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Sad Underwear and Other Complications: More Poems for Children and Their Parents
Knock, knock.Who's there?
Someone with sad underwear.
Sad underwear? How can that be?
When my best friend's mad at me,
Everything is sad.
Even my underwear.
Only Judith Viorst, with the perfect pitch for the trials of childhood that has made her Alexander books modern classics, could create an ode to melancholy unmentionables. But the title poem is just one of the many pleasures in this collection, which bursts with wit and understanding -- and the occasional poignant note.
Sure to delight readers of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky, as well as Viorst's own legions of fans, Sad Underwear is a perfect companion volume to her celebrated If I Were In Charge of the World.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
2 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Judith Viorst
120 books854 followersJudith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 9, 2025
The occasional cruel poem makes it not worth sharing with children. Or if you do, at least speak to them about it.
August 18, 2011
This is a fun book of poems - and it truly is for both children and parents, as it tackles a wide range of topics and includes short and long poems, rhyming and non-rhyming ones. I found this book in the midst of reading other poetry books by Judith Viorst and I was happy to share this one with our girls. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
October 26, 2021
I don't know whether it's just because Shel Silverstein was my major introduction to poetry, but it feels like Viorst is trying to copy him, but not as well. More like looking back at childhood than living in it.
Note: p. 50 is about "the sad fat boy." sigh.
The last line of the poem "What Dads Do" took me out though: "I wish I still had one."
Note: p. 50 is about "the sad fat boy." sigh.
The last line of the poem "What Dads Do" took me out though: "I wish I still had one."
March 17, 2026
This is a great book of great poems that will make little kids laugh, and make big kids laugh, and make parents laugh.
Such as:
The Seventh Swimming Lesson
Stop the presses.
Call a reporter.
Sally just put her face in the water.
How do I know it’s a great book? I’m a grandfather, and it makes me laugh.
Read more of my book reviews and poetry at:
www.richardsubber.com
Such as:
The Seventh Swimming Lesson
Stop the presses.
Call a reporter.
Sally just put her face in the water.
How do I know it’s a great book? I’m a grandfather, and it makes me laugh.
Read more of my book reviews and poetry at:
www.richardsubber.com
June 11, 2019
That was fun (and the title is great).
October 14, 2021
This one just wasn’t for me. Aside from the final poem, “Lady, Lady,” I didn’t enjoy the collection.
November 9, 2023
This book consists of about 45 poems - some humorous, some contemplative, some thought-provoking, some silly - divided among 10 sections:
questions; world of wonders; knock knocks; fairy tales; stuff you should know; pals and pests; adventures; moms and dads; special requests; when I grow up.
questions; world of wonders; knock knocks; fairy tales; stuff you should know; pals and pests; adventures; moms and dads; special requests; when I grow up.
February 4, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is broken up into sections, and each section has poems about it. For example, there is a section about moms and dad’s that reflect the day-to-day life of living with adults, and there is a section about questions, where the poems are about questions children may ask. The author did an excellent job in creating poems that children could relate to. In some of the works, the author talks about who decided that roses are flowers and dandelions are weeds, or who decided that burping was rude. In another example, the author talks about things that shouldn’t exist, such as getting cavities and liver for supper. All of these poems expertly give a look into the world of children. There are no existential topics such as death or love, but rather topics that actually affect children and their day to day life.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone, not just children. Again, I really felt like the author got inspiration from Shel Silverstein. The poems were tailored to children and their everyday life, I felt like a child again reading them. They aren’t overbearing or sad, they merely discuss the inconveniences children experience. Who doesn’t wish they could talk about their mother’s infamous cooking skills, or having to apologize when they didn’t mean it? These are things children are learning about and living through, and it really does an excellent job of connecting with children on their level. Overall a wonderfully written book, with beautiful, minimal illustrations to complete it.
