Poetry for Children 5903-23
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Module 3 Poetry Book Review

proimosb.gif
Available from http://chaoskids.com/CA/PROIMOS/proimosb.html. Accessed July 2, 2005

8605199.jpg
Available from http://search.barnesandnoble.com. Accessed July 2, 2005

Proimos James.2002. If I Were In Charge The Rules Would Be Different!
     New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-439-20864-5.
 
 

     The attention grabbing book cover, with the title words that are upside down, will alert the reader that they are in for some silly reading. In this collection of over 60 poems  Proimos writes about issues that are a staple of every child's life such as  bullies, school, family, pets, and homework. Children  will be surprised at the accuracy of the poems and drawn into reading them.  The poems are paired up with humorous drawings that take up full pages. James Proimos has a style reminiscent of Shel Silverstein with the black and white drawings and Dav Pilkney.  Proimos uses the first person in many of his poem.  One example is,

I see lot of me in my daddy,

Especially when I jump into his bed,

And I snuggle up real close,

and see my reflection in his

 big

bald

head.

The collection offers kid appeal with such silly titles as, My feet stink. Does Your nose smell?/ Ode to spaghetti/ Ode to a peanut butter and Jelly sandwich and Rethinking Baths. On the other hand a few poems that are cleverly written have been thrown in like Rethinking Baths/ Isn’t Nature wonderful/ or one of my favorites, Homework Tip,

Whenever you do your homework

Pretend that you’re on a plane,

That makes it more like vacationwork

And it’s harder to complain.

Many of the poems in Proimos’ book are rhyme poems, occasionally you come across a different poetic element in his book, such as the poem, Happy Song done in Onomatopoeia style. Shoobie doobie/ha cha cha/ hee hee hee/sis boom bah.

James Proimos is the author of Joe’s Wish (1998) and The Loudness of Sam (1999).Also the series The Many Adventures of Johnny Mutton. This collection of poems is sure to grab even the youngest reader. Who knows they may even be inspired to write their own poem, after all the last poem in the book is called Surprise Surprise and it goes  like this:

 

Surprise Surprise

 

You’re not through.

 I just snuck in

How do you do?

 

Nice to meet you.

How have you been?

If you ever get to Poemland

You really must drop in.

 

I must be going,

Toodleloo.

If you want another poem

The writing’s up to you.

 

 

Lee Bock from Library Journal wrote this about If I Were In Charge The Rules Would Be Different, “The combination of a high-spirited child's voice and funny, unsophisticated line drawings is reminiscent of Dav Pilkey's work, but Proimos definitely has a unique style and an ear for what kids find humorous.”

 School Library Journal, Mar2002, Vol. 48 Issue 3, p219

Kirkus Review writes

“Proimos' (The Many Adventures of Johnny Mutton, not reviewed, etc.) poetry packs a wacky punch.” Available from www.Amazon.com. Accessed July 3, 2005

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