MOONBEAMS AND RHYME DREAMS

Author/illustrator Allen offers an entertaining collection of rhyming poems for children.

In this imaginative book, the author taps into a poetic style that calls to mind the work of Shel Silverstein, entertaining young readers with silly scenarios and magical beasts. It opens with a poem about a “Pocket Unicorn,” purchased from a friend, which raises suspicions in its new owner. A gigantic bubble wand provides a peaceful escape from reality for a girl—until her mom bursts it. “Heart of Stone” explores how a child attempts and fails to feed, talk, and bond with a round, gray “animal” found outside. “F…Unfair!” depicts a fair with faulty rides, spoiled food, broken toilets, and mean-spirited clowns. Readers meet curious creatures, such as a cranky ore-eating “Snoor” and a hair-thieving “Gare” to unique characters like “Uncle Snood,” who eats blue food in solitude, or the filthy “Klank,” who lives inside a sewage tank. A recurring topic is plans going awry, from a pirate ship that accidentally ends up in arctic waters to a monster trap that inadvertently catches its inventor. Food is another common theme, as in poems about a child whose indecision turns an epic ice cream cone into a melted mess in “Everything Soup” to a child who makes “Junk Salad,” loaded with excessive toppings. Throughout, the works are enhanced with expressive, playful illustrations that bring their bizarre subjects to life. Overall, Allen employs deft wordplay and tongue-twisting rhymes to depict absurd situations in a poetry collection that demands to be read aloud. Occasional terms, such as aristocrat, may require additional explanation for younger readers; however, the childlike language is simple, accessible, and relatable in stanzas such as “To remember is hard: / I forget lots of stuff. / And my brainpower sometimes / just isn’t enough.” Each rhythmic line builds on the next, gaining momentum until it reaches an often ridiculous end. Everyday occurrences, such stepping on something gross or missing an essential item on a to-do list, get Allen’s wacky treatment, leading to sight gags or hilarious jokes.

A set of poems filled with mischief and magic.