TONGUE TEASERS

Author-illustrator Knight’s book of rhyming poems emphasizes fun, wordplay, and imagination.

The rhyming metered verse of many of the works in this book could prepare a young reader to love, instead of fear, classic poetry. “Bubba Bogans,” for instance, is an enjoyably silly poem with sound devices that echo the work of Alfred, Lord Tennyson: “Again, aboard the boat he’d bought, / Upon the billowed brine, / A hopeful Bubba Bogans sought / The creature’s island shrine.” In “Book Problem,” a tome named Sarah has a crush on a hardcover named Ben, but she’s too shy to tell him: “So days went by, then weeks and months, / And soon her friends agreed / That Ben was great except that he / Was just too hard to read.” “The Giant,” short and sharp, reads like a Leonard Cohen work for kids: “Strong and fierce the giant came / And tore the town to tatters. / He caught the king then - never mind, / That’s all that really matters.” There’s no shortage of puns throughout the book, as well. In “The Sun,” the titular heavenly body plans a feast and that learns no one will share it: “The poor sunset his table for one.” Some poems are song lyrics, and a QR code on the first page of the book links to accompanying music. Poems about butts, flatulence, and boogers come in quick succession in “Double Moon Dilemma,” “Jacuzzi,” and “Booger,” respectively. Other works, though, are more sensitive and revealing: “The Tribe,” for instance, is about valuing things other than appearances and material wealth; “Soar Like a Ninja” effectively acknowledges the existence of external and internal bullies. The narcissistic speaker of “Number One” may help young readers spot such unpleasant behavior in real life. Knight’s black-and-white pen-and-ink drawings initially seem like mere doodles, but they prove to be incredibly complex; some of the more fantastical poems end with wildly detailed two-page spreads. There’s an undeniably addictive quality to this book, and the rhythm and irrepressible images will likely make youngsters want to keep reading

A smart, hilarious, and highly creative poetry collection.