Good Rhymes, Good Times!

by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Frané Lessac (Illustrations)

Lee Bennet Hopkins, noted anthologist and educator, has collected a group of witty and whimsical poems that celebrate the joy of reading. Karla Kuskin, Jack Prelutsky, and Arnold Lobel are just a few of the acclaimed children's book authors whose poems are joined into this delightful ode to the world of words. Wonderfully wacky illustrations by Harvey Stevenson help make this a rollicking good book––and a rollicking good time.

Genres: Poetry

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Lee Bennett Hopkins was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2017. He holds a Guinness Book of Records citation for compiling the most anthologies for children. He has also received the Christopher Award, the Regina Medal, and the National Council of Teachers of English Excellence in Poetry for Children Award. He lives in Florida.

For more information, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Ben...

Reviews

[Ali Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading all of these poems. Each poem has something that would appeal to kids. There are stories about snowfall, dogs sleeping with you, being sad that your animal is at the vet, etc. I enjoyed the poems because they were very short, spaced out and very easy to read. These would be great for children because they are so easy to read. Kids will like the length of them as well as how most of them rhyme. What kids don't like poems that rhymes?

I was also really drawn in by the illustrations. I caught myself spending more time on each page just looking at the drawings. They went along extremely well with the poems. One couldn't probably say what the poem was all about just by looking at the pictures. They are very colorful and take up the whole page which I really enjoyed. The drawings are pretty simple but they get the job done and are extremely fun to look at.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may be good for beginning readers. The poems are short and spaced out.

"Snow City" is a very short poem that describes how lovely snow is when it falls, and how it can get gross and mushy overnight.

[Larysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Kite"

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read "Winter". Great poetry!

[Savanna Kandiko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each poem has its own style as they all work together to form a collection. I like that the author narrates many of the poems from the eyes of a child, makes it more relatable.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining book of poems that will appeal to children. The poems are short and fun to read aloud. The illustrations, though somewhat rudimentary, are colorful and cartoonish. We enjoyed reading this book together.

My favorites:

No Matter

"No matter
how
hot-burning
it
is
outside

when

you peel
a
long, fat cucumber

or

cut deep
into
a
fresh, ripe watermelon

coolness

comes
into
your
hands." (p. 18)

Good Books, Good Times

"Good books.
Good times.
Good stories.
Good rhymes.
Good beginnings.
Good ends.
Good people.
Good friends.
Good fiction.
Good facts.
Good adventures.
Good acts.
Good stories.
Good rhymes.
Good books.
Good times." (p. 28)