Surprises

I Can Read: Level 3

by Lee Bennett Hopkins

A collection of short poems by Marchette Chute, Myra Cohn Livingston, Aileen Fisher, Lee Bennett Hopkins, and other authors.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, 2nd Grade, School

64 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 1984

About the author

Lee Bennett Hopkins was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2017. He holds a Guinness Book of Records citation for compiling the most anthologies for children. He has also received the Christopher Award, the Regina Medal, and the National Council of Teachers of English Excellence in Poetry for Children Award. He lives in Florida.

For more information, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Ben...

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

An I Can Read book with poetry. Originally published in 1984. Even though some of the poems will be enjoyable and entertaining to those who are beginning to read on their own, they may find the illustrations dated. If anyone knows of an updated or similar title for beginning readers, please share in the comments.

[Atsupui Dogbla]

This book is a collection of writing deals with different themes. It's mostly poems and stories. Children could learn how poem is written, and observe the rhymes, the rhythms... It's recommended to first graders.

[The Jesus Fandom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork adds a lot (and elevates some rather simplistic poems to something actually funny). Not every poem was what I would consider good (like I said, a lot were very simplistic), but others spoke to me with their imagery and form. So it depends on the poem how I'd rate this book. I would say the simplistic ones do outnumber the better ones.

(And to be clear, by simplistic I mean that they don't contain much depth or originality.)

[Luann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sudden Storm by Elizabeth Coatsworth

The rain comes in sheets
Sweeping the streets,
Here, here, and here,
Umbrellas appear,
Red, blue, yellow, green,
They tilt and they lean
Like mushrooms, like flowers
That grow when it showers.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

These fun and easy poems are just right for Second-Graders.

[Katie Brohard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little poems.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am planning some Poetry Friday lessons for a primary class and a colleague loaned some of her collection of “I Can Read” books of poetry. This, like the others, includes a wealth of wonderful poems to enjoy by poets such as Valerie Worth, Karla Kuskin, Jack Prelutsky, Charlotte Zolotow, Aileen Fisher, Carl Sandburg, and J. Patrick Lewis. There are poems about cooking, weather, pets, animals, space, and silliness, all the topics that delight young children. Varied illustrators, often showing a bit of whimsy as well as being realistic, illustrate the books. If you don’t know about these, try to find them. There are many books of poetry available and useful, but these will add some gems to your collection.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unassuming collection of easy to read poetry for early readers. Simple, short, rhyming poems sorted into sections such as pets, vehicles, weather, etc. A variety of mostly known poets such as X.J. Kennedy, Aileen Fisher, Carl Sandburg and Dorothy Aldis are collected. The book doesn't have a table of contents but makes up for that with an index of authors and titles. I found the illustrations to be lacklustre but otherwise a decent book of poems that suffices as an easy reader.

[Leah Colbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent introduction to read it yourself poetry. Unique vocabulary and different simple poetry styles two strengths. Selection could include some more thought provoking pieces to balance out the simple, fun pieces.

[Bladestryke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book most of my life and rediscovered it in my library. The poems are very simple yet any grown up could see the beauty in them. All though the peanut butter one is still my favorite and the only one I can recite from memory!

[Tierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Surprises" poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins poems are random. I like how each poem talks about every day randomness. Some poems so simple than so complex. My favorite is "Hope" by Langston Hughes short poem with a lot of meaning.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopkins make great choices for a child's first poetry book they can read on their own.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jude read

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son loved the poem called "a peanut" recommended by sonlight

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice simple intro to reading poetry for young readers. The illustrations are fun for my children and the poems are at a nice reading level so you can focus on cadence and rhythm.