Kids Pick the Funniest Poems

Kids Pick the Funniest Poems

Selected by Bruce Lansky 
Meadowbrook Press(1991) ISBN: 088166149X

This book of poetry is a compilation of poems Lansky “tested” on 300 elementary school children. Lansky, a children’s poet himself, began with over 20,000 children’s poems and with careful selection and elimination by his young panel, he was able to narrow it to the contents of this book.  The poems are organized according to subject: Me, Parents, Brothers and Sisters, Friends, School, Disasters, Monsters, Strange Stories, and Advice. These categories make it easy for any reader--adult or child-to find a poem that connects to him or her. It’s interesting to notice how certain topics generate specific connotations. For example, poems in the “Parents” section, revolve around rules and how parents regulate their children capturing a true rebellious spirit.

Quantitative: Lexile Level--760; ATOS not available.

Qualitative: This book of poetry is best for elementary level students, specifically ages 5-10. According to “Achieving the Core,” this poetry book would be geared towards students in grades 4 and 5. Vocabulary introduced in many of the poems ranks in the Lexile “PowerV” word selector. Many of these words are descriptive or a form of onomatopoeia, which could pose a challenge for a younger reader.

Content Area: English; Health--Relationships; Health-Tolerance.

Curriculum Suggestions: Many of the poems in this book could be used for teaching poetry and literary devices including onomatopoeia and rhyme schemes. In addition, the poems could be used to emphasize relationships between students and the people and their experiences in their lives. Furthermore, the poems could be used as a starting point for teaching tolerance and the ways students can control their emotions and reactions to sensitive situations.

Common Core Standards: RL.4.1, 2, 4, 9.

Additional/Digital Content:

• Poetry for Kids--http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/poetry-writing-lessons/

• Children writing and publishing--

http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional-development/childlit/ChildrenLit/childpublishing.html

• Teaching Tolerance--http://www.tolerance.org/meaningful-discussions

*Meets the "Poetry aimed at ages 5-10" requirement