Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking, written by Alan Katz and illustrated by Edward Koren. Simon & Schuster, 2011. $19.99 ages 8 and up

"It Doesn't Compute
Daddy's downloading music.
Mommy's downloading pix.
Sister's downloading homework.
Brother's downloading flicks.
Grandma's downloading health forms,
and I have a really big hunch:
They're so busy on their computers,
no one's free to download me lunch."

Oh boy! Here's a grand grouping of 100 fabulous, funny poems to share with kids...to let them know that poetry is accessible and possible for everyone. Alan Katz is concerned about the number of kids who never have a chance to hear and come to love poetry. So, he wrote this new book as a companion to OOPS (Simon & Schuster, 2008) and promises that some of the royalties for each one sold will go to Reading is Fundamental. Now, there is a worthy cause!

He says that we think nothing of buying a Starbucks for $4.00, and he promises that for just 18 cents (20 cents in Canada) a poem, you can buy 100 poems that will delight and enchant children with the power of language and the inspiration to try writing some of their own. He encourages all adults to learn more about the power of poetry by checking out http://www.helpthepoemless.org/.

He fills this new book with poems that kids will love, and want to read over and over again. They are short and silly, and in keeping with the books that he has created since first writing Take Me Out of the Bathtub (Simon & Schuster, 2001). He wants to make reading fun, and he wants to include kids and their many foibles in the books that he writes for them.

This one has special meeting for our family:

"Disconcerting

My sister plays the violin -
we're here at her recital.
To compliment her in the end,
Mom says is really vital.
She screeches and she scratches,
and I know she's really trying.
Not sure if this is Clair de Lune, 
or outside, a cat is dying." 

Erin won't be pleased, but her brother will appreciate that someone voiced his feelings accurately...and in ryhme!

And this is for my friend and former kindergarten partner, Liz:

"Shhhh...

Please don't bang!
Or slam!
Or buzz!
And please no loud
bansheeing!
Do not click!
And do not clunk!
I'm onomatopoeiaing."

Get out there and spend your 18 cents (well, 20) per poem for a good cause...your kids!