The Bookworm's Feast

by J. Patrick Lewis, John O'Brien (Illustrator)

A delectable collection of poems by the author of Ridicholas Nicholas on a variety of topics is organized according to the courses of a meal. By the illustrator of The Reptile Ball.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1999

About the author

J. Patrick Lewis is the current Children's Poet Laureate. He has written more than seventy children's books, including Once Upon a Tomb: Gravely Humorous Verses. J. Patrick Lewis lives in Ohio.

Reviews

[Laurie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite collection by J. Patrick Lewis so far. I’ve read snippets of several of his collections, but his body of work is so extensive, I know I’ve barely scratched the surface. Even so, I think this one will stay near the top.

First, I really like the framing device of the “gentleman bookworm” giving a book feast for his friends. I love the bookend poems and I enjoy how the sections are presented as courses in a meal. It’s cute and clever.

Lewis included Shel Silverstein as an influential poet in the acknowledgments section of his later book, Please Bury Me in the Library. But it is this collection that brings Silverstein’s work to my mind. Several of the poems here are extremely fun to read aloud and seem perfect for recitation, just as Shel Silverstein’s poems were for students when I was growing up. “Heavy Metal Fellow,” and “Hunky-Dunky Donkey,” are particularly delightful.

In general, the poems here are pleasing to both one’s ear and sense of humor. I found myself giggling throughout and believe children would find it funny as well. However, my favorite poem in the collection is the idyllic tribute to reading, “Read...Think...Dream.”

[Jeimy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The poems are stupid, but they made me laugh.

[Elizabeth Lauver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bookworm’s Feast, by J. Patrick Lewis, was a very interesting poetry book to read. I enjoyed the poem titled Postcard Poem. I enjoyed this poem because it was silly yet very interesting at the same time. I also enjoyed the way the book was introduced in the beginning with all of the book worms eating different genres of books and then carrying that theme across the entire book. I was impressed the way the poems were categorized by entrees and was a bit jealous that, that idea would have never crossed my mind. I also enjoyed the illustrations in this collection as well. This is another poetry collection that I will have available for my students in my future classroom.

[Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Green Willy

An Onion named Willy ran off to the ocean,
Rented a raft from a Carrot named Dick,
Set out to sea but the rocking-chair motion
Turned him as green as a Celery stick.

Green Willy, Green Willy, Green Willy, they called him,
Bobbing along on the Vegetable Seas.
Cucumber green was the sail that hauled him
Off o the Island of Broccoli Trees.

[Nicole Fellows · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the poem "Read..Think..Dream." It talks about the stories you can find in books that can take you away to another time and place. I thought it was creative. Most of the poems in this book were cute for kids.

[Christine Kallner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection really is a "potluck" as the subtitles states. I did hope more of the poems would be about books and reading given the "bookworm" in the title, but in actuality, there were only three. Still a fun read, but not a favorite.

[Bonnie Pohlig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute poems, many of them somehow relating to food. I love the illustrations. Has a variety of poem types.

[Shayne Cope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous poetry book for children. So cute

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry... My favorite was Autograph Verse.