Oh, Grow Up!: Poems to Help You Survive Parents, Chores, School, and Other Afflictions

Heide, Florence Parry; Pierce, Roxanne Heide

ISBN 10: 0531087719 ISBN 13: 9780531087718

Publisher: Orchard Books, 1996

Synopsis

A zany collection of poetry about the trials and tribulations of a youngster's life explains how to cope with parents, chores, the class bully, older sisters and younger brothers, the school cafeteria, braces, and more.

About this title

About the Author

Nadine Bernard Westcott has illustrated numerous books for children. She lives in Nantucket, MA with her husband, Bill.

From Publishers Weekly

Dealing with annoying circumstances can try the patience of even a saintly child, but this droll collection from Heide (Tales for the Perfect Child) and her daughter is bound to fortify young readers suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous childhood. "I only have one life to live," laments the narrator of a poem titled "Advice," but "my parents want to live it." Another says, "I used to hate sharing./ Now it seems good./ I share my chores?/ I think everyone should." Westcott's (Never Take a Pig to Lunch and Other Poems About the Fun of Eating) waggish, detailed watercolors provide more than half the book's amusement. As fit punishment for a sister who hogs the bathroom plucking her eyebrows, Westcott depicts the younger brother camping out in the bathtub in full snorkeling regalia. Although the poems' rhythms and rhymes are sometimes uneven, both text and art focus on children of good humor and high energy who cleverly cope with familiar ordeals. Whether these narrators are being grounded or outnumbered, their complaints are earnest rather than churlish, heartfelt rather than whiny, and always full of fun. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Orchard Books
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0531087719
• ISBN 13: 9780531087718
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Westcott Nadine Bernard