I Must Go Down to the Beach Again
by Karen Jo Shapiro;Illustrated by Judy Love
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
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Reviewed by Elysabeth Eldering
Karen Jo Shapiro has had a lifelong passion for writing silly poetry. However, she always does it with great respect. In this book, she has written parodies of 23 classic poems--both British and American--well-known poems from the masters like Shakespeare, Poe, Dickinson, Browning, et al. And it is apparent that she knows the sources well.
I was familiar with was the "Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble" poem taken from Shakespeare's Macbeth. That being said, the poems were fun. Children will enjoy this book and learn new poems based on the classics.
The illustrations enhance each poem by showing what the poem is about. Since the poems are all parodies, the funny pictures, like the hand pulling his sister's hair on "To My Brother" really makes one want to giggle out loud. Some are just silly and entertaining.
Because I Could Not Stop My Bike, her 2003 book of poetry parodies, received Bank Street Books Best Children's Book of the Year and the Cincinnati’s Librarian's Choice 2003.
A great way to inspire our future. This book is a way for parents to involve their kids in reading poetry and learning to appreciate the classic poems by having a little fun with them."
Armchair Interviews says: This is a wonderful resource for teachers to introduce poetry and the classics.
Author's Web site: http://www.KarenJoShapiro.com