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Please Bury Me in the Library
There's nothing like curling up with a good book, but you have to be careful. Before you know it, a minute turns into an hour, an hour turns into a day, and a day may turn into . . . eternity.
Inspired by the likes of Edward Lear, X. J. Kennedy, and Lewis Carroll, the author of Arithme-Tickle and Scien-Trickery has created a collection of original poems about books and reading that range from sweet to silly to laugh-out-loud funny. Newcomer Kyle M. Stone's clever, witty, and endearing paintings make this the perfect treat for book lovers of all ages.
Inspired by the likes of Edward Lear, X. J. Kennedy, and Lewis Carroll, the author of Arithme-Tickle and Scien-Trickery has created a collection of original poems about books and reading that range from sweet to silly to laugh-out-loud funny. Newcomer Kyle M. Stone's clever, witty, and endearing paintings make this the perfect treat for book lovers of all ages.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
J. Patrick Lewis
134 books104 followersJ. Patrick Lewis is the current Children's Poet Laureate. He has written more than seventy children's books, including Once Upon a Tomb: Gravely Humorous Verses. J. Patrick Lewis lives in Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
October 15, 2011
Fun poems related to books. I wasn't crazy about them, but that's just poetry in general. I really liked the Acknowledgments though - in a poem. It was probably my favorite. Going to put it here, just for fun:
Acknowledgements
Whose book this is I hardly know,
Considering the debt I owe
To Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear
To X. J. K. - A toast (root beer)!
To Shel and Jack, and Myra Cohn,
Who always gave this pup a bone.
To those word wizards I've left out,
The only thing to do is shout:
Whose book is this? The bottom line...
It's partly theirs. It's partly mine.
Acknowledgements
Whose book this is I hardly know,
Considering the debt I owe
To Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear
To X. J. K. - A toast (root beer)!
To Shel and Jack, and Myra Cohn,
Who always gave this pup a bone.
To those word wizards I've left out,
The only thing to do is shout:
Whose book is this? The bottom line...
It's partly theirs. It's partly mine.
September 29, 2011
This is not a story but a collection of book and reading themed poems paired with illustrations. As a whole it did not do much for me -- especially the art -- but there were a couple lines I quite liked:
Libraries are necessary gardens
A bad book owes to many trees/A forest of apologies.
Libraries are necessary gardens
A bad book owes to many trees/A forest of apologies.
October 10, 2015
Please bury me in the library
in the clean- lighted stacks
Of Novels, History,Poetry
Right next to the Paperbacks
Way back by a rack of Magazines
I won't be sad too often
If they bury me in the library
With Book worms in my coffin
These best summarizes my feelings towards the book. The poem really stuck out to me cause it is exactly how I feel about reading novels. The title of this book is what prompted me to read it, cause I am a tremendous book nerd! I have to be honest, I had no idea that this was a Children's book, thus it took me by surprise at the collection of poems. The cover of the book should have gave it away, but I was mainly intrigued with the title of the book.
I really enjoyed the book, it bought me back to my childhood. Ironically I did not read as much when I was a child, it started when I was in college. Nevertheless, this was a fantastic book for children and even adults!
in the clean- lighted stacks
Of Novels, History,Poetry
Right next to the Paperbacks
Way back by a rack of Magazines
I won't be sad too often
If they bury me in the library
With Book worms in my coffin
These best summarizes my feelings towards the book. The poem really stuck out to me cause it is exactly how I feel about reading novels. The title of this book is what prompted me to read it, cause I am a tremendous book nerd! I have to be honest, I had no idea that this was a Children's book, thus it took me by surprise at the collection of poems. The cover of the book should have gave it away, but I was mainly intrigued with the title of the book.
I really enjoyed the book, it bought me back to my childhood. Ironically I did not read as much when I was a child, it started when I was in college. Nevertheless, this was a fantastic book for children and even adults!
