Viorst's collection of over fifty poems expresses wry humor about and sharp observation of the range of feelings children experience in their everyday lives. Subjects include school, friends, and family; the strongest poems go to the heart of feelings (such as the one about breaking up with a best friend). White's illustrations bring zany humor, and even sometimes add their own little twist.

Viorst's most famous book is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and this collection of over fifty poems expresses the same wry humor and sharp observation about the range of feelings children experience in their everyday lives. Viorst plays with school subjects such as reading, writing, and "arithmetrick" (in the "School Stuff" section), and there are poems about competition with friends (the "Friends and Other People" section), bossy moms ("About the Family"), and the mystery of time sometimes seeming fast and sometimes slow. But the strongest poems go to the heart of feelings, such as worrying: "I like the sun hot on my back. / If killer sharks did not attack, / I'd like beaches." One especially poignant piece deals with breaking up with a best friend: "We've never had an argument, or even a small fuss, / But I'm not my best friend's best friend anymore." White's illustrations bring zany humor to the poems, and even sometimes add their own little twist, as in "Whoops," where a poem about trying to reach something high up is pictured with someone reaching for a treasure chest on the back of a dragon. From a riff on The Sound of Music ("My Least Favorite Things") to a clever poem pondering the purpose of toes, this collection will delight kids and the adults who read it aloud, too. susan dove lempke

The title of Viorst's latest collection of poetry for children provides an open invitation for readers not only to ponder feelings in general, but to examine their reactions to the assembled poems as well. Complemented by White's free-flowing mixed-media illustrations, the light lyric pieces cover topics ranging from "School Stuff" to descriptions of the seasons, with the most memorable poems centering on personal and familial relations. The reasons "Why Cats Are Better Than My Older Sister" include (but are not limited to) the following: "They never tell you what to do. / They never ever yell at you. / They don't think that they're always right. / They're prettier to look at, too." In "New Brother," trenchant free-verse anti-new-sibling sentiment is hilariously underscored by White's rendering of a smiling, swaddled babe strapped to a rocket heading "To Mars." But some stumbles make for an uneven reading experience. There are occasional grammatical lapses, as found in "Could Somebody Please Explain This to Me, Please?," which hinges on subject-verb disagreement, and questionable messages, as offered in "Help Me!": "Help me please with all my / Ninety-seven other chores. / Then help me make excuses / When you ask for help with yours." Though likely made in the service of humor or adopting a child's persona, such poetic choices might give adult readers less to be "glad" than "mad about." An unusually mixed bag. (Poetry. 6-10)

In poems grouped into categories including school, family, and friends, Viorst thoughtfully explores the ups and downs of children's lives, without glossing over tough moments-or humans' sometimes less-than-admirable instincts. In one poem, the narrator contemplates her somewhat distant father's happiness ("He's always watching over us./ Here's what I want to know:/ Is anyone watching over him?"), while a retaliatory entry later on addresses "What to Do with a Bully" ("You could give him a fat lip,/ Stick your foot out-make him trip"). In loose cartoons accented with a drab pale blue, White (The Maine Coon's Haiku) amplifies the strong emotions at play, from delight in a grandfather's grilled-cheese-making prowess to sadness over losing a best friend (White shows a girl staring sadly out the window, a severed tin-can "phone" in her hand). Whatever readers' mood may be, they will probably find a poem that suits it. Ages 6-9. Author's agent: Mickey Choate, Choate Agency. Illustrator's agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 3-6-In this newest collection of poetry, Viorst captures the experience of childhood through 11 rich categories, such as school, family, friends, and seasons. With a rhyming narrative, humor, and a sampling of haiku, Viorst touches on themes relevant to children, including losing friendships, bullying, coping with bothersome siblings, and facing fears. White's soft, whimsical illustrations help create an imaginative space for readers to explore troubling emotions. In "The Best and the Worst," for instance, a young boy walks a tightrope of Christmas lights between his parents, with his dad offers a surfboard on one side and his mom a horse on the other. Viorst writes, "They'd promise me Hawaii/They'd promise me a horse,/If that made me not notice/They're getting a divorce." Other, more humorous verse lightens the mood. In "Arithmetrick," Viorst challenges kids to take any number, and after a series of calculations, they'll realize they end up with the number 10. Children will delight in figuring out the trick and trying it out on others. VERDICT Although there are missteps with some rhymes, generating an uneven selection, Viorst's comedic talents, ability to engage readers, and coverage of universal topics make this an appealing choice.-Rachel Zuffa, Racine Public Library, WI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.