Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters: Poems [Hardcover]

Lee Bennett Hopkins (Author), Wolf Erlbruch (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

It was simply the worst
the most terrible day.
Nothing
but NOTHING
was going my way.

Ever have one of those days? The narrators of these fifteen poems have. They've had worm-in-the-apple days, friends-moving-away days, even forgetting-my-pants days!

If you've ever wondered whether anyone else knows what it's like to have a really bad day, this special collection of poignant -- and funny -- poems is for you.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5 - These 14short poems all depict little moments of being human. The disasters referred to in the subtitle range from big to small, from comic ("Hello apple!/Shiny red./CHOMP. CHOMP./Hello worm./Where's your head?") to sad (a child is shown holding a dead rabbit, a classroom pet: "His tall straight ears, his long quick feet/Trailed like falling velvet drapes."). Embarrassment, shame, fear, chagrin: all of these feelings are so common in childhood that a collection of poems about them seems natural. Erlbruch, a well-known German artist, creates pictures that show this range of emotions beautifully. At first glance, they are deceptively simple and spare. A closer look reveals that what seems to be a quietly colored drawing actually has the subtle variation in texture of a collage. Ample white space, simple backgrounds, and a font that looks both childlike and elegant all combine to enhance this lovely book. A winner from a prolific poet/editor/compiler and a talented illustrator. - Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
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About the Author

Lee Bennett Hopkins was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 1938. As a child Mr. Hopkins read little other than comic books and movie magazines until a teacher inspired in him a love of the theater and of reading. He credits this teacher with his lifelong interest in education.

Mr. Hopkins began teaching sixth grade at a public school in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, in 1960. He enjoyed his job, and in his third year at Westmoreland School in Fair Lawn, he became the school's resource teacher, providing curricular support materials for the elementary school teachers. It was while serving in this position that Mr. Hopkins first used poetry to help children with reading problems.

In 1968 Mr. Hopkins became a curriculum and editorial specialist at Scholastic, Inc. His career as a writer soared. More than two dozen of his books were published during his eight-year tenure there. In 1976 Mr. Hopkins left his job at Scholastic in order to become a full-time writer and anthologist.

Mr. Hopkins is widely recognized as the nation's spokesperson for Children's Poetry. He has edited and written numerous books for children as well as several professional texts, including Pauses: Autobiographical Reflections of 101 Creators of Children's Books and Pass the Poetry, Please!, and his column, "Poetry Plus," is a regular feature in Creative Classroom magazine. Mr. Hopkins has been honored with the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for "lasting contributions to Children's Literature."

Mr. Hopkins served on the Board of Directors of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) from 1975 to 1978; NCTE Commission on Literature (1982-1985); and NCTE Children's Literature Assembly (1984-1987); and he twice chaired the NCTE Poetry Award Committee. He is also the donor of both the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, presented by Penn State University, and the Lee Bennett Hopkins/International Reading Association Promising Poet Award.

The recipient of a Christopher Award and the University of Southern Mississippi's Medallion for "lasting contributions to childrens literature," Mr. Hopkins lives in Westchester County and Greenwich Village, New York.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (March 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068817860X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688178604
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Introduce your child to poetry!, July 4, 2010

By 

M. Paolini "Mommy Reader" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters: Poems (Hardcover)

This is a delightful book of poetry that I pretty much bought to indulge myself. At the time I didn't think that my son would really have a need for it, so I was thrilled when his 2nd grade teacher ended up assigning a book report to read an entire book of poetry and pick one that is your favorite.

The best aspect of the book is that it has good, old-fashioned BOY humor. My son pulls this off his shelf constantly, just to laugh at the pictures and re-read the goofiness.

This is one book that won't be going in the Garage Sale pile for a very long time!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hasty haircuts and other kid-sized calamities, May 18, 2005

By 

E. S. Will "a new leaf" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters: Poems (Hardcover)

This review first appeared in the "Ephrata (PA) Review."

Calamities every child can identify with-a friend moving away, homesickness at camp, not catching the fly ball that gives the other team the game-are bemoaned in this compendium of 14 light-hearted poems, each by a different poet.

The caricature illustrations are Calvinesque-little kids with big expressions, often bewildered or discomfited, on their faces.

This is a good book for kids who delight in words and who can identify with those awkward and awful moments of life. ... May they be few and far between!