June 20, 2011
Though the poems in Please Bury Me in the Library generally follow a structure, the surprise comes from Lewis' skill at playing with words (Ottobiography, p.6), his use of the absurd (book shovels, p. 24), and his way of juxtaposing unrelated items (a bowl of soup to a lagoon, p. 8). Combined with humorous situations (a girl reading a dictionary at the movies, p. 17) and Stone's surrealistic, cheeky illustrations (a lamb wearing a Red Lobster bib, p. 5), this work presents libraries, books, and words in an imaginative, joyous way. The poems are so smartly penned that they should appeal to both children and the adults who read the verses to them. With this book, Lewis, winner of an ALA Notable Children's Book Award, has certainly created many poems worthy of quoting, not to mention the perfect epitaph for a bibliophile: “Thank you for the plot” (p. 23).
February 22, 2016
I love to read to kids, particularly my own, but I also love the opportunity to read to the kids that come into the library. I try (with varying success in the middle of drama rehearsals, karate classes, piano lessons, etc) to read to my kids every night. It doesn’t matter that they are 11 and 16 and perfectly able to read by themselves, there is something about sharing a story aloud and sharing it as a family. Sometimes it’s a picture book, sometimes a classic, sometimes a new juvenile or young adult chapter book that has appeared on the library shelves, but we all enjoy the time in the evening, curled up on the couch, sharing a story.
Children’s books are no less engrossing than those written for adults. Whether they are teaching a moral lesson, taking you on an adventure, or just plain silly, these books really can be enjoyed by people of any age, and are always best when they are shared.
I have a special affinity for picture books. I can get lost in the illustrations which can add so much to a story, taking you to different times and places, making you laugh, or just awing you with the works of art contained within the pages of a children’s book. As a self-admitted bibliophile, what could be better than picture books about books?
This is a book of poems, about books, written for children. Again, the illustrations are fantastic, a little on the dark side, but definitely engrossing. Little kids seem to love the poems - some are silly, some offer great plays on words, some are touching, and some are even a little sad. My favorite is definitely the title poem:
“Please bury me in the library
In the clean, well-lighted stacks
Of Novels, History, Poetry,
Right next to the Paperbacks,
Where the Kids’ Books dance
With True Romance
And the Dictionary dozes.
Please bury me in the library
With a dozen long-stemmed proses.
Way back by a rack of Magazines,
I won’t be sad too often,
If the bury me in the library
With Bookworms in my coffin."
Children’s books are no less engrossing than those written for adults. Whether they are teaching a moral lesson, taking you on an adventure, or just plain silly, these books really can be enjoyed by people of any age, and are always best when they are shared.
I have a special affinity for picture books. I can get lost in the illustrations which can add so much to a story, taking you to different times and places, making you laugh, or just awing you with the works of art contained within the pages of a children’s book. As a self-admitted bibliophile, what could be better than picture books about books?
This is a book of poems, about books, written for children. Again, the illustrations are fantastic, a little on the dark side, but definitely engrossing. Little kids seem to love the poems - some are silly, some offer great plays on words, some are touching, and some are even a little sad. My favorite is definitely the title poem:
“Please bury me in the library
In the clean, well-lighted stacks
Of Novels, History, Poetry,
Right next to the Paperbacks,
Where the Kids’ Books dance
With True Romance
And the Dictionary dozes.
Please bury me in the library
With a dozen long-stemmed proses.
Way back by a rack of Magazines,
I won’t be sad too often,
If the bury me in the library
With Bookworms in my coffin."
November 9, 2020
Such a wonderful (children's) book! But hey, adults can enjoy it too!
I just use one of the poems to sum up about this book:
A good book is a kind
Of person with a mind
Of her own,
Who lives alone,
Standing on a shelf
By herself.
She has a spine,
A heart, a soul,
And a goal -
To capture, to amuse
To light a fire
(You're the fuse),
Or else, joyfully,
Just to be.
From beginning
To end.
Need a friend?
I just use one of the poems to sum up about this book:
A good book is a kind
Of person with a mind
Of her own,
Who lives alone,
Standing on a shelf
By herself.
