The Goof Who Invented Homework: And Other School Poems

A collection of poems on classroom life moves throughout the year to portray the ups and downs of typical school days with such pieces as, "My Lunch Is Buzzing," "Our Custodian's a Poet," and "Murder in the Fourth Grade."

Grade 3-5?Here are 36 more poems from the author of If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand (1990) and Don't Read This Book, Whatever You Do! (1993, both Four Winds). Most of the selections are good for a chuckle, and all are based on common elementary-school happenings. Some are thought-provoking and bittersweet, like "Back Away! Back Away!", a poem about a girl who dies, and "Murder in the Fourth Grade," about a student who forgets to feed the class goldfish. Dakos has a lighthearted style and shows much warmth and understanding of her audience. As in the previous books, she doesn't poke fun at children or at teachers. "Bonkers" is about Jason, whose continuous antics finally drive Ms. Hogan out the door, "...Bonk Bonk Bonkers!" But she comes back, willing to try again. Brunkus's black-and-white ink drawings reinforce the mood of the verses. Students will choose these poems for recitations and have fun reading them.?Betty Teague, Blythe Academy of Languages, Greenville, SC
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.