WHAT’S THE WEATHER INSIDE?

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, / don’t be a dope. / Cut off your hair / and make your own rope.” These witty words are representative of the poems assembled in this clever, if not exceptional, collection. While the majority of the entries skew toward silly, some are more reflective. “The Simple Things,” for instance, begins: “If you’ve ever hiked for miles on end / on a trail that twists and climbs and bends / and you finally stop to take a rest— / well, that’s when simple things are best.” Blitt’s cartoon illustrations, done in pen, ink and watercolor, often extend the poems in creative ways. For instance, the cartoon accompanying “Please Peel My Peach”—which reads: “Fuzzy fruit I think is best / when fruit is more / and fuzz is less”—depicts a determined boy with a razor held to a lathered-up peach. Not an essential purchase, but the short, often-funny poems may draw in those who don’t typically seek out poetry. (Poetry. 6-10)