I Invited a Dragon to Dinner: And Other Poems to Make You Laugh Out Loud (Hardcover)

by Chris L. Demarest (Illustrator) "One mouse moved into my house..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Poems that rhyme chorus with tyrannosaurus, ask whether tarantulas shampoo the hair on their legs, and describe a girl who turns into a human pickle... What's not to love? In this boisterous collection of verses by 23 new poets who won a nationwide contest, silliness reigns supreme:

I'm feeling quite froggy
'Cause the ground is so soggy.
It has rained every day for a week!
My skin's turning green
Flies look yummy to me,
And I'm starting to croak when I speak!

Cartoony illustrations by Chris L. Demarest (Firefighters A to Z) are as much fun as the poems, featuring wild-haired children, greedy dragons, mooses and gooses (or is it meese and geese?), and a whole lot of verse-inspired bedlam. Readers of all ages will fall on the floor in giggle-fits--and then they might just pick up a pen and try a little creative versifying themselves. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
This collection showcases the work of 23 new poets who were chosen in a nationwide contest. Unfortunately, the rhythm in many of the poems sounds the same and the verses revisit well-trod themes such as wacky parents, improbable animals in inappropriate places and outlandish dietary requests. Demarest (Firefighters A to Z), too, uncharacteristically uninspired, usually opts for the most literal interpretation of each verse. However, youngsters new to the genre will appreciate the silliness and puns, and some of the poems stand out, such as Dave Crawley's "The Attic": "There's a rumble in the attic./ A grumble in the attic./ I fear I hear (it's very clear)/ A stumble in the attic." Robert Ora Thomas offers the tale of the multitasking "Billy Bupper" who likes to combine eating and playing. The boy dresses by putting various sandwich fixings in his clothing, "So when Billy does a somersault/ He also makes his lunch." In the accompanying illustration, one of Demarest's strongest, an arc of food rises above both the catapulted boy and the words of the poem. And in Andrea Perry's cheekily sacrilegious "Bedtime Prayer," the narrator beseeches God to "Deliver me, Lord, From car sickness, blisters, and cold sores, and then,/ Don't forget liver and onions. Amen." An entertaining diversion. Ages 3-7.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (March 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399235671
• ISBN-13: 978-0399235672
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,546,919 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These Poems are Funny!, April 8, 2002

By A Customer

The subtitle -- Poems to Make You Laugh Out Loud -- says it all. These poems are funny! Much of the humor comes from food. We meet dining dragons, "Detestable Vegetables" and a kid who makes his lunch while doing gymnastics. Some of the giggles are accompanied by shivers, as in the delightfully spooky "The Attic." The humor is quite sophisticated in "Thoughts I was Thinking While Drinking My Juice," which explores the quirky way the English language works. This book offers laughter on every page for kids and the grownups who read to them!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift, May 14, 2002

By	Anne Isenhower (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

The quirky and fun poems made me laugh out loud. Each so different from another, their creativity was delightful. It will be a pleasure to give this book for birthday presents to the little ones on my list.

4.0 out of 5 stars Get your nonpoetry reader to read poetry..., August 8, 2007

By	Rebecca Flynn "Tells It Like It Is" (Peach State) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Book has laugh-out-loud, gross-a-grownup-out,keep-a-kids-attention, silly, silly poetry. Help your reader see a fun side to the arts, and/or tap into his/her own creativity. Enjoy some stress free reading sessions. Occassionally, don a silly hat,wig, or outfit when you read to your child and let him do the same when reading to you! When (if) your youngster outgrows this book, donate it to a preschool, elementary school or library - somebody will be grateful you did!