This collection of snarky poems is modeled on William Carlos Williams' famous poem, 'This Is Just to Say,' in which he apologizes for eating the plums from the icebox someone was probably saving for breakfast. The tone implies he is anything but sorry, and this poem has inspired a book full of poems in which people apologize for things for which they are clearly not sorry. Many of the poems reference well-known fairy tales or nursery rhymes, as in this one addressing a spider: 'I have torn/ down/ the water/ spout/which/ you obsessively/ wanted to climb up/ and slide off forever/Forgive me/kick your habit/spin a web/catch a bug.' The poems do sometimes err on the edge of the horrifying (Beast eats Beauty in one), though most are more on the sarcastic side. Humorous illustrations accompany the text.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 6/8/2013

ISBN-13: 9780061787256

Check the library catalog

Guyku is a collection of haiku poems about nature. From 'If this puddle could talk, I think it would tell me to splash my sister.' to 'Last week's snowman looks under the weather. Must be a spring allergy.' Enjoy the year and see how nature is just one giant playground.

Awards nominated: 2013 Bluestem Nominee

Reviewed by: michele collette

Date read: 3/20/2012

ISBN-13: 9780547240039

Check the library catalog

Another school year starts and Jack has Mrs. Stretchberry as his teacher again. Enjoy another year of Jack's poetry journal where he explores his feelings about his mom, poets, his opinionated Uncle Bill and 'That Cat.'

Similar books: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 7/6/2011

ISBN-10: 0061430927

ISBN-13: 9780061430923

Check the library catalog

Annie loves to run. She loves to hear her heart beating, and she loves the feel of her bare feet on the ground as she runs with her friend, Max. This year, however, everything is changing. There's a new heartbeat in the picture, the one of the baby her mother will be having. There are also the pressures of her grandfather's failing memory and her friend Max's urging for her to join the track team. As Annie completes her assignment for art class, to draw the same apple every day for a hundred days, she finds ways to dance with the rhythms of her changing life. This touching, thoughtful novel in verse builds the story at a mellow pace, but the gentle evolution of the story leads to a moving conclusion.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 7/29/2011

ISBN-10: 0060540222

ISBN-13: 9780060540227

Check the library catalog

Horses are loved by many people. Some are for riding, some are for working, and some are for other activities. This book of horse poems is well-written and backed by a bibliography that includes horses from ancient times to the present. 'Jessie Haas invites you to join her for an adventure- a ride back in time through 65 million years of horse history.' She loves her fat Morgan and the two of them follow hoofprints back in time to show us the hoofprints in our lives with you riding the Thorougbred through 104 poems.

Reviewed by: cj

Date read: 12/9/2009

ISBN-10: 0060534079

ISBN-13: 9780060534073

Check the library catalog