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Miles of Smiles: A Collection of Laugh-Out-Loud Poems
You'll Find a Smile on Every Page of this Book!
Thousands of elementary-school students helped Bruce Lansky, "The King of Giggle Poetry," pick the poems by Kenn Nesbitt, Joyce Armor, Joan Horton, Eric Ode, Dave Crawley, Ted Scheu, and other poets included in this book. If these poems don't put a smile on your face, Stephen Carpenter's hilarious illustrations surely will!
Thousands of elementary-school students helped Bruce Lansky, "The King of Giggle Poetry," pick the poems by Kenn Nesbitt, Joyce Armor, Joan Horton, Eric Ode, Dave Crawley, Ted Scheu, and other poets included in this book. If these poems don't put a smile on your face, Stephen Carpenter's hilarious illustrations surely will!
132 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
2 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Lansky
198 books49 followersI was born on June 1, 1941. My first home was an apartment in Manhattan's Upper West Side, a neighborhood that overlooked the George Washington Bridge. Soon after kindergarten, my family moved to Scarsdale, which seemed to be “in the country.” In high school, I broke my ankle when I went out for the lacrosse team, so I wrote a sports column for the school newspaper. I don't think I showed any particular talent for writing then.
I went to St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. I actually learned to read Greek (I didn't understand it, though). I transferred from St. John's to New York University, so I could study political science and economics. I graduated with a major in philosophy and a minor in English. My first job was a market researcher for a beer company in New Jersey. Over the next five years, I switched jobs several times: advertising copywriter, advertising account executive, and marketing manager at a candy company.
I married Vicki and we had a baby, Douglas. I wanted him to have a home surrounded by grass and trees and ball fields, so I accepted a job in Minnesota, and Doug got a baby sister, Dana. What rescued me from poverty was that my wife and some other mothers wrote a cookbook. We published it ourselves, and it was a huge hit. That's how I figured out that I wanted to be a publisher when I grew up. We built Meadowbrook Press, and I became an author of baby name books and humor books for adults.
Ten years ago, I wanted to put together a children's book of all the poems they loved best. To find these poems, I tested poems in elementary schools. As I was testing poems on children, I decided to write a few to see what the response would be. At first it wasn't that good, but as my writing improved, I added my poems to new books. To get them just right, I'd rewrite them over and over. I've now edited six poetry anthologies and filled three books with my own poems. Because I spent a lot of time reading and testing poems in classrooms, schools started inviting me to perform. I've now performed at hundreds of schools. My goal to put on the most entertaining, most educational, and most motivating assembly a school has ever had. My web site, http://www.gigglepoetry.com, helps kids discover the fun of reading and writing poetry.
Language arts are a very important part of what you learn in school. You can read great books that take you to far-away lands. You can write your own stories and make yourself the hero of exciting adventures. Even if it seems hard sometimes, don't give up. Keep practicing your reading and writing skills, and soon it will become easier. There are so many wonderful worlds to explore in books and poetry. Get your very own passport by learning to read and write the very best that you can.
I went to St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. I actually learned to read Greek (I didn't understand it, though). I transferred from St. John's to New York University, so I could study political science and economics. I graduated with a major in philosophy and a minor in English. My first job was a market researcher for a beer company in New Jersey. Over the next five years, I switched jobs several times: advertising copywriter, advertising account executive, and marketing manager at a candy company.
I married Vicki and we had a baby, Douglas. I wanted him to have a home surrounded by grass and trees and ball fields, so I accepted a job in Minnesota, and Doug got a baby sister, Dana. What rescued me from poverty was that my wife and some other mothers wrote a cookbook. We published it ourselves, and it was a huge hit. That's how I figured out that I wanted to be a publisher when I grew up. We built Meadowbrook Press, and I became an author of baby name books and humor books for adults.
Ten years ago, I wanted to put together a children's book of all the poems they loved best. To find these poems, I tested poems in elementary schools. As I was testing poems on children, I decided to write a few to see what the response would be. At first it wasn't that good, but as my writing improved, I added my poems to new books. To get them just right, I'd rewrite them over and over. I've now edited six poetry anthologies and filled three books with my own poems. Because I spent a lot of time reading and testing poems in classrooms, schools started inviting me to perform. I've now performed at hundreds of schools. My goal to put on the most entertaining, most educational, and most motivating assembly a school has ever had. My web site, http://www.gigglepoetry.com, helps kids discover the fun of reading and writing poetry.
Language arts are a very important part of what you learn in school. You can read great books that take you to far-away lands. You can write your own stories and make yourself the hero of exciting adventures. Even if it seems hard sometimes, don't give up. Keep practicing your reading and writing skills, and soon it will become easier. There are so many wonderful worlds to explore in books and poetry. Get your very own passport by learning to read and write the very best that you can.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 19, 2021
I need to not get distracted by poetry but I could not put it down once I started looking for poems to read with and to my students. Bruce Lansky had signed several of my books when I met him at the NYS Reading Association convention many years ago. He brings me giggles. I still see him singing some of these as songs as well.
February 9, 2018
Another compilation of kid - approved funny poems by various authors with humorous illustrations.
June 21, 2025
A really dumb book
March 9, 2017
This is a book of children's poems that students actually selected. They are all very funny and relate-able. This would be a very good book to have when introducing poetry because the poems are fun and make kids think poetry is more than just rhyming.
October 1, 2012
Miles of Smiles is a book of Poetry for children. The book had several poems that I found very hysterical. Some poems were about siblings, some were about crushes, and some were about nursery rhymes. One poem in particular really stuck out to me, "Humpty Dumpty's Funeral". This poem took all the nursey rhymes from my childhood and tied them all together to go to Humpty's funeral, because he was "One Real Good Egg". The illustrations in the picture went along great with all the poems. In "Humpty's Funeral", the illustrated showed Humpty's tombstone and all the other nursey rhyme characters crying around it. They were very nice to read and look at.
I would use this poetry book, mainly with primary grades as a beginning of the day laugh or possibly, if it fit with a lesson, I would use it for higher grades. This book has several funny poems that could brighten a child's day and make them laugh and smile.
I would use this poetry book, mainly with primary grades as a beginning of the day laugh or possibly, if it fit with a lesson, I would use it for higher grades. This book has several funny poems that could brighten a child's day and make them laugh and smile.
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December 4, 2012 Miles of Smiles is a book filled with humorous poetry written by numerous authors but put together by one of the most well-known children’s poets, Bruce Lansky. The selection of poems are put into different categories such as “ME,” “PARENTS,” “SCHOOL,” “TALL TALES,” and many others to which primary students can relate. These poems are organized in a manner that makes sense for the reader, and the titles of each tells you exactly what you are about to read. “My Baby Brother,” for example, is a poem about - you guessed it! - someone’s baby brother. Children will be laughing for days with this mash-up of poems.
One main aspect that I love about this book is that the poems were chosen by elementary-school students themselves! What better reason is there to have this book sitting on your classroom bookshelf? This is a must-read whether it be in the classroom or at home. Miles of Smiles gives the reader just that: miles of smiles!
One main aspect that I love about this book is that the poems were chosen by elementary-school students themselves! What better reason is there to have this book sitting on your classroom bookshelf? This is a must-read whether it be in the classroom or at home. Miles of Smiles gives the reader just that: miles of smiles!
November 22, 2014
NY, Simon and Schuster, 2004
This collection of laugh-out-loud poems were picked by thousands of elementary students. From "My Dog Ate My Homework" to "The Turkey Shot Out of the Oven" these poems are sure to interest students of all ages. This is a must have book for classroom libraries. It would be great for a quick attention getter read-aloud, or for shared reading and building fluency. The topics are kid-friendly and would be appealing for even reluctant readers. These poems could also be used in a unit on poetry.
This collection of laugh-out-loud poems were picked by thousands of elementary students. From "My Dog Ate My Homework" to "The Turkey Shot Out of the Oven" these poems are sure to interest students of all ages. This is a must have book for classroom libraries. It would be great for a quick attention getter read-aloud, or for shared reading and building fluency. The topics are kid-friendly and would be appealing for even reluctant readers. These poems could also be used in a unit on poetry.
October 8, 2009
This book has lots of cute poems for children. I think that it was a good book but the poems werent that original. I would read it to kids but not use it as material to teach about poems or the structure of poems. I enjoyed this book.
April 26, 2016
I really enjoy this poem book because it is the perfect book or poems for beginners. All the poems in the book are relatable to children and they are super funny. They are also very easy to read and to understand how poems work! Perfect introduction of poetry to young readers.
November 28, 2008
Excellent chuckle-inducer. I should buy a copy of one of these to have on hand when babysitting!
September 17, 2011
Great to use for poetry with kids. Lots of funny short peoms!
September 13, 2012
I would use this book as a end of the school day book to let them leave with a laugh. instead of being anxious to go home they'd want to stay to hear the poems.
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June 12, 2009Miles of smiles : kids pick the funniest poems : book #3 by Bruce Lansky (1998)
September 29, 2010
Cockroach Sandwhich for my lunch!
Hate the taste but love the crunch!
Hate the taste but love the crunch!
April 23, 2011
It's fun to play with words, and there are some old favorites in here.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews