The 150-plus poems and drawings collected in Douglas Florian's Bing Bang Boing speak to children's great fascinations, from the gleeful disgust of eating bugs to the jittery unrest of bumping--perhaps one day--into an unexpected monster. Yet it is Florian's creative wordplay that truly distinguishes this text. Take "Commas," for example: Do commas have mommas Who teach them to pause Who comfort and calm them And clean their sharp claws? Who tell them short stories of uncommon commas And send them to bed in their comma pajamas? Bing Bang Boing is officially recommended for ages nine to 11, but there is plenty in here for children as young as five years, particularly thanks to Florian's exuberant black-and-white line drawings. While a few of the poems seem slanted for adults ("
… read more...Welcome to suburbia / where life is so superbia"), the majority of this work will charm and engage a wide range of youngsters. With its goofy, fun-to-say title and its wealth of poetic experience inside, this playful collection is certain to become a popular family favourite along with Florian's well-loved Insectlopedia. (Ages five and older) -- Jean LenihanRead More read less...