The Other Side of the Door: Poems

by Jeff Moss

This companion volume to The Butterfly Jar, is a wise and whimsical collection of poems to be read aloud, shared, laughed over and savored.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, School, Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1991

About the author

Jeff Moss was a head writer and composer-lyricist on Sesame Street. Some of his best-known songs from the show include "Rubber Duckie," "I Love Trash," "The People in Your Neighborhood," "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon," and "Nasty Dan." In addition to songwriting, Moss helped create Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and Guy Smiley.

Moss won 15 Emmys for his work and wrote the songs for four Grammy Award-winning records. When released as a single in 1970, "Rubber Duckie" sold more than a million copies. Moss' songs were known internationally as well; Claude François' recording of "Nasty Dan" went to #1 on the pop chart in France.

He also composed the songs and score for The Muppets Take Manhattan, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Original Song Score. The Oscar went to Prince for Purple Rain.

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this on my shelf from when I was a kid while I was doing some cleaning, and decided to give it a reread for the PopSugar 2024 challenge. Somehow I didn’t know until now (I guess I didn’t care when I was ten?) that Jeff Moss was one of the creators of Sesame Street. In any event, this is still a great collection of poems for kids, and as soon as I started reading it, every single word to “If You Make Me Go To Bed Now” came back to me.

[Darin Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along the lines of Shel Silverstein, The Other Side of the Door, by Jeff Moss has that same whimsical feel. You aren't ever trying to dig too deep on meaning (in Foot Ball, is it a "party for lots of feet"?), and many are just plain funny as in the The Tightrope Walker With a Sore Throat (two lines!).

Five stars because it's simply a great way to introduce poetry to those students who may go "yuck" when that genre is mentioned. Many literary elements used and the illustrations are very basic, but add to the poems.

[Ruth R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love poetry collections like these! Some of the poems are just hilarious and will always give you a good laugh when needed. Others make you want to question society and common beliefs. This book is also a very quick read, so it's good for when you don't have a ton of time.

[Monica Shankle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute book and one I can see reading parts of to my students. I enjoyed most of the poems in this book.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology of poems from one of the creators of Sesame Street is an excellent resource of funny, emotional, and poignant topics for fourth graders.

The title poem hangs outside my classroom. On the first day of school each year, students read the poem prior to entering the classroom. We then discuss its meaning.

There are numerous other poems here that I use throughout the school year for specific skills (onomatopoeia, voice, perspective, etc.).

****
* If the Sea Were Over the Sky
o writing prompt: What else would be different if their positions were to change; perspective
* Bill
o special things re: Dad's skull
* Another Day
o moods
* Katie Brown's Mother
o descriptive writing, similies
* Breakfast
o rebus
* Why I'm Glad I'm Not a Worm
o worms?
* I'm Going to Say I'm Sorry
o funny
* Nursery Rhymes
o funny, nursery rhyme
* Pizza-Mouth
o onomatopoeia
* ''If a Grizzly Bear Had Feathers
o perspective
* The First Day of School
o school, classroom, First Day of School
* Dear Friend
o rebus
* Reading to Me
o reading, moods
* The Last Day of School

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful book to read out loud to your kids! My boys sat down and listened while we were sitting by the campfires. My hubby was building the fire and he laughed out loud ~~ it's a fun book to read. It's whimiscal and silly and it definitely keeps kids entertained (and adults too!)

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though I'm not much a poetry person, and the poetry wasn't personification, it was very humorous at times.

[Brandon Burrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are some awesome poems for kids. On par with Shel Silverstein in my personal opinion.