A Moon in Your Lunch Box: Poems (Redfeather Books)

A collection of poems celebrates feelings and thoughts, seasons and changes, and are complemented by illustrations that create patterns of textures, colors, and words.

Grade 3-5-- A collection of 43 short poems arranged to suggest the passing seasons. The selections deal with things such as dragonflies, mud, mosquitoes, the Fourth of July, Columbus Day, trimming the tree, winter dreams, and, of course, the moon. The problem here is not the subject matter, but the uninspired imagery and lackluster language. Not one of these poems is likely to stir up anything resembling delight. Several have tidy morals tacked on, while others are silly or inane. Even the concrete poetry doesn't work well; the words are too hard to read and not worth the effort. --Ellen D. Warwick, Robbins Junior Library, Arlington, MA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Spooner's first book for young people is an appealing seasonal cycle, thematically linked by the moon--symbol of change and mystery and a rich source of other imagery. These 43 carefully cadenced poems reveal a well-tuned ear but rarely employ conventional rhyme schemes; e.e. cummings seems to have inspired not only the poet's language but its arrangement and often his subjects as well. Spooner has a special ability to evoke imaginative, childlike rumination and delight (``Mud Love'': ``my little bare feet/squirm sweetly in the mud/and the mud/grubbies them snugly/mud gloves...snuggles them grubbily/mud love''). He uses apt comparisons to startle readers into new insights (``Small Miracles'': looking at the world through a telescope, a kaleidoscope, and a poem) and, frequently, evocative phrases (``this great wet walloping day''). Humor isn't the dominant note, but there's enough for leavening. A few holiday poems seem weak, as do the concrete poems; still, kids will enjoy decoding them, and ``Fourth of July,'' an airy mimicry of an exploding rocket--or of the marigold to which it's succinctly compared--is charming. A welcome new voice. Illustrations not seen. (Poetry. 6-12) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.