Guess Again!: Riddle Poems

by Lillian Morrison

This lyrical picture book of 20 clever riddles challenges young readers to use their imagination to solve the word and picture puzzles.
"Easy to open, no need to unlock it. Sometimes it's small enough to carry in your pocket. But when it is open it can carry you through fascinating spaces like a far-flying rocket." Who doesn't love riddles? Lillian Morrison and Christy Hale. the collaborators behind the highly acclaimed It Rained All Day That Night , reteam in a clever fusion of poetry and art to pose nearly two dozen original brainteasers. These riddles range from the simple to the silly, and address topics ranging from natural science to language play. This fun collection will have youngsters posing these riddles to others as well as inventing new ones of their own!

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books

48 pages, Hardcover

First published February 20, 2006

About the author

Lillian Morrison's interest in poetry resulting from playing rhyming games with her friends such as jump rope and patty cake. As an adult, she wanted to make poetry fun and accessible for children. In her quest to become a writer, she earned one of her bachelor's degrees at Rutgers University in New Jersey and then another at Columbia University in New York.

She worked for many years at the New York Public Library in young adult services and was recognized as the recipient of the American Library Association's Grolier Award in 1987 for her contributions to stimulating the interests of young people through reading. She was particularly interested in folk rhymes, outdoor sports, dance, jazz and film, saying, "I love rhythms, the body movement implicit in poetry, explicit in sports--I am drawn to athletes, dancers, drummers, jazz musicians, who transcend misery and frustration and symbolize for us something joyous, ordered, and possible in life."

She spent nearly fifty years working at the New York Public Library and, during this time, also served as a lecturer at the schools where she developed her education, Rutgers and Columbia Universities.

Reviews

[Mairéad]

Full of rhyming riddles with varying levels of difficulty this illustrated book would be an excellent oral language prompt with children aged 7+. I particularly liked the clues hidden in the illustrations designed to help you solve each riddle.

[The Brothers]

The riddles in this picture book are pretty easy but it's still fun to guess at them.

Illustrations are basic.

[Ting Zhang]

The book “Guess Again!” was written by Lillian Morrison. This book is appropriate for ages 6 to 8 in early childhood classrooms. It talks about two golden-haired children explore the world around them and they are interested in solving problems. This book satisfies children’s curiosity and encourages them to explore the amazing world around them. They will come up their questions and try to solve these problems in their own way. Creativity is a part of children’s daily life. Creativity enables their brains to grow and mature. Children are natural problem solvers. Solving problems is an important skill for children to practice. Solving problems helps develop each child's unique perspective and individual style of creative expression. It helps children to learn to appreciate themselves and be proud of making something of their own. The teachers can provide some activity such as write poems, draw pictures, and play games or use box and paper to make something. Children allow to work with small groups to solve problems. The children have an opportunity to get along with others and to develop social skills, language and communication.

[Kathy]

Get their brains working by choosing just a riddle or two on each school visit.

[Bree]

Notes:
simple rhyming riddles
illustrations give away every answer though

[Joshua Mariano]

Read the book