
A parent would reach for this book to share a pure, silly moment of laughter and to introduce a child to the joy of poetry without any pressure. This is a perfect antidote for a child who is feeling a bit too literal, or for any kid who loves wordplay and absurd ideas. This collection of short, nonsensical poems and "not so true" stories features characters like a man who eats his hat and a hippo who flies with an umbrella. The book’s core theme is the boundless delight of imagination, encouraging creative thinking and celebrating the joyfully ridiculous. Appropriate for ages 4 to 8, its clever rhymes build vocabulary and phonological awareness in a way that feels like pure play. Younger children will love the rhythm and whimsical collage art, while older children will appreciate the puns and inventiveness. It is a wonderful choice for showing that stories and poems don’t have to make sense to be smart, funny, and deeply enjoyable.
None. The book is pure whimsy and humor. It is a completely secular and lighthearted text with no engagement with sensitive topics like death, divorce, or social issues. The resolution of each poem is simply the punchline of its absurd premise.
The ideal reader is a 4 to 7-year-old who loves silly words and funny ideas, especially a child just starting to play with language, make up words, or appreciate puns. It is also an excellent choice for a more literal-minded child who could benefit from a gentle push into imaginative, non-linear thinking and understand that stories can be fun for fun's sake.
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Sign in to write a reviewNo preparation is needed. The book can be read cold, as the joy is in the surprise of each poem. Parents can lean into the absurdity and encourage their child to do the same. Previewing is not necessary. A parent notices their child is taking everything very literally ("But a hippo can't *really* fly!"). Or, a parent is looking for a fun, accessible way to introduce poetry that isn't sappy or overly serious, seeking something to simply share a laugh over during story time.
A 4-year-old will be captivated by the rhythm, rhyme, and the whimsical collage art, laughing at the funny pictures of animals doing impossible things. A 7 or 8-year-old will have a greater appreciation for the clever wordplay, the puns, and the "not so true" concept. They may be inspired to write their own unreasonable rhymes.
While many poetry books for kids are humorous (like those by Shel Silverstein or Jack Prelutsky), Berger's unique, vintage-inspired collage art gives this book a distinctive, sophisticated, yet whimsical visual style. The seamless integration of text and image makes it feel less like a collection of gags and more like a beautifully curated gallery of absurd wonders.
This book is a collection of fourteen short, rhyming poems and micro-stories that present absurd, surreal scenarios. Examples include a man who eats his hat, a girl who lives in a shoe, a fish that climbs a tree, and a hippo that uses an umbrella to fly. Each piece is a self-contained bit of nonsense verse, accompanied by intricate collage illustrations created from old letters, stamps, and ephemera. The "stories" are more like imaginative vignettes than narratives with a plot, focusing entirely on wordplay and impossible situations.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.