Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters: Poems

by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Wolf Erlbruch (Illustrations)

It was simply the worst
the most terrible day.
Nothing
but NOTHING
was going my way. Ever have one of those days? The narrators of these fifteen poems have. They've had worm-in-the-apple days, friends-moving-away days, even forgetting-my-pants days! If you've ever wondered whether anyone else knows what it's like to have a really bad day, this special collection of poignant -- and funny -- poems is for you.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, School, Childrens, Nonfiction, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

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

[Allison Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was overall a very enjoyable poetry book to read and definitely something I would use in my classroom. The book is a collection of poems that are funny, sad, and represent life experiences. The poems are engaging and can be relatable for some students who may have wen through a similar experience, such as a friend moving away or being embarrassed in class. The poems are an appropriate length and have vocabulary that the students would know or could use context clues to figure out. I think this book is perfect for the classroom because it will be engaging and will show students that poems can be funny or serious, while also making the reader think about the deeper meaning. The poems are also in a variety of formats and rhyming schemes, which provides examples for students to see.

I would most likely use this book in my classroom as a read aloud during a poetry unit. It would be a great way to excite students about poetry and help address any misconceptions that all poems are serious and boring. After each poem I would then stop and ask students some comprehension questions or questions about what they noticed about the poem. I could also stop after a poem and ask students to turn and talk to a neighbor about what the poem is about or elements of the poem that stand out to them. This conversation/ questioning could be more specific based on what element of poetry we are focusing on as a class at the time.

This was a WOW book for me because it really shows a different side to poetry and would be very easy to integrate into the classroom. This book would be great for a read aloud and would appeal to all groups of students because it includes stories that some of them might have experienced. I also loved that this book was funny but also was able to address some major struggles that students might experience which would help to start the conversation.

[Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, No! by Katie McAllaster Weaver

Hello apple!
Shiny red.

CHOMP, CHOMP.

Hello worm.
Where's your head?

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was listed in my library as both adult non-fiction and juvenile non-fiction. It is both. I enjoy poetry of all kinds, as well as illustrations, so this book was a perfect combination. I became introduced to the book by someone from Germany who recommended the illustrator and this was the only book my library had of his. I have since ordered a another book, used, which was the specific one recommended and will report on this after I receive and read it. The illustrator is Wolf Erlbruch.

[Alysse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with poems that are about bad days or "disasters" so to speak. The book has poems about things like bad hair cuts, bad days, stage fright, losing a game, nightmares, friends moving away, and more. The book says it is for the age range of 5-9. The book has illustrations that help the reader picture the poem. The students could use this book as inspiration to make their own poem about a bad day they have had.

[Rodopa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun collection of poems, my 6 year old read a couple and enjoyed them. Wonderful illustrations to the poems.

Oh No!
"Hello Apple, shiny red!
Chomp, Chomp.
Hello worm, where is your head?"

Haircut
"Moments ago,
I had hair up to there..."

At The State Fair:
"I am trapped on top of the world by mistake.
Kidnapped by sky, suspended in air,
I stay very still in this chandelier chair."

[Taylor Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book filled with many poems that would be great to read aloud to introduce students to poetry. Some of the poems are humorous, sad, and even relatable such as: trying out for a school play or playing baseball. These poems would be perfect for the classroom and for the class to read together to get a sense of the rhythm of the poem. Overall, this is a great book to have inside the classroom for the poems are in a variety of formats, and rhyming schemes so students are being introduced to many different styles not just one over and over.

[Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Marketed in picture book format with art depicting toddlers and small children, the book *looks* like a read-aloud. No. Poems include: sorrow over a dead pet rabbit; a little girl losing her swimsuit while swimming; another girl alone and scared on a Ferris wheel; and the titular nightmare of a little boy dancing with a girl who realizes he’s not wearing pants. This introduces fears to small children that might otherwise not be present. Childhood fears should be assuaged, not instigated. Pass.

[Chandra Miramontes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny book of poems about how nothing is going right. It is a great book for girls and boys and has a lot of poems that boys would enjoy. I would recommend this book for children that are in 3rd grade and older.

[Eric Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poems is a hilarious collection of unfortunate circumstances all rolled into one. Some of the poems are short and some of them are long but most of them are witty and are quite comical. I think they would be a very good read aloud book. I really enjoyed reading it.

[Hannah H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute poetry anthology. The illustrations really grabbed me. The book is nicely formatted and easy to read.

[Tristan Wilson]

This is a cute collection of silly poems for students who want a good laugh. We have all had the dream where we lose our pants and are in front of class...well this is it in poem form!

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of poetry and art that captures perfectly easily recalled experiences of childhood.

[Anima · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesome little book for anyone who wants to have fun while reading rhyme poems . Lots of laugh (isn't one of our biggest fears to be laughed at during embarrassing moments ?) , and , here and there, scattered sad moments touching our hearts with sorrows. Each of the poems easily grabs our attention with lovely imagery , simple structure, and melodious rhythm. A great book to initiate or develop a child's comprehension, reading skills, sensitivity, artistic senses, and ,above all, love for poetry.

A MILLION MILES FROM TALLAHASSEE
Alice Schertle
"I was so sure
I knew the capital of Florida
I almost threw my elbow out of joint
waving my hand
in front of Mr. Miller’s face.
When he called on me
I jumped up and said, “Tassalooma!”
I thought they’d never stop laughing.
Jerome practically fell out of his seat.
Even Mr. Miller lost it.

Now everybody’s always asking me,
“How are things in Tassalooma?”
And Maria the comedian said,
“Let’s rent a rooma
in Tassalooma.”
And if I could go to Tassalooma—
which is nowhere
on anybody’s map—
I’d never
come
back!"


WINTER RABBIT
Madeleine Comora

"I watched to see if he would move.
His breath was still, his eyelids closed.
There was no twitching of his nose.
“He’s gone,” my teacher sighed. “Today
his spirit slipped away.”

I slid the latch back on his cage
that smelled of mustard greens and sage,
touched his softness to my face.
His tall straight ears, his long quick feet
trailed like falling velvet drapes.

I thought of his last night alone
huddled in a wire home.
I did not cry. I held him close,
smoothed his fur blown by the wind.
For a winter’s moment, I stayed with him."

[Kelli Varich · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters: Poems" is a wonderful poem anthology for elementary-age students. The poems about stage fright, a ferris wheel at the state fair, a friend moving away, and feeling homesick at camp are all such relatable situations, especially to a younger audience. I personally related to the poem about a little girl chopping her own hair off on a dare, something I'd done more than once in my childhood. Since I knew exactly what the poet was talking about, that particular poem stuck out to me. Each poem is done by a different poet, which varies the book and the styles of poetry throughout.

The illustrations, done by German artist Wolf Erlbruch, show exactly what each kid is going through. Sadness, panic, and worry are so recognizable on each page if only through the face of the child the poem is about. Erlbruch is known for using mixed media, and I noticed the use of colored pencil in these illustrations. The use of red colored pencil on their cheeks showed exactly how they were feeling, based on how red their face was in the illustration.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a hilarious title and is full of funny poems. So, of course, it is a big hit.

Lesson Connections
Each February or March we have a big poetry unit in my classroom. One of the things we do is a Poetry Scavenger Hunt. We have at least 50 poetry books on display in the room and I begin the unit by book talking each book briefly. This takes me at least a week because I read a poem from each book. Then, the kids choose what appeals to them. They can read anything they want in any fashion they wish. The only rule is to read and enjoy poetry. Eventually, I begin each session with a mini-lesson on rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, etc. Then, the students begin choosing poems with examples of each poetry topic we have covered. At the end of each session students can share a poem that they love and have rehearsed reading aloud. This is just a short review of all we do, but it is a powerful, powerful time in our classroom.

[Maria Andrade · Rating 3 out of 5]

The poems rhymed naturally capturing the attention of the reader, while also increasing the humor and wittiness that came from each poem as well. Regardless of the length each poem attained, each poem rhymed harmoniously and easily grabbed the reader’s attention. Readers can be easily drawn to the vivid pictures showcased in each poem as well. The pictures did a great job of capturing the representation of each poem of topic. I would definitely read some of the poems aloud to the students, in order to get a feel of what poetry is all about. Students will be able to use their imagination and creative thinking to come up with a poem of their own. The book also did a great job in capturing the diversity in length and structure that poems can all take on. Student's should not be intimidated of the length or rhythmic flow that poems are structured to follow, but should freely be able to come up with creative ideas that will structure their own poems.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disasters seem to be a natural part of life. At the time, things often seem as if the world is about to end. This witty collection of poems captures life moments like going to school the first day to find your best friend in another class, holding a beloved pet for the last time, forgetting lines during a school play, receiving a pair of shoes when you really wanted hockey skates, or losing a brand-new bathing suit to a ginormous wave. All of the scenarios in this book are beautifully illustrated with a captivating, vintage aesthetic. Viewing the delightful images and reading the poems aloud will provide pure enjoyment for all ages. Children can be asked about how they would handle similar situations, and adults might be brought back to a youthful time when some problems seemed so monumental. This book would also serve well as an introduction to poetry.

[Jesse German · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Oh, No! Where are my Pants?" contains funny and sad poems that are about having a really bad day. I think that children would really enjoy these poems because they are very relatable because everyone has bad days! Most poetry books that are used in elementary schools are about happy-go-lucky topics but I think it is important to introduce students to the fact that some poems are sad and that poems can portray all types of feelings.

I would definitely use this poetry book in my classroom. I would have my students read the poems as a class and then each student would pick their very worst day. Then, they would write a poem about it making sure to include words that described their feelings and emotions on that day. I would then have students, that wanted to, share their poems with the class.

[Anais Gilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters is a book of poems about a little kid and all of the struggles that he experiences in life. The author uses a lot of different aspects of poetry throughout the book. He uses similes, metaphors, alliteration, imagery, different tones, specific rhythms, onomatopoeia, word play/puns, understatement, symbolism, and hyperboles.

This book can be very good for children to read. It goes them a look at many problems that they may experience during their adolescence. The illustrations in the book are very detailed and go along with each poem perfectly. They help to emphasize the story told within each poem and are a visual representation of the struggles that the young boy goes through. This book of poems can be very helpful for young children of this age. Overall, the poems were excellent and the the illustrations are very helpful.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each year I try and think of a new way to incorporate poetry into my classroom. There is just so much of it that can speak to where my students are at. My favorite booksellers down at Magic Door Four in Pomona recommended (and sold) this book to me. It is a collection of disaster poems, some funny and others so softy poignant that I can hardly stand it. Few of the poems are by famous poets, but each presents their disaster in such a neat, perfectly worded package, it hardly matters. The only real frustration I have is when students love a particular poem and finding other work by that author proves to be impossible. I have yet to have a group of fifth graders who do not find the book delicious.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From shouting out the wrong answer in class (and being laughed at/teased), to stage fright (and forgetting your lines), making a mistake at your baseball game, a friend moving away, cutting your own hair, or losing your new bathing suit in the ocean, we ALL experiene terrible moments and disaterous days. In this collection of poems, edited by Lee Hopkins, several authors sharing their feelings and emotions during these times through rhyming and free verse poetry. Readers of all ages are able to connect to these memorable, and sometimes humorous experiences, as we all know what it's like to have a "really bad day." German illustrator Wolf Erlbruch depicts each poem in "Hummel-like" drawing, expressing the true feelings of shock, fear, sadness, and embarrassment.

[Erin]

The poems touch on any number of disastrous events – first day of school, wrong answers, death of a pet, and other embarrassing, uncomfortable or hurtful themes. They mix together the exciting, the funny and the tragic, creating a mix of poems that mimics the feelings of childhood life. For early elementary students, particularly, I feel that the poems take episodes right out of their experience. And of course, as an adult, I sometimes find it helpful to look at my problems through the eyes of a child. The illustrations remind me of an old-fashioned style, but somehow aren’t dated. The expressions of shock, embarrassment, sadness and loneliness are conveyed well, and the colors are subdued, as is appropriate for such serious topics.

[Nicole Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all of the poetry books I looked at, this one was my favorite! The poems were fairly short and simple and they all talked about different emotions or experiences children may have, both funny and serious. I loved it!
The poem "A Million Miles from Tallahassee" talks about a little boy who raised his hand in class to announce that the capital of Florida was Tassalooma instead of Tallahassee. Everyone makes so much fun of him that all he wants is to go to Tassalooma and never come back! I can totally relate to how the poor little boy must have felt! I thought the poem was really cute.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters: Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illus. by Wolf Erlbruch, published 2005.
Genre: Nonfiction Poems
Format: Picture Book
Plot: This book is a collection of fourteen poems about embarrassing, gross, or upsetting things that happen to children from having stage fright, to biting the head off a worm in an apple, or being stuck at the top of a ferris wheel.
Considerations: This book does frankly discuss embarrassing incidents for children and could make some children uncomfortable.
Review: SLJ Feb. 2005
Selection Source: Charlotte Huck's Children's Literature: A Brief Guide
Recommended Age: Ages 8 & 9.

[Brittany L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected a very different kind of poetry book, based on the front cover, but have once again learned not to judge a book by its cover. I was expecting all the poems to be funny and to get a good laugh, but "disasters" come in all shapes and sizes. I found some of the poems to be sad, like "My Friend Is Gone," a poem about a friend moving away. Some do get a laugh or "yuck" factor, like "OH, NO!" a poem about eating an apple and finding a headless worm inside! I think elementary age children will find this book a worthwhile read.

[Nicole Schott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of poems are all about a boy's misfortunes. It is very sad and depressing. All the poems describe a sad event. The poems themselves are very good and there are mixed varieties. I didn't really enjoy the book due to the sad nature of the events. The illustrations are minimal but reflect the poems themselves.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a poetry book containing 14 different poems telling about moments such as Oh! No! Where are my pants. I thought the book was cute and is a good ice breaker for children to see that these things happen to everyone.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this before, but I just re-read it and was reminded of what an absolutely precious collection of poems this is- some joyous, some funny, some filled with longing and loneliness. The illustrations by Wolf Erlbruch really tie the poems all together, catching the mood perfectly.

[Lili Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really funny. I think that because there are many funny poems that just catch my eye. I can't chose my fav. because there are so many good ones a just cant decide. It was written by different poets and takes you about a day to read it. It's awesome.

[Kevin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of poems teaches that not everything is the exact way you planned them to be. You could also use this book to teach infrences because not everything is always put into the poems. Such as the chomp chomp poem.