An eleven-year-old boy named Robert voices typicalmiddle-grade concerns in this unique, memorable collection of hilarious poems. His musings cover ...
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Oct 12, 2009
Sarah
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This is a highly enjoyable, unique book of poems. Through humorous concrete poetry, the author allows us to see into the world of a fictional 11-year-old boy. Each poem poses a creative way of looking at a situation—especially according to an 11-year-old boy. My favorite has to be “The Autobiography of Murray the Fart.” Using only a drawing of the outline of a cylindrical shape (which can be interpreted as a can of soda) and the arrangement of the words, Mr. Grandits is able to convey the jo
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Nov 21, 2011
Courtney
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This was my selection for my poetry book. This was a collection of concrete poems all about the life of a boy named Robert, who finds himself in so many stereotypical boy situations. There are poems not just about ituations but also about things he enjoys such as basketball. This was such an enjoyable and hilarious book. I think I laughed while reading every single one of the poems that were written in this book. My favorite poem was "The Thank You Letter",which included footnotes. I t
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Mar 20, 2009
Kerri
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3/15 - This looks cool because it is by the fictional little brother of the high school girl who "wrote" Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems. I loved that book but it was pretty much a high school read. This one might be good for middle schoolers since the main character is a middle schooler. We shall see...
3/21 - Finished it today and I was right! This is perfect for middle school and younger. My 10 year old laughed at a few of them (Autobiography of a Fart and the gravesto More...
3/21 - Finished it today and I was right! This is perfect for middle school and younger. My 10 year old laughed at a few of them (Autobiography of a Fart and the gravesto More...
Mar 09, 2010
Mary Ann
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Any book that has a poem called “The Autobiography of Murray the Fart” is going to make kids laugh and want to read more. These poems are all told from the point of view of Robert, an 11 year old boy who is clever but bored. “Technically, it’s not Robert’s fault that a concrete block fell on the car or that his sister’s homework got blown to smithereens. Really, he doesn’t try to cause trouble. He’s just an ordinary kid who likes pizza and sports and computer games.” Grandits creates visually en
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Mar 23, 2010
Wiola703
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Even though I'm not finished with this book, I can already say its really good, I read the first book "Blue Lipstick" which is about a girl named Jessie struggling through her middle school years. Both books are written in "poem" form, The really cool thing is that it's written in all crazy ways, this book is short so be sure that you have an extra book in hand, becuase once you start reading this, you can't stop. It's like an addiction, a drug, haha nice comparison to a book
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May 21, 2010
Bethany
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A school bus that eats children, the autobiography of a fart, an annotated thank you letter for a hideous sweater, and the best excuse for not mowing the lawn are just a few of the poems in this collection. Each concrete poem is told from the perspective of Robert, an 11-year-old boy who likes skateboards, video games, and tricking the class bully. The poems are funny, gross, goofy, sarcastic, and insightful--much like a pre-teen boy. Even readers who don't like poetry can get into these poem
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Nov 19, 2009
Becky
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Awesome, just wonderful! This was my first experience of concrete poems, at least a whole book of them and I loved it. I liked how the character of Robert was throughout the book. Also, this would be great for a middle school and possibly an intermediate class. It would just show them that poems can come in all different formats. It would be really interesting to see the kids do their own concrete poems.
Mar 14, 2010
Daleb.
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Very interesting stories, poems, thoughts, etc. about/by/from a pre teen boys perspective!
I thought a few of these could have been written by my 13 yr old nephew Andrew.
Gross as it was i think my favorite one was the TyrannosaurBus Rex. And the "What are you thinking about Robert?" & "The thank-you letter w/footnotes" were hillarious also
xoDaleB.xo
I thought a few of these could have been written by my 13 yr old nephew Andrew.