This book is broken up into sections, and each section has poems about it. For example, there is a section about moms and dad’s that reflect the day-to-day life of living with adults, and there is a section about questions, where the poems are about questions children may ask. The author did an excellent job in creating poems that children could relate to. In some of the works, the author talks about who decided that roses are flowers and dandelions are weeds, or who decided that burping was rude. In another example, the author talks about things that shouldn’t exist, such as getting cavities and liver for supper. All of these poems expertly give a look into the world of children. There are no existential topics such as death or love, but rather topics that actually affect children and their day to day life.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone, not just children. Again, I really felt like the author got inspiration from Shel Silverstein. The poems were tailored to children and their everyday life, I felt like a child again reading them. They aren’t overbearing or sad, they merely discuss the inconveniences children experience. Who doesn’t wish they could talk about their mother’s infamous cooking skills, or having to apologize when they didn’t mean it? These are things children are learning about and living through, and it really does an excellent job of connecting with children on their level. Overall a wonderfully written book, with beautiful, minimal illustrations to complete it.
November 18, 2020
This clever title is enough to intrigue a child. The contents are just as clever as the title. This books main purpose is to lament the struggles of a child but add humour to the situation. The poems are simple and they rhyme so the children are able to predict what amusing word will complete the sentence. It's good to have in a classroom because there are a range of relevant scenarios in the book the children could be experiencing. One poem could be chosen to open a discussion afterwards to tackle the issue. I found that the book works well when discussing relationships and emotions with the children. It can be used as a sensitive approach to much larger issues faced in children’s day to day lives.
February 25, 2015
This book is a collection of poems about questions children might have, world of wonders, knock knock jokes, fairy tales, stuff you should know, pals and pets, adventures, moms and dads, special requests and growing up. These poems talk about things that would make students laugh and discuss topics that can be scary for children, for example going to the dentist or the first day of school. I would use this book in my classroom to help children not be afraid of certain things and to make them feel a little more comfortable about. I would also use them to help lighten the mood after doing something stressful.
October 31, 2013
Genre: Poetry
Grade Level: 3-4
Awards: None
How to use in a classroom:
This book of poems shows all the different problems even the youngest of children encounter. Problems with friends, problems with children of the opposite sex. Reading this poems out loud will help the students see that all students go through problems like these. As a follow-up activity I would have the children discuss what kinds of ways they think are ideal for dealing with some of these problems.
Grade Level: 3-4
Awards: None
How to use in a classroom:
This book of poems shows all the different problems even the youngest of children encounter. Problems with friends, problems with children of the opposite sex. Reading this poems out loud will help the students see that all students go through problems like these. As a follow-up activity I would have the children discuss what kinds of ways they think are ideal for dealing with some of these problems.
November 14, 2013
This book is great for children to read with their parents. It encourages the child to be silly and funny while learning something at the same time. I would definitly read these poems to my children at home.
"Knock Knock"
Knock, knock who's there?
someone with sad underware.
sad underwear?
how can that be?
When my bestfriends mad at me,
everything is sad.
Even my underwear.
"Knock Knock"
Knock, knock who's there?
someone with sad underware.
sad underwear?
how can that be?
When my bestfriends mad at me,
everything is sad.
Even my underwear.
October 2, 2008
The long lines sometimes drove me a little crazy, but mostly, I just wanted to hug the imaginary kids.
July 3, 2009
You know, she has some of the same kind of humor you read in Uncle Shelby's poetry, only a little more gentle.
November 20, 2010
Very, very funny.
January 24, 2012
Super cute book of poems that children can definitely appreciate. And funny for the parents as well!
November 19, 2012
PB31: Another great poetry book from Viorst, good for kids at many ages! Could do all kinds of writing prompts.
March 11, 2016
One of the best children's books of poetry. Creative, silly, engaging
May 3, 2024
I'm not a huge fan of these silly poems. Like, I was stoked to read about sad underwear. What a let down! I bought this because I thought I might've rest it as a child, but I think I was mistaken.
January 30, 2016
Poems on the complications of growing up. S
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews