FICTION

I Wish I Had a Pirate Hat

by Roger STEVENS
illus. by Lorna Scobie. 80p. Frances Lincoln. 2015. pap. $7.99. ISBN 9781847806185.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2–4—A few gems sparkle in this largely unremarkable compendium of poetry. The volume is divided into three sections—"Fun Time," "School Time," and "Home Time"—and the strongest poems, one about a pirate treasure map and another about the moon, bookend the collection. Many of the selections read like children's musings about their day, and while a handful close with a clever punch line, overall they feel unfinished. The poet relies heavily on onomatopoeia and uses rhythm and rhyme to serviceable effect. Reminiscent of kids' doodles, the accompanying drawings are friendly and cartoonish.
VERDICT A perfectly adequate effort, but young readers are better served by poets such as Bruce Lansky and Jack Prelutsky.
Reviewed by Lauren Strohecker, McKinley Elementary School, Abington School District, PA , Dec 01, 2015

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