Gross as it was i think my favorite one was the TyrannosaurBus Rex. And the "What are you thinking about Robert?" & "The thank-you letter w/footnotes" were hillarious also
xoDaleB.xo
Feb 01, 2012
Carrie
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Highly imaginative collection of concrete poems follows Robert through the thoughts and interests of an 11 year old boy, my favorite being a thank you letter complete with snarky footnotes. Predecessor to Blue Lipstick, which tells the story of Robert's sister through her own style of concrete poetry.
Aug 28, 2011
Jill
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This is really well done. Poems written from the point of view of an eleven-year-old boy named Robert. It's funny at times and very familiar topics for a 'tween aged kid. Not really for a younger audience, although younger kids would enjoy some of the poems.
Nov 23, 2009
Kris
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All I have to do is read the poem on the cover of this book, and kids clamor for it. Grandits has such a fantastic sense of humor, and his voice as this kid, Robert, rings true. For kids who say they don't like poetry, this book will hook them.
Apr 02, 2008
Middle School - Poetry
Technically, It’s Not My Fault
By John Grandits
Take a look at Robert’s crazy view of the world through a series of poems that are shaped into pictures and patterns.
Here Robert takes his new skateboard to the 7-Eleven parking lot; is kicked out, and goes to the park, is kicked out, and goes home, and is kicked out.
Robert also enjoys playing a little bball, dribbling up the court, making a lay-up, the ball going around a More...
Technically, It’s Not My Fault
By John Grandits
Take a look at Robert’s crazy view of the world through a series of poems that are shaped into pictures and patterns.
Here Robert takes his new skateboard to the 7-Eleven parking lot; is kicked out, and goes to the park, is kicked out, and goes home, and is kicked out.
Robert also enjoys playing a little bball, dribbling up the court, making a lay-up, the ball going around a More...
Nov 12, 2011
Dayna
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A cute collection of concrete poems from a teenage boy's point of view. If you've read Blue Lipstick, this book is from her brother's perspective. A wonderful way to get young readers to begin looking at poetry as something for them.
Jun 02, 2009
Anna
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I love this book of concrete poetry. My favorite poem is "DRAWKCAB" ("backward" spelled backward!). I cracked up at the part when the teacher asked the kid if he was having a seizure. So genuinely funny. The other poems in the book were entertaining, too. This is an awesome way to teach kids about this form of poetry.
May 04, 2011
Andrea
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Perfect example of concrete poetry. Plus, any poem entitled "The Autobiography of Murray the Fart" will be humorous enough for the middle school crowd. LOVED IT.
Mar 19, 2010
Maria
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I love the fonts and way that the poems build pictures both with evacative images and the words themselves are they are tossed out on the page. I wish that my English teachers had used this book to teach poetry.
Mar 09, 2011
Jenna
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I now love these types of poems they are funny and creative. Many people will enjoy reading with the way the author writes the peom.
Apr 01, 2010
Roxanne
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A great Concrete poetry book. I read a review of it online and had to pick it up and read it. Very funny.
Mar 14, 2010
Mark
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Very short book with some splendid and funny concrete poems. Definitely a must-use next time I teach concrete poems.
Apr 18, 2011
MsLarkin
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Laugh out loud funny poems. Great to introduce students to the humor and liveliness of words.
Jan 02, 2012
Paige Y.
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Loved this book -- just wished it were a little longer so I could enjoy it more.
Nov 03, 2008
Susan
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Robert, an 11 year old (fictional) boy who I may possibly be related to since he sounds an awful lot like one of my sons, writes this collection of concrete poems from the Thank-You Letter (very funny) and his thoughts on the Australian Cane Toad (hey, my kid did a whole report on those!), and important subjects like Octopus wrestling and the Autobiography of Murray the Fart (I kid you not). Boys will get over their Emily Dickensonian phobias when they realize poetry can embrace their inner Cap
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Nov 28, 2009
Lauren
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Extremely creative and funny collection of concrete poems that are told either about or by the main character, Robert. Great book to get upper elementary students into poetry, especially boys.
Oct 29, 2009
Jillian
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I liked Grandits concrete poems for young adult girls better, but that's probably because I'm a girl:) Very creative.
