By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: April 5, 2010
by Kenn Nesbitt (Author), Ethan Long (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 6-11
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; Pap/Com edition (April 1, 2010)
Sometimes it can be hard to even fathom the thought that your child will pick up a book and read it—let alone a book of poems. Unless, of course, it’s a book of funny animal poems written by bestselling poet Kenn Nesbitt. His latest collection of poetry, The Tighty Whitey Spider: and More Wacky Animal Poems I Totally Made Up, is downright hilarious and tastefully flavored with black-and-white illustrations.
Kenn Nesbitt is a young people’s poet virtuoso. His zippy rhymes roll right off the tongue and are fantastic for independent readers or a group read-aloud session. The poem titles alone are enough to grab a young readers attention, or any reader with an eye for preposterousness; such as: Today I Touched the Buffalobster, When Pigs Fly, and Toby the Snowboarding Elephant. Each reader is certain to connect with the absurdity of the poems and, undoubtedly, will find that particular pieces resonate with their inner silliness more than others. For those that enjoy a good audiobook, Nesbitt reads his poems with captivating energy—another way to entrap your non-reader and conform him or her into a poetry reader. This book certainly gets the green light!
Excerpt from While Lying on the Grass Today:
While lying on the grass today
and staring at the sky,
I saw the strangest animals
in clouds that drifted by.
I saw a cloud that looked just like
an elephant on skis.
Another one reminded me
of dancing manatees. …
About the author: Kenn Nesbitt is one of the most in-demand children’s poetry performers in the country, and founder of poetry4kids.com. In honor of National Poetry Month (April), and to celebrate the release of his new book, The Tighty-Whitey Spider, his book My Hippo Has the Hiccups is available as a free eBook.
Add this book to your collection: The Tighty Whitey Spider: And More Wacky Animal Poems I Totally Made Up
And this one: My Hippo Has the Hiccups