Pete’s Sake!” Pg 125 all cover the Halloween season. The poem “Leaves” pg 68-69 gives the fall season feeling with art of leaves falling down all over the pages. “Suckers!” Pg 118 talks about Valentine’s Day, and “Poor Pete” pg 119 and “Mistaken Identity” give the feeling of Easter. Lastly, a few poems talk about Winter and Christmas, “Oh, Tree!” Pg 126-127, “The Last Gift” pg 128, and “The Day After” pg 129.
The internal illustrations on each page really bring the words to life and show the reader what an imagination can be through art and reading. Sometimes the illustrations even give a preview of what the next couple of poems with be about when it gives two pages only for pictures and art like on page 30-31 its a big picture scene of “scary” creatures and monsters, and then the next few poems were about specific scary creatures.
The cover art gives the reader a visual understanding of the kind of imagination is found when looking outside the box. The picture shows many of the made up and creative creatures in the poems around the box.
I felt like the book was humorous and entertaining, but also kept feeling like I wanted a story, rather than new characters and ideas each poem. This is why I rated the book only three stars. I also feel like it could have had a more complete ending to the entire book than what was given.
I would use this book with my students to teach creativity and show all of what can come out of one single topic, like the “Pigasus” pg 105 and “Horaceopotamus” pg 109. Also I feel like this book would be good for students who need a break and give them an escape from reality. This book is intended for ages 7-10.
November 17, 2017
Outside the Box: A book of poems by Karma Wilson is a poetry book. This book was a Caldecott honor recipient for the illustrations that go with each poem. This book is intended for children ages six to nine years old. This book contains many easily written poems on many different subjects. Several of the poems only have three or four lines in them so they are easy for beginning readers. Each of the poems has a drawing to go along with it which helps to understand what the poem is about. I would rate this book a four out of five stars. There were many poems in the book that were enjoyable to read. Two of my favorites was called Man in the Moon and Sheet!. The pictures are all in black and white but I think children would still enjoy looking at the pictures. There are a few pictures that looked a little scary so this would not be a good book for smaller children that are younger than five. This book would be a good choice to use when teaching children what a poem is and to show them many examples so they could learn to write their own poems.
June 16, 2017
This collection of poems features a mix of poems of all lengths and types. Topics also range from robots to lies, which means that every person can find a poem that interests them. The illustrations resemble those of Shel Silverstein with their simple black lines and interestingly the book is also dedicated to him. Overall, the poems in this collection were fun to read and made me laugh several times. It would be fun to have students in the upper elementary grades create their own simple poems resembling the ones found in this book. They could even add a black and white illustration to go along with their poem.
December 14, 2018
Reading level: grades 1-4
Summary: A collection of poems with humorous and unexpected twists.
Characteristics that support the genre: collection of poems.
Writing traits:
Presentation: the book is presented with 1-2 page poems, some of them with the words arranged into a different shape. A black and white drawing to go with most.
Organization: 172 page hardcover book with an index at the end.
Classroom Integration: This book could be presented in a poetry unit, as a fun example of poetry that students could write themselves.
Summary: A collection of poems with humorous and unexpected twists.
Characteristics that support the genre: collection of poems.
Writing traits:
Presentation: the book is presented with 1-2 page poems, some of them with the words arranged into a different shape. A black and white drawing to go with most.
Organization: 172 page hardcover book with an index at the end.
Classroom Integration: This book could be presented in a poetry unit, as a fun example of poetry that students could write themselves.
August 6, 2025
Karma Wilson aims to emulate Shel Silverstein, but this collection lacks the punch and edge of Shel's work. At first glance, the title, cover design, and typography led me to believe it was a Silverstein book.
Wilson's rhythms are immature, and the rhymes and stories are predictable.
Bland. Without bite.
---
Greekwich
Do you say gyro "yee-roh,"
or does gyro rhyme with "Cairo"?
I'm not sure, but one thing I know
is that it's all Greek to me!
---
The illustrations by Diane Goode have a lively energy.
Wilson's rhythms are immature, and the rhymes and stories are predictable.
Bland. Without bite.
---
Greekwich
Do you say gyro "yee-roh,"
or does gyro rhyme with "Cairo"?
I'm not sure, but one thing I know
is that it's all Greek to me!
---
The illustrations by Diane Goode have a lively energy.
June 2, 2019
Discovered Diane Goode as an illustrator when I had to read, "Thanksgiving is Here" by her when my kids were toddlers and wanted it read over and over and over again...her clever illustrations and story line within a story line kept me sane. Always on the look-out by anything she had an hand in drawing and this collection of poetry and word art is truly fun and should be shelved by those also loving Shel Silverstein and looking for something similar and witty.
November 21, 2019
Fun poems about a range of topics -- family stuff, holidays, school, monsters under the bed, etc.
There are quite a few poems, so it would be a great book to spread across several reads. On the other hand, they're quite cute and make you want to keep turning the page to the next.
They range from 2 lines long to the 5 pages for Inside, Outside, Upside Down.
Most fit on a single page.
The black and white illustrations are a perfect match.
There are quite a few poems, so it would be a great book to spread across several reads. On the other hand, they're quite cute and make you want to keep turning the page to the next.
They range from 2 lines long to the 5 pages for Inside, Outside, Upside Down.
Most fit on a single page.
The black and white illustrations are a perfect match.
September 18, 2025
Outside the Box: A Book of Poems, by Karma Wilson, is a book with a lot of fun poems and illustrations. All of the poems are written by Karma Wilson and the illustrations are by Caldecott Honor. I enjoyed this book because every poem follows a rhyme scheme and has a lively illustration. I would use this book in my classroom as an interactive read aloud where students would create a drawing for the one of the poems (without seeing the illustrations in the book).
May 11, 2018
This book is so hilarious!! I remember reading these types of books when I was little! Poetry books take you on adventures and make you come up with crazy imagination. My favorite poem was about a Christmas tree. One thing they could’ve done better on was there was a lot of poems that complained.
February 17, 2020
This was an great book for young children, and the wondrous poems inside it really were "outside of the box"! I recommend this book to children in 4th and 5th grades, and Karma really has got herself a fantastic collection of friendly, modern day poems.
November 16, 2020
My mentor teacher has this book in her classroom and can pull it out randomly and find a poem that goes with the lesson. This makes it a great mentor text for any lesson as well as a great poetry resource.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews