Like Alan Katz, Brod Baggert writes poems to which elementary students can relate--fighting at recess, keeping secrets or taking tests. What parent hasn't heard their own children complain about there being "nothing to do"--even on summer vacation! These poems are perfect for introducing poetry to elementary students, or for filling in a few minutes between transitions. The colorful illustrations add to the book's appeal.

Summary
This is a book filled with humorous poems for children. It broadens their imagination by encouraging them to explore their world. With poems about embarrassing moments and fun adventures, it is sure to be a favorite.
Personal Reflection
My favorite poem was “Night Pictures.” This is a poem about constellations. A child sees the constellations and does not understand the reason for their names. She claims they do not look like the things they are named after.
Classroom Extensions
1. Use the poem “Paleontology” to teach the children about paleontology. Give each child a Chips O’ Hoy cookie (soft kind) and ask them to dig out all of the chocolate chips with a spoon. Explain this is similar to how paleontologists dig for dinosaurs.
2. Use “The Easter Kitchen” to talk about Easter. Then with protective sheets for everything, dye eggs. ( )

this book is full of funny little poems sure to brighten your day! pretty and vivid pictures go with every poem.

A delightful collection of rhymes and poems that feature excellent illustrations, and discuss the nature of everyday frustrations we all encounter as well as poems of celebration and adventure. The poems are short and the accompanying illustrations really spark the imagination. This collection would be great for young children as they talk about their fears, frustrations, and joys in a humorous way.

Bagert, Brod. Chicken socks and other contagious poems. (1993). Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Wordsong.

Each of the 22 poems in this collection addresses common features of the day-to-day life of a child. The poems are often short, but some are longer. They address universal themes such as a boy crying about his friend moving away, public embarrassment, the consequences of lying, wanting to be good but sometimes being bad, boredom in summer, and more. The speakers are primary elementary school-aged children.

The poems’ purposes are to deal lightly and humorously with situations children commonly find themselves in. Almost all of the poems have a bright, light rhythm that reflects the lighthearted way themes are addressed in the poems. The simple rhymes and repetition accomplish the same purpose. While sensory language and figurative language aren’t used very much in these poems, the writer does use imaginative and sometimes outrageous features. In one poem a little girl whose pants have split in front of everyone closes her eyes and believes she has now disappeared. In another, a boy claims he eats worms at every meal and is now ready for lizard stew. The bright, colorful illustrations reflect the humorous tone of the poems. Though the tone of the poems are humorous and lighthearted, they make important connections with feelings and events children experiences in their daily lives. ( )