She has a spine,
A heart, a soul,
And a goal -
To capture, to amuse
To light a fire
(You're the fuse),
Or else, joyfully,
Just to be.
From beginning
To end.
Need a friend?
March 9, 2019
Beschreibung
Es gibt doch nichts so schön, wie sich mit einem guten Buch einzukuscheln, aber du musst vorsichtig sein. Bevor du es merkst wird aus einer Minute eine Stunde, aus einer Stunde wird ein Tag, und aus einem Tag wird vielleicht.... Ewigkeit.
Kurzmeinung
Wundervoll. Zauberhaft. Herzerwärmend. Kunstvoll. Ein Gedichtband, eine Graphic Novel, eine Hommage an Bücher.
Fast wünsche man sich ein Kind, um mit ihm gemeinsam zu schmökern. Aber nur fast
Es gibt doch nichts so schön, wie sich mit einem guten Buch einzukuscheln, aber du musst vorsichtig sein. Bevor du es merkst wird aus einer Minute eine Stunde, aus einer Stunde wird ein Tag, und aus einem Tag wird vielleicht.... Ewigkeit.
Kurzmeinung
Wundervoll. Zauberhaft. Herzerwärmend. Kunstvoll. Ein Gedichtband, eine Graphic Novel, eine Hommage an Bücher.
Fast wünsche man sich ein Kind, um mit ihm gemeinsam zu schmökern. Aber nur fast
January 6, 2017
I picked this book up while I was waiting for my daughter to get some books at the local children's library. The cover was inviting and the title absolutely captivating. It is very short but the poems express so simply things that I might think but could never put into words like this author did. My favorite poem-Great, Good, Bad
A great book is a homing device
For navigating Paradise.
A good book makes you care
About the comfort of a chair.
A bad book owes to many trees
A forest of apologies.
As one can tell. I am easily amused.
A great book is a homing device
For navigating Paradise.
A good book makes you care
About the comfort of a chair.
A bad book owes to many trees
A forest of apologies.
As one can tell. I am easily amused.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2016
Poems about books, words, libraries, the alphabet, and more! I loved all of these poems and their illustrations!
September 7, 2021
I think I have found my favorite book about books
May 7, 2019
This is a solid book of poetry for children. My favorite poem is the title poem, “Please Bury Me in the Library.” It resonates deeply with this lifelong bookworm, now librarian.
None of the other poems felt quite as strong to me, though I also enjoyed “Are You a Book Person?” and “Ab-so-lu-tas-ti-cal.” However, I think the book as a whole would appeal to young readers.
As a final note, I appreciated how the author wrote the acknowledgments as a poem thanking other poets.
None of the other poems felt quite as strong to me, though I also enjoyed “Are You a Book Person?” and “Ab-so-lu-tas-ti-cal.” However, I think the book as a whole would appeal to young readers.
As a final note, I appreciated how the author wrote the acknowledgments as a poem thanking other poets.
April 15, 2023
Poems for those who are well-well-read or young literature lovers.
April 22, 2021
Please Bury Me in the Library may be my new favorite poem!
April 27, 2021
Lovely. Simply lovely. :)
April 20, 2015
Please Bury Me in the Library is a collection of poems about books and reading. There are many different types of short poems, but their brevity is not indicative of an absence of depth. Although this book is bound and geared for young children, the deep meaning behind the poems can certainly be appreciated by older audiences. I would use these poems in a middle school classroom as small activities or bell ringers. These would be good pieces to practice interpreting meaning and analyzing allusions. I willingly admit that I have never been into poetry, but this book was fun even for me. The short, humorous poems would also help in keeping the attention of a reluctant middle school student when playing with poetry. There is something I it for everyone.
My favorite poem was a simple couplet that reads:
Great, Good, Bad
A great book is a homing device
For navigating paradise.
A good book somehow makes you care
About the comfort of your chair.
A bad book owes to many trees
A forest of apologies.
My favorite poem was a simple couplet that reads:
Great, Good, Bad
A great book is a homing device
For navigating paradise.
A good book somehow makes you care
About the comfort of your chair.
A bad book owes to many trees
A forest of apologies.
November 16, 2010
The poems in this book by J. Patrick Lewis celebrate the marvelous world of books and language. Through many different types of poetry the reader is made to understand what makes language and books so amazing. In one poem called What If Books Had Different Names? the reader is shown how powerful the use of a certain word can be, and what happens if you change just one word. My favorite poem in the book is titled A Classic:
"A children's book is a classic
If at six, excitedly
You read it to another kid
Who just turned sixty-three"
How true this is that a good book is loved by children, as well as children at heart. Each poem in this book is matched with an illustration that draws the reader into the world of that particular poem. I would use this book with young students to introduce them to the wonderful world of reading and poetry. With older children, I would use it to introduce different types of poetry.
"A children's book is a classic
If at six, excitedly
You read it to another kid
Who just turned sixty-three"
How true this is that a good book is loved by children, as well as children at heart. Each poem in this book is matched with an illustration that draws the reader into the world of that particular poem. I would use this book with young students to introduce them to the wonderful world of reading and poetry. With older children, I would use it to introduce different types of poetry.
March 17, 2008
A poetry collection for the bookworm in all of us! Every poem (15 in all) appeals to our language senses: words, books, haiku, classics, and summer reading, just to name a few. These cleverly written verses are illustrated with the most giggle-inducing, colorful and poetically linking acrylic paintings. Each page makes us laugh-out-loud and rejoice in the wonder of the letters-that-become-words, words-that-become-phrases, and phrases-that-become-sentences. Children will connect with the silliness and most assuredly, will want more! Lewis pays homage to all silly poets that have come before him in his poems and in his acknowledgments. Kids of all ages will love the words, especially those who love books (and what kid doesn’t?).
February 14, 2012
This is a wonderful collection of short poems for children about books and the library. The wordplay is very funny, although I had to explain some of them to our girls. We loved the poem, "What If Books Had Different Names," and I loved the variety of styles and types of poems. Overall, it was a quick read and I hope that our girls are developing an appreciation, if not love, for poetry.
October 7, 2010
This little book is very close to my heart for very personal and obvious reasons (obvious to those who know me): I adore libraries and it is my deepest wish/greatest aspiration to one day become a Youth Services Librarian. I am currently on the path that'll take me in that direction as I pursue my Master's degree in Library Science. This collection of charming poems pays homage not only to the incredible institutions that are libraries, but to books and their admirers the world over.
June 20, 2008
These are wonderful poems for all book lovers of any age. Some are funny, some wise, some cute, some lovely, and all are enjoyable. There are several memorable poems in this collection. The illustrations are fabulous. And even the acknowledgment section is a poem!
April 11, 2010
Humorous rhymes and poems make up the book. For example, Otto the flea has the courage to write his "ottobiography.
Another funny line is below.
"A bad book owes to many trees
A forest of apologies."
It does not feel funny though to imagine bookworms in a coffin.
Another funny line is below.
"A bad book owes to many trees
A forest of apologies."
It does not feel funny though to imagine bookworms in a coffin.
September 2, 2007
Well of course. Where else would a librarian want to be interred? Great book/library poems!
May 29, 2012
Great poetry book! I liked every poem.
July 21, 2012
sweet poems, cutesy illustrations, both sometimes very clever. Well done, just not my favorite. I think I might have enjoyed this more as a child.
March 24, 2013
I like the concept of a book of poetry about books and libraries, but I wasn't charmed by the poems or illustrations.
November 8, 2013
A short, sweet poetry book of literacy love for librarians and book lovers alike.
March 25, 2014
Fantastic way to introduce Poetry to younger students and kids. Added plus is the artwork!
April 6, 2014
Great collection of poems revolving around books and libraries! What's not to love? Flagged several that I want to share with students and some I want to find a place to hang in my room!
Want to read
November 21, 2014I thought this book would be a great book to share with students. Where else would be a great place to die, but in the library!
March 5, 2015
This is a fun book of poems about reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews