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Rating:  Summary: A Poor Attempt at Poetry Review: I was not impressed by this attempt at children's poetry. This book made me think that an author might consider that writing children's poetry is easy. This book makes it obvious that it's not. Why you would publish a collection of such poorly executed poetry is beyond me. The material looks as if it were written by young children, as opposed to for young children. The illustrations were cute though.
Rating:  Summary: Not sweet but very good Review: I'm prompted to write this review after reading the others. Yes folks, Lansky's topics are crude. Poop figures heavily, as does snot (in fact, that's the topic of my favorite poem in this collection). However, Lansky's poems are both funny and clever. They make my kids laugh out loud (and me too). If your sensibility is to fine to be crude or if you have moral objections to bodily fluids (and I suspect that is the case with the other reviewers) then this isn't for you. But, if you're looking for funny, readable verse that kids will like, this is a great one.
Rating:  Summary: Overpriced and underwritten Review: I've been a fan of children's poetry since my parents bought me that first copy of Shel Silverstein's poetry. Unfortunately, this collection of dreary verse sent me running back to Silverstein to remind me of what children's poetry should be. The greats of children's poetry always demonstrated an undercurrent of joy in their efforts. It is an understatement to say that there is no joy inherent within the poetry in this book. Indeed, unlike Silverstein, who was always able to write with that sense of childlike wonder, this author only manages to write with childish ignorance. There is an almost frightening coarseness that underlies this verse, demonstrated by crude topics that should turn off most parents. I was not familiar with this author before picking up this title. There is nothing here that would tempt me to come back for another try. It's just another reminder that few can compete with Shel Silverstein.
Rating:  Summary: A disappoinment Review: I've read some of the authors anthologies to my children, and they enjoyed them greatly. I guess I didn't pay close attention, because I purchased this book thinking it was another anthology. I quickly learned that what my children enjoyed in the anthologies wasn't the author's work at all, but the efforts of other contributors. This title, being the sole work of one person, didn't go over too well in my household. It's amazing how even my four-year old was disappointed in this effort and begged me to read some of our other poetry books instead.
Rating:  Summary: An appropriate title for this book Review: If pigs could fly then I'd like this book. Unfortunately, this book doesn't take off any better than a pseudo-aerodynamic swine. I'm a grade school teacher who is always searching for material to fill my students with a love for reading. Poetry, in its bite-sized snippets, often turns children on to reading more than lengthier prose. However, this particular book of poetry did not generate any enthusiasm among my students. My students were not able to elequently relate why they didn't enjoy this title, but I think I can guess. These poems don't speak with the "voice" of delight that appeals to children. It's not that the poems aren't silly. The problem is that these poems are amateurish, lacking the polish that the masterpieces of the genre demonstrate. This title shows that writing children's poetry is not easy. If it was, then maybe pigs could fly.
Rating:  Summary: What the heck? No, really, what the heck? Review: What the heck was the author thinking writing a book this atrocious? What the heck was the publisher thinking? And what the heck was I thinking buying this book for my twin sons after scanning one poem about a dog? At least I can say that I never read any of the "poop" poems before purchasing it. What excuse do the other two have?
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