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Words with Wings and Magic Things
From award-winning author Matthew Burgess and Caldecott Medalist Doug Salati comes a spellbinding collection of poems for young readers that celebrates the power of words to awaken the imagination and alchemize the everyday. A gorgeous gift book for fans of Shel Silverstein with seven die-cut spreads throughout.
Beyond the doorway of the first page of this collection awaits a dragon piñata, an alligator on the A train, a hungry yeti, an ice cream dream, jetpack sneakers, midnight firelight, a gray day, a plump tomato, a serious question and so much more. Whether you're feeling blue, lemon yellow or Day-Glo green, this inviting and magical book of poems takes young readers on an uplifting journey through everyday moments, moods and experiences, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. With enchanting illustrations throughout and seven die-cut portals that open into the realms of Welcome, Wonder, Wild, Weee!, Whoops & Wallops, Windows and Whispers & Well Wishes, Words With Wings and Magic Things explores how words can awaken us to a world of wonder and possibility. Step inside . . . and take flight!
Beyond the doorway of the first page of this collection awaits a dragon piñata, an alligator on the A train, a hungry yeti, an ice cream dream, jetpack sneakers, midnight firelight, a gray day, a plump tomato, a serious question and so much more. Whether you're feeling blue, lemon yellow or Day-Glo green, this inviting and magical book of poems takes young readers on an uplifting journey through everyday moments, moods and experiences, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. With enchanting illustrations throughout and seven die-cut portals that open into the realms of Welcome, Wonder, Wild, Weee!, Whoops & Wallops, Windows and Whispers & Well Wishes, Words With Wings and Magic Things explores how words can awaken us to a world of wonder and possibility. Step inside . . . and take flight!
128 pages, Hardcover
First published March 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
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March 16, 2025Reading this felt like I was transported back to kindergarten and my parents were reading me to sleep - in a good way
May 17, 2025
Beautiful introduction to poetry.
March 16, 2025
(3.75 rounded up) Cute, wholesome and endearing. Reminds me a great deal of Shel Silverstein’s poetry books I adored as a kid.
August 27, 2025
A wonderful book of poetry and illustrations. For me, the best measure of a good children’s book is how many real-life kids I think of while reading it. With this book, it only took a single poem before I was picturing myself reading it to every kid I know and imagining them feelings as delighted and inspired as I felt while reading!
The poems are playful and thoughtful and the illustrations add an extra layer of magic. It’s the kind of book I’d want to buy just to keep on my shelf and revisit over and over. I’m also considering framing the pages and displaying them in my home, as both the words and the images inside this book are art.
My favorites were:
Zero
Things You Can Do
Kaleidoscope
Feeling the Colors
The Tiger in My Belly
Dancer
Alligator on the A Train
The Makers
Strawberrier
Voice
The poems are playful and thoughtful and the illustrations add an extra layer of magic. It’s the kind of book I’d want to buy just to keep on my shelf and revisit over and over. I’m also considering framing the pages and displaying them in my home, as both the words and the images inside this book are art.
My favorites were:
Zero
Things You Can Do
Kaleidoscope
Feeling the Colors
The Tiger in My Belly
Dancer
Alligator on the A Train
The Makers
Strawberrier
Voice
June 10, 2025
A fun new book of poetry for third grade and up in the vein of Shel Silverstein.
Some of the poems are goofy ("Living with Lions," "The Hungry Yeti") and some are thought-provoking ("Everything's Alive," "Setting Out").
They're just the right mixture for kids who are learning to love words.
As an added bonus, the illustrations are wonderful. The main sections of the book (Welcome, Wonders, Windows, etc.) are all introduced with a four-page spread, the first two pages are "normal" life with a cut-out that flips to the second two fantastical pages. Fun - I would have loved those as a kid!
Some of the poems are goofy ("Living with Lions," "The Hungry Yeti") and some are thought-provoking ("Everything's Alive," "Setting Out").
They're just the right mixture for kids who are learning to love words.
As an added bonus, the illustrations are wonderful. The main sections of the book (Welcome, Wonders, Windows, etc.) are all introduced with a four-page spread, the first two pages are "normal" life with a cut-out that flips to the second two fantastical pages. Fun - I would have loved those as a kid!
June 14, 2025
Beautifully written poems and gorgeous artwork, if I could frame this I would!
December 12, 2025
I am pretty picky about children’s poetry — it often feels like there are only two choices: poems clearly picked out by adults, or poems that don’t give kids enough credit for their intelligence and emotional depth. This collection felt like it was a perfect middle. Some poems were just fun, and others were so beautiful I got teary. Both my kids loved it.
Also, the illustrations are incredible! So full of color and whimsy. I know this is the print nerd in me, but the book itself was beautiful — really nice weight to the pages, hard cover, and the illustrations were printed in a way that they feel present. Just a really nice book.
Also, the illustrations are incredible! So full of color and whimsy. I know this is the print nerd in me, but the book itself was beautiful — really nice weight to the pages, hard cover, and the illustrations were printed in a way that they feel present. Just a really nice book.
June 14, 2025
I became aware of this book by listening to an NPR interview with the authors. I borrowed it from the local library to see if it was something to buy for my young granddaughter. With over 100 pages this isn't your ordinary children's picture book. Not only by size but in cute and clever verses illustrated so delightfully, it's all set as one of the gifts I will be giving my 4 year-old granddaughter. It is targeted to young readers, but it also delights this grandmother. Recommended for all ages. It does take one away to a special place. There are a few cut-outs that introduce the chapters.
March 16, 2025
This collection manages to feel both classic and very new. It reminds me of my favourite childhood poetry collections from the 90s but it’s so much more progressive and inclusive, which is lovely.
The artwork truly is the star of this collection. It’s just outstanding and elevates a lot of what I felt was surprisingly mediocre poetry. There were definitely some standout poems, but there were so many issues with metre and rhyme that it made reading a good number of them awkward, which is a shame. But I can see kids really enjoying so much of this—particularly the range of tone and emotion, from silly to profound to abstract to nonsense—which is the point.
Will definitely treasure this book, and revisit it often.
The artwork truly is the star of this collection. It’s just outstanding and elevates a lot of what I felt was surprisingly mediocre poetry. There were definitely some standout poems, but there were so many issues with metre and rhyme that it made reading a good number of them awkward, which is a shame. But I can see kids really enjoying so much of this—particularly the range of tone and emotion, from silly to profound to abstract to nonsense—which is the point.
Will definitely treasure this book, and revisit it often.
April 18, 2025
Lovely poetry. Some funny, some thoughtful, some fanciful--lots that are all 3 at once! I love the illustrations in between each section with a little peephole in between and two lines to give a general overview. All the sections are mildly whimsical, but when you read them, you get a sense they are all the same. They are more concrete than poems for adults, but so many hit on the same things. My favorite is probably Alligator on the A Train, which addresses the idea of an alligator on the A Train, living in a city, looking up at your surroundings and the fantasy of what alligators would say if they could talk.
June 28, 2025
Lovely little ditties
That will make you think of kitties.
Kitties and lions and
Certainly scions of
Poetic magestry.
Break out your pageantry.
This one is due a gold
Sticker of bold and
More readers, young and old.
Buy and share widely.
That will make you think of kitties.
Kitties and lions and
Certainly scions of
Poetic magestry.
Break out your pageantry.
This one is due a gold
Sticker of bold and
More readers, young and old.
Buy and share widely.
December 3, 2025
After reading Words with Wings and Magic Things, I felt like I had stepped into a realm where nothing was impossible and normal days could turn special through words. In this book, the author writes a series of children’s poems that combine humor, imagination, and even some magic. The book includes poems about all sorts of topics, ranging from dragons, family to everyday emotions. All of the poems offer a new mini experience of ideas, dreams, or silly thoughts. While reading this book, I enjoyed the words' ability to make me picture other worldly situations, but also connected me back to real prior experiences of my own. The combination of goofy poems and the implementation of colorful illustrations allowed for a dreamy reading occasion.
The major themes in the book were creativity and possibility. Creativity is strongly shown throughout the book as many of the poems have an open-ended and imaginative feel. Creativity is seen through all of the abstract scenes, like animals on trains and ice cream dreams. Possibility is seen throughout the book as multiple scenes suggest that ordinary life can store marvel within. Parts of the book, like a quiet night and a cloud, reinforce the idea that any situation can become special with the use of imagination. The main genre of this book is poetry, simply because it is a collection of many short poems. It is not simply one continuous story, but rather a group of poems that tell tales through poetry.
Children reading this book could learn the deeper power behind language and vocabulary. Like in this book, words can transform usual things into magical ones. Language can also help us further develop our emotional intelligence and express our feelings in various ways, like the diversity seen in this book's poems. They can also learn that it is not only acceptable but encouraged to think outside the box and to take pride in seeing the world as our hearts desire. This book was a WOW book for me because it showed me how enjoyable relaxed style poetry can be. I loved enjoying the art of poetry without having to concentrate extremely hard on the literature. The simple read style allowed me to engage my imagination and get lost in the words within the stories.
The author used multiple writing craft techniques in this book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of alliteration. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author uses repeating beginning sounds to bring a playful or even musical feel to the reading. I saw this writing technique through phrases like “whirling winds” or "midnight magic”. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by giving the poems a fun and playful flow as well as making them easy for children to follow when being read aloud. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of imagery. An example of this writing craft from the book is when the poems vividly describe settings and characters within the book, like glowing night skies or strange creatures. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by helping me create an image of my own interpretation of the poem's words in my head.
I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it promotes the use of imagination in the children who read it. The poems give the impression that every child’s ideas and self-expression are valuable and ultimately drive home a strength-based message about welcoming different feelings.
The major themes in the book were creativity and possibility. Creativity is strongly shown throughout the book as many of the poems have an open-ended and imaginative feel. Creativity is seen through all of the abstract scenes, like animals on trains and ice cream dreams. Possibility is seen throughout the book as multiple scenes suggest that ordinary life can store marvel within. Parts of the book, like a quiet night and a cloud, reinforce the idea that any situation can become special with the use of imagination. The main genre of this book is poetry, simply because it is a collection of many short poems. It is not simply one continuous story, but rather a group of poems that tell tales through poetry.
Children reading this book could learn the deeper power behind language and vocabulary. Like in this book, words can transform usual things into magical ones. Language can also help us further develop our emotional intelligence and express our feelings in various ways, like the diversity seen in this book's poems. They can also learn that it is not only acceptable but encouraged to think outside the box and to take pride in seeing the world as our hearts desire. This book was a WOW book for me because it showed me how enjoyable relaxed style poetry can be. I loved enjoying the art of poetry without having to concentrate extremely hard on the literature. The simple read style allowed me to engage my imagination and get lost in the words within the stories.
The author used multiple writing craft techniques in this book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of alliteration. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author uses repeating beginning sounds to bring a playful or even musical feel to the reading. I saw this writing technique through phrases like “whirling winds” or "midnight magic”. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by giving the poems a fun and playful flow as well as making them easy for children to follow when being read aloud. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of imagery. An example of this writing craft from the book is when the poems vividly describe settings and characters within the book, like glowing night skies or strange creatures. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by helping me create an image of my own interpretation of the poem's words in my head.
I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it promotes the use of imagination in the children who read it. The poems give the impression that every child’s ideas and self-expression are valuable and ultimately drive home a strength-based message about welcoming different feelings.
April 26, 2025
First, a huge thank you to Tundra Books for sending me a copy of Words With Wings and Magic Things in exchange for an honest review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Second, this book is just so stunning, overall! Doug Salati's illustrative work is beyond captivating. I feel like it pairs perfectly with this poetry collection. From the book jacket to the cover design and the die-cut spreads throughout, perfection!
Right from the first page, this book takes you on a journey. I liked how each section started with a W to match the Words With Wings alliteration. My favourite poems from the collection were Kaleidoscope, Hammock Song, The Tiger in My Belly, Flowerful, and Me in This Tree. Even though this poetry collection was written for children, I found Matthew Burgess's poems to be very moving and healing as an adult. These poems served as a great reminder for me to be open-minded, courageous, slow down, and take notice of the beauty in my everyday surroundings.
Overall, I would rate this book 5 stars. This book is most definitely one of the prettiest books I own, and I am so grateful for it.
#ReadTundra
Second, this book is just so stunning, overall! Doug Salati's illustrative work is beyond captivating. I feel like it pairs perfectly with this poetry collection. From the book jacket to the cover design and the die-cut spreads throughout, perfection!
Right from the first page, this book takes you on a journey. I liked how each section started with a W to match the Words With Wings alliteration. My favourite poems from the collection were Kaleidoscope, Hammock Song, The Tiger in My Belly, Flowerful, and Me in This Tree. Even though this poetry collection was written for children, I found Matthew Burgess's poems to be very moving and healing as an adult. These poems served as a great reminder for me to be open-minded, courageous, slow down, and take notice of the beauty in my everyday surroundings.
Overall, I would rate this book 5 stars. This book is most definitely one of the prettiest books I own, and I am so grateful for it.
#ReadTundra
December 3, 2025
Words with Wings and Magic Things is a delightful collection that flits between whimsical joy and quiet awe. Matthew Burgess’s poetry owes much to the zany rhythms of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky, but there’s also a lyrical softness reminiscent of Mary Oliver and Emily Dickinson, particularly in the pieces that turn their gaze toward the natural world. The rhyme schemes are simple and accessible, making this a perfect read-aloud for younger readers, while the deeper emotional tones and clever wordplay offer something for adults, too.
Doug Salati’s illustrations are a perfect complement—playful when the poems lean into silliness, gentle and evocative when they pause to reflect. Together, Burgess and Salati create a book that invites multiple readings and rewards curiosity. The die-cut pages and thematic sections add a sense of magic and discovery that enhances the overall experience.
This is one of those rare books that will charm children and adults alike. Whether shared at bedtime or pored over during quiet moments, Words with Wings and Magic Things is a celebration of language, wonder, and the joy of seeing the world with fresh eyes.
Doug Salati’s illustrations are a perfect complement—playful when the poems lean into silliness, gentle and evocative when they pause to reflect. Together, Burgess and Salati create a book that invites multiple readings and rewards curiosity. The die-cut pages and thematic sections add a sense of magic and discovery that enhances the overall experience.
This is one of those rare books that will charm children and adults alike. Whether shared at bedtime or pored over during quiet moments, Words with Wings and Magic Things is a celebration of language, wonder, and the joy of seeing the world with fresh eyes.
July 2, 2025
My opinion:
Sometimes the meter is wonky;
But the magic is intact!
Author, Matthew Burgess has created an inspirational poetry book for young readers using humor and whimsy that invites children to listen to their heart and observe the natural world with eyes wide open. Illustrator, Doug Salati uses die cuts as windows into the world of imagination and possibility. Divided into “W” chapters: Welcome, Wonders, Wild, Whee, Whoops and Whallops, Whispers and Well Wishes, we are encouraged to:
“Give yourself a window
So your eyes can take a stroll.
A book, a branch, a blanket,
All the things that feed your soul.”
Many of the poems are revelatory, but some are just for fun:
“Serious Question”
What kind of pizza
do you like to eatsa?
A slice of plain cheese
or topped with lots of meatsa?
This is a delightful book to share with a child you love, to inspire them and yourself to seek the magic all around us and inside us.
Sometimes the meter is wonky;
But the magic is intact!
Author, Matthew Burgess has created an inspirational poetry book for young readers using humor and whimsy that invites children to listen to their heart and observe the natural world with eyes wide open. Illustrator, Doug Salati uses die cuts as windows into the world of imagination and possibility. Divided into “W” chapters: Welcome, Wonders, Wild, Whee, Whoops and Whallops, Whispers and Well Wishes, we are encouraged to:
“Give yourself a window
So your eyes can take a stroll.
A book, a branch, a blanket,
All the things that feed your soul.”
Many of the poems are revelatory, but some are just for fun:
“Serious Question”
What kind of pizza
do you like to eatsa?
A slice of plain cheese
or topped with lots of meatsa?
This is a delightful book to share with a child you love, to inspire them and yourself to seek the magic all around us and inside us.
December 5, 2025
(Bill’s 2025 Caldecott Project books)
What a fanciful marriage of zany and true, humor and sensitivity. Matthew Burgess’s words and meter, whispers and shouts, speak truths in feelings of wonder, whimsey, doubt and reassurance. They shout joy and determination, confidence and not, humor and thins so very serious. Tied to the irrepressible illustrations of Doug Salati, children of all sizes, colors, capabilities romp through the pages , dancing with the poetry. Clever cutouts at the beginning of each chapter provide us dual windows into words and worlds as Salati’s bold, whimsical pages bring to life Burgess’s words, “Give yourself window so your eyes can take a stroll. A book, a. Branch, a blanket — all the things that feed your soul.”
Only a few times do the rhymes struggle to parse, or are the spoken words just a hair off beat. In whole this is a delightful verbal and visual romp to delight.
What a fanciful marriage of zany and true, humor and sensitivity. Matthew Burgess’s words and meter, whispers and shouts, speak truths in feelings of wonder, whimsey, doubt and reassurance. They shout joy and determination, confidence and not, humor and thins so very serious. Tied to the irrepressible illustrations of Doug Salati, children of all sizes, colors, capabilities romp through the pages , dancing with the poetry. Clever cutouts at the beginning of each chapter provide us dual windows into words and worlds as Salati’s bold, whimsical pages bring to life Burgess’s words, “Give yourself window so your eyes can take a stroll. A book, a. Branch, a blanket — all the things that feed your soul.”
Only a few times do the rhymes struggle to parse, or are the spoken words just a hair off beat. In whole this is a delightful verbal and visual romp to delight.
February 9, 2025
I got WORDS WITH WINGS AND MAGIC THINGS for my 8yo niece and it was a huge hit. We read it together over several nights and giggled all the way through. Matthew Burgess offers up silly, imaginative, joyful poems with a just-right-amount of thoughtfulness and feeling. There’s a sense of wonder and awe when you enter this world. Doug Salati’s illustrations are INCREDIBLE and beautifully amplify and extend the meanings of the poems. His work in this book is so good it hurts. There are so many ways to enjoy this book. Flip open to a random page and read one aloud before dinner or bath time— or sit down and visit with it for a while. At one point my niece and I just went to all of the chapter openers to marvel at the die-cut page turns and point out how they change from one spread to another. It is beautifully produced and printed.
December 29, 2025
Do you wonder why I give so many five-star reviews? It's because I do my research. I don't want to waste my time reading a "meh" book--unless it's one that's gotten great reviews and I just don't get it. So, thank you School Library Journal, Kirkus, Hornbook, NPR, NYT and the Guardian for heartily recommending books like this delightful poetry collection. (Yes, it took me some time to get here.) The words and illustrations meld together beautifully. I love the clever turns of phrase, like these, from a poem called "The Fairies", "But if you keep a light on/in the tree house of your heart,/the fairies may come visit you/and lift the veils apart/so you can glimpse the other world/that lives inside of this one./Some may call it nonsense/but fairies call it vision." Totally lovely in every way.
July 26, 2025
I mostly found this to lack the little surprises that I enjoy in the best poetry aimed at a young audience - disappointing on the whole, especially since I had read a great review somewhere. There were a few poems that I thought were great though, and I wish more of the book had brought that same energy. Some of the poems have part in shape/unconvential placements on the page, and when that works, it is lovely. The second part of the poem "Things You Can Do" is like this and it is very effective. I totally would have exuberantly recited "The Hungry Yeti" with my daughter when she was little (and if we had, I bet we still would even though now she is 17!). "Bath Accident" and "Greeting" are also gems. The sections all start with a clever cut out page and engaging illustration -- these would be very fun to explore with your favorite kid(s). I'll look out for other books illustrated by Doug Salati - love these.
April 24, 2025
(Full disclosure: I received a free ARC for review through Library Thing's Early Reviewers program.)
Divided into sections like "Wonders," "Wild," and "Whispers & Well-Wishes," WORDS WITH WINGS AND MAGIC THINGS is a cute poetry collection aimed at kids (Amazon puts the reading age at 5-9 years). I'm not the target demo, obv, so I didn't get that much out of the poems, but I can see how they'd appeal to younger readers.
The illustrations, on the other hand? Amazing! There's some lovely stuff here, from scenes of space to dragon pinatas that suddenly come to life. I especially love the little window cut out at the beginning of each section, challenging you to view the art from various perspectives.
Honestly, I was ready to give this book 4/5 stars ... until I got to the third-to-last poem, "Everything's Alive." In a piece that celebrates the wild, precious lives of everything (one) from the sun to slugs, Burgess manages to reduce cows to their dismembered, commodified body parts:
the koalas
and the kangaroos
and the cows we call beef.
That just seems ... unnecessarily disrespectful? And maybe a little propagandistic in a kid's book.
The vegan in me can swap out the more general references to meat with Beyond Beef and Lightlife, but this one's impossible to rationalize away. Vegan or vegetarian parents will likely want to skip this one.
Divided into sections like "Wonders," "Wild," and "Whispers & Well-Wishes," WORDS WITH WINGS AND MAGIC THINGS is a cute poetry collection aimed at kids (Amazon puts the reading age at 5-9 years). I'm not the target demo, obv, so I didn't get that much out of the poems, but I can see how they'd appeal to younger readers.
The illustrations, on the other hand? Amazing! There's some lovely stuff here, from scenes of space to dragon pinatas that suddenly come to life. I especially love the little window cut out at the beginning of each section, challenging you to view the art from various perspectives.
Honestly, I was ready to give this book 4/5 stars ... until I got to the third-to-last poem, "Everything's Alive." In a piece that celebrates the wild, precious lives of everything (one) from the sun to slugs, Burgess manages to reduce cows to their dismembered, commodified body parts:
the koalas
and the kangaroos
and the cows we call beef.
That just seems ... unnecessarily disrespectful? And maybe a little propagandistic in a kid's book.
The vegan in me can swap out the more general references to meat with Beyond Beef and Lightlife, but this one's impossible to rationalize away. Vegan or vegetarian parents will likely want to skip this one.
July 17, 2025
I recommend this book with fabulous illustrations & fun cut outs. A collection of stand alone poems designed for students. I enjoyed the vocab throughout many of the poems. Most of the poems rhyme as well. It was a fast read. I read it in one sitting, despite the thickness. It took me less than an hour. It’s a lot like Shel Silverstein’s books.
Heads up: There is one stanza… about “running naked on the moonlit shore.” But that’s it. 😂 It really wasn’t necessary to include. Or the little accompanying picture for that specific stanza either.
Heads up: There is one stanza… about “running naked on the moonlit shore.” But that’s it. 😂 It really wasn’t necessary to include. Or the little accompanying picture for that specific stanza either.
October 2, 2024
This book is full of fun and imaginative poems. I loved these, and I wish I had this book when I was a child. These poems will bring magic alive, and I think both adults and children will enjoy this. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy to share these poems with my own children.
I am also a huge fan of the illustrations. They are whimsical and creative and will definitely give children more to talk about.
I am also a huge fan of the illustrations. They are whimsical and creative and will definitely give children more to talk about.
Read
March 1, 2025I’m not going to rate this at the moment. I did a random spin of new middle-grade books I had on audio. This one was chosen, and it couldn’t have been more of an off choice to listen to. Poetry deserves to be seen on the page and taken with breathing room built in. The poems were entertaining but I feel they would have been a whole different experience with Salati’s illustrations. Perhaps I will revisit this review once I see it on the page, but I’m most likely deluding myself.
March 8, 2025
I think this book read by the author is great for the intended audience. As an adult, I didn't love it, but then I have to admit that I don't like poetry all that much. It really is just fine and I would read to my grandchild. I think the music that is included in the audio is only so-so. I'm not sure it was really needed.
Received this from Libro.fm as part of the Educator Advanced Listening Copies for free. All thoughts are my own.
Received this from Libro.fm as part of the Educator Advanced Listening Copies for free. All thoughts are my own.
April 24, 2025
I love the illustrator's illustrations in this book. Wish the poems were at par with the illustrations.
IMHO, I didn't think the poems are very kid-oriented - they're kind of free-flowing and meandering, and the topics don't have as much kid appeal and could have used a lot more humor. Many poems just stop rhyming half way and change their rhythm. Hard to imagine kids reading this book over and over again for the poems, but they might do that just for the illustrations.
IMHO, I didn't think the poems are very kid-oriented - they're kind of free-flowing and meandering, and the topics don't have as much kid appeal and could have used a lot more humor. Many poems just stop rhyming half way and change their rhythm. Hard to imagine kids reading this book over and over again for the poems, but they might do that just for the illustrations.
May 8, 2025
First of all, this book NEEDS the artwork for it to work... It is necessary and it is perfect. That being said, the poems themselves are quite fun too. I think a comparison to Shel Silverstein is apropos. I would definitely recommend to young readers, or teachers looking for new poetry books to read to their students.
This book was won in a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway but my review is unbiased.
This book was won in a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway but my review is unbiased.
May 14, 2025
This book is beautifully designed. The changes in chapters were gorgeously illustrated. Just like all poetry collections there were great poems that really hit right with me. There were at least two concrete poems that were really fun. There were a few poems that did not make as much sense with the language used to me. In most poetry collections there are many poems that I do not like. In this collection the number is smaller.
May 17, 2025
3.5
This collection of poems has something for everyone - from the simple to the absurd, from lighthearted to profound.
There was one standout poem, "The Tiger in My Belly" that I would say is the heart of the collection.
The illustrations are absolutely wonderful, and remind me of the kind of illustrations found in books in the 90s - very nostalgic and definitely cheeky.
*I won a copy of this book on a LibraryThing giveaway in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This collection of poems has something for everyone - from the simple to the absurd, from lighthearted to profound.
There was one standout poem, "The Tiger in My Belly" that I would say is the heart of the collection.
The illustrations are absolutely wonderful, and remind me of the kind of illustrations found in books in the 90s - very nostalgic and definitely cheeky.
*I won a copy of this book on a LibraryThing giveaway in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read
June 29, 2025I read through this book in a single setting as a precurser to reading it to a young child. One reviewer said that the rhymes seemed forced. It was the cadence that seemed unnatural and forced to me. It is full of imagination, and the illustrations are charming with plenty to look at to stimulate the imagination. Caution to one reading it aloud to a child. It may take some practice or prereading to get the text to flow naturally.
October 20, 2025
It's not Chris Harris, but it's close and unique enough to be on the order list for those of us who desperately want to build a modern poetry collection for the kids in our lives. If you only buy one poetry book (of medium size, not necessarily a poem picture book), buy this one. If you have $$ for two, include The Boy who Lived in a Shell. It's weird, but no weirder than Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and we all have that one in our collections, don't we??
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews