School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-This collection delivers a smorgasbord of Brown's trademark nonsensical poems. Broken into sections by theme such as "The Critterverse," "Schoolishness," and "Word Crashes," the selections depict an offbeat world where dinosaurs barbecue "titanic taters" and ghoulish gym teachers make kids play "dodgebull... with actual cattle." The poems bounce and jump from one topic to the next with sometimes satirical, always silly, word play running along the page bottoms. Brown's stylized, folk artsy illustrations evoke just the right mood for the zany verse. Though there is more than one line that does not roll easily off the tongue and awkward rhymes abound, it is easy to see this clumsiness as part of the spirit of the collection. From the poems themselves to the illustrations to the tongue-in-cheek interview with Brown at the book's close, it's clear that this is a collection that doesn't take itself too seriously. For libraries seeking something silly, especially where Brown's poems are already a hit.-Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Brown writes and illustrates playfully matter-of-fact poems that feature peculiar animals, creatures, and humans, drawn with chalky outlines and expressive eyes. Categories of poems include "The Critterverse," "Schoolishness," and "Word Crashes," a section featuring nouveau portmanteau words ("This Grouchyoungorilla/ hasn't gotten very far./ Some thoughtless thug/ has just unplugged/ his nicelectricar"). Beneath the framed central images, Brown doesn't let the bottom edge of the pages go to waste, filling them with mini-scenes and jokes connected to the poems above. Full of absurdity and off-kilter musings ("I think I need a forklift/ to lift my backpack./ So many textbooks/ in my knapsack,/ I fear a back-snap"), Brown's collection offers a zingy introduction to the silly side of poetry. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Silliness abounds in Brown's latest collection of nonsense poems, each paired with a cartoonish illustration that hints at the meaning. First up are animals ( Another lunch of dead skunk? / What a stink! / I need to rethink my future,' / thought the vulture); followed by odd people, such as Lady Calderhat (She wears the most amazing bonnet / purple, with a mobile on it); then insects (Just because we're pupae, / people give us the poop-eye); and a whole host of other chuckle-worthy topics. The section titled Word Crashes, possibly the most successful of the bunch, features cleverly jammed together words, such as Onenourmoustork and Tenderipersimmons, which are a treat to pick apart. As with any collection, there are some stumbles: occasionally the rhythm of the lines is a bit sloppy, and some poems mean very little outside the context of the paired illustrations. Nonetheless, Brown makes great use of wordplay, and the staccato syllables make the poems fun to read aloud. Little ones who enjoy funny verse will be tickled by this title.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2015 Booklist