Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disaster Poems (Lee Bennett Hopkins)

I will be honest.  I am not naturally a poetry lover. It has been an acquired taste for me, but one I am still particularly selective on.  This week’s anthology—Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disaster Poems—is one of my favorite children’s poetry collections to date.  It has a wide range of poems that aptly capture, with humor and grace, many of the difficult and embarrassing moments in life.  Children of all ages will be able to relate to these experiences.  Some are more trivial, and even humorous, like “Oh, No!”  

“Oh, No!”  (by Katie McAllaster Weaver)

Hello apple!

Shiny red.

CHOMP.  CHOMP.

Hello worm.

Where’s your head?

Other poems tackle more serious life events and changes, like “My Friend is Gone.”

“My Friend is Gone” (by Lillian M. Fisher)

A hug, a tear, and you are gone.

Your swing is missing