Reading, Rhyming, and 'Rithmetic

by Dave Crawley, Liz Callen (Illustrator)

Overview

Another zany day at school. Judy is caught kissing Justin. Vanessa is eating paste. Mrs. Reilly, a teacher, turns into a ghoul from the dark side of the moon. And Ollie, the classroom mascot, who happens to be a seven-foot-long snake, is chasing Principal Poole. In other words, it's a day at school as imagined by Dave Crawley, author of the popular Cat Poems and Dog Poems. With lively illustrations by Liz Callen, this comical collection examines everything from taking tests, coming up with ever more original excuses for not doing homework, and the shock of seeing a teacher on a Saturday, buying groceries like an actual human being.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590785652
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	03/01/2010
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Dave Crawley is the author of the acclaimed Cat Poems and Dog Poems. His Emmy-winning stories in rhyme have been treasured for many years at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he works as a feature reporter.

Liz Callen's zany illustrations have been seen in books, magazines, and advertisements for over thirty years. Her clients include Highlights for Children, Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin, Time-Life Books, and PBS. She lives in Washington.

Editorial Reviews

★ "Well written, very funny, and right on the mark for elementary students. . . . Kids will love this collection."—Library Media Connection, starred review

"The selections are upbeat, and even the more serious topics, such as being the new kid at school or last chosen for games, have an optimistic tone."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Gr 1–3—In 20 rhyming poems, this book addresses the highs and lows of an average school year, including homework, teachers, social life, and vacation. Colorful cartoon illustrations and plenty of white space suit the poetry's bright humor. The selections are upbeat, and even the more serious topics, such as being the new kid at school or last chosen for games, have an optimistic tone. The poems vary in length, and some of the longer ones tend to go on a little too long. Purchase this lighthearted look at school for larger collections.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

School Library Journal

Crawley's latest anthology focuses on school-themed poems. The 20 poems range from amusing to thought-provoking and satirize the stereotypical attitudes and behaviors of school employees and students alike. From schoolyard crushes and cafeteria food to procrastination and the escape of the class snake, this covers it all. Here readers will find that Mrs. Riley is a teacher from the dark side of the moon, that teachers should not be allowed out in public on the weekend and that sometimes walking to school, no matter the weather or distance, beats taking the bus. "True or False" analyzes the difficulty one boy has with whether or not to cheat-he accidentally saw a smarter boy's paper-and "Last" explores the positive attitude of one child who is not athletically inclined. "I Before E, Except" deals with pesky spelling rules, while "New Kid in School" is likely to assuage some fears of the recently relocated. Callen's rather droll pen-and-ink-and-watercolor illustrations go hand-in-hand with the poetry, providing cartoon vignettes of hapless, racially diverse characters. A solid collection, but not a substitute for the likes of Silverstein and Prelutsky. (Poetry. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews