Review: The Dog Ate My Homework by Aaron James

THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK

and Other Poems for Children

by Aaron James

Clink Street Publishing

The Dog Ate My Homework by Aaron James is a collection of short poems that will capture your imagination. Filled with fun stories that make you think, laugh and tell your friends.
Do you remember your first day at school?
Or when you tried to convince your teacher you actually done your homework?
Or the excitement you felt when you bought your new pair of trainers?
In The Dog Ate My Homework you will get a chance to read all these stories and many more! 

 MY TIDBITS

Five short poems take kids into humorous situations they recognize, while introducing them to the wonderful world of poetry.

This book consists of five poems, six verses each. The four lines of each verse follow a very loose rhyming scheme. They are entertaining to read aloud and it's easy not to fall into the trap of becoming sing-songy. Each poem hits on a topic or situation kids can easily connect with and is sure to have them smiling. There's a little bit of humor along with a fun cleverness, which makes the poems a joy to read. This does follow British English, which American readers will notice in words such as trainers, instead of tennis shoes.

The illustrations are bright and bold, and follow the poems nicely. It's the kind of book, which doesn't have to be read in one sitting or in any particular order. Kids can search out their favorite poems time and again or only have one or two read at a time. There are several punctuation errors, and the rhymes do not always sit. . .which doesn't really pull away from the poetry when reading it.

All in all, it's a cute, little collection of rhymes and fun to read.


And here he is. . .

Born and raised in Tottenham, North London and today living in Bromley, South London with his wife, Aaron James works as a poet and spoken word artist. The Dog Ate My Homework is his first children’s poetry book.

Review: Hidden City by Sarah Grace Tuttle

HIDDEN CITY

Poems of Urban Wildlife

by Sarah Grace Tuttle

Illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Children Poems

32 pages

ages 3 and up

COMING. . .

MARCH 8th, 2018!!!

A poetic book highlighting everyday nature

The perfect blend of science and poetry, Hidden City demonstrates that nature can thrive anywhere, even in highly populated areas. In this graceful collection of poems, skyscrapers serve as perches for falcons, streetlights attract an insect buffet for hungry bats, and an overgrown urban lot offers shelter to both flora and fauna. Hidden City also includes engageing supplementary materials, which provide scientific information about the animals and plants featured in the book.

Coupled with beautiful collage illustrations, the poems in Hidden City offer readers the perfect reminder to notice and care about their environment. 

MY TIDBITS

Nature carries amazing variety and beauty even in urban settings, and this is exactly the splendor this book brings to life.

Accompanied by bright illustrations, twenty-eight free-verse poems open up a world of exciting nature even there where one doesn't expect it. Everything from moss to birds to insects is explored—most of it familiar but often not noticed or taken for granted. Young readers will recognize the creatures and plant life, and spot most if it in their own environment. It opens up to nature in places where nature is often forgotten, in cities and suburbs.

The poems are just right for young listeners, bringing attention to little details and fun moments. There's even a little humor sprinkled in. The actions, sights, sounds and feelings are easy for even younger listeners to understand and relate to. And the wording is crisp and clear, keeping boredom at bay. With each poem, a beautiful collage (usually over the two-page spread) allows the creatures and plants to come to life in vivid colors. It's fun just to explore these pictures.

At the end of the book, there is extra information about the various creatures and plants mentioned in the poems as well as additional sources.

This is a perfect read for young explores, who live in urban areas. It opens the eyes to nature in even the most unexpected spaces, and helps children gain a little more appreciation for the environment around them.





And here she is. . .

Sarah Grace Tuttle holds bachelor's degrees in environmental studies and English, as well as a master's degree in writing for children. Hidden City, her debut book, combines her passion for writing and her dedication to ecology. She lives in Massachusetts, where she helps facilitate a local conservation group.

You can link them to my website: www.sarahgracetuttle.com