divadiane's review against another edition
3.0
I'm afraid I'm a little disappointed in this collection. Most of the poems are not very good, and while the strange creatures described appeal to my 4 year old the vocabulary is a little too advanced for him. I don't mean that he shouldn't be exposed to good vocabulary, I don't spare him, but it takes a bit away from the fun if I have to explain 3 or 4 words in a 5 line poem. The watercolor drawings are fun, though and the longer poems are good and funny. It's telling that my son thought the best poem was the one about the Muffer (with no illustration):
SEE THE MUFFER
Above, you see the Muffer, who...
You don't?
Well, anyway, you see his tracks, the Muffer has gone to sup--
You don't?
Why that sly old beast...
I do believe he's gone and covered them up!
He thought it was hilarious and mad me read it over and over!
SEE THE MUFFER
Above, you see the Muffer, who...
You don't?
Well, anyway, you see his tracks, the Muffer has gone to sup--
You don't?
Why that sly old beast...
I do believe he's gone and covered them up!
He thought it was hilarious and mad me read it over and over!
emmaearlene's review against another edition
4.0
This book was fun and quirky, just like the rest of Shel Silverstein's books. The artwork wasn't my favorite. It's a little different from the style we more commonly see from him today. This was his first poetry collection to be released. The poems are cute and imaginative and introduce lots of imaginary creatures. I personally really enjoyed it!
karmakat's review against another edition
3.0
Shel Silverstein's first book of poems. Cute. Entertaining. But I think his later work really shows how much he developed.
jeanetterenee's review against another edition
3.0
This is Shel Silverstein's very first poetry collection. The poems and artwork may seem a bit primitive if you've been dazzled by his later work, but it was a good start. The illustrations are strange lumpish watercolors, not particularly impressive, but some of them are entertaining.
Here are my two favorite poems:
THE CONSIDERATE SOFT-SHELLED PHIZZINT
You'll never know an animal
more considerate of human feelings
than the Soft-Shelled Phizzint.
Someone has mistaken this one
for a pincushion
and he's too polite to say he isn't.
OOPS!
We've been caught by a Quick-Digesting Gink
And now we are dodging his teeth
And now we're restin'
In his small intestine,
And now we're back out on the street....
Here are my two favorite poems:
THE CONSIDERATE SOFT-SHELLED PHIZZINT
You'll never know an animal
more considerate of human feelings
than the Soft-Shelled Phizzint.
Someone has mistaken this one
for a pincushion
and he's too polite to say he isn't.
OOPS!
We've been caught by a Quick-Digesting Gink
And now we are dodging his teeth
And now we're restin'
In his small intestine,
And now we're back out on the street....
sonshinelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Shel Silverstein really knows the rules of poetry. He has flawless rhymes - unless he wants to play with them and break them, and then it works because he knows the rules so well. Some of these are super short, yet he always gets something across whether it's in a 2 page or 2 line poem. Love his imagination.
eitmreads's review
4.0
Poetry; Most appropriate for grades 3-4 to read alone or preK-3 to be read aloud by an adult
Shel Silverstein never disappoints. This is a fun, quick read with Silverstein's traditional silliness. I found myself laughing out loud while reading this book! I loved the fun names of the creatures in this book.
Shel Silverstein never disappoints. This is a fun, quick read with Silverstein's traditional silliness. I found myself laughing out loud while reading this book! I loved the fun names of the creatures in this book.
wetdryvac's review
5.0
Still a favorite, even if the entry about the Droan gave me the crawling horrors as a kid.
luann's review
3.0
This is a Shel Silverstein I hadn't read. On the cover it says that it was his first poetry collection. I can see a few flashes of his future brilliance here, but most of the poems just seem silly. They are fun to read aloud, though. I would like to read some of them with children and see the response. Here's one I liked:
THE WILD GAZITE
Late last night
I'd a terrible fight
With a wild Gazite
With eyes of white
And a fifty-foot height
And he gave me a fright
When he gave me a bite
And then squeezed me so tight.
But I fixed him, alright--
I turned on the light!
THE WILD GAZITE
Late last night
I'd a terrible fight
With a wild Gazite
With eyes of white
And a fifty-foot height
And he gave me a fright
When he gave me a bite
And then squeezed me so tight.
But I fixed him, alright--
I turned on the light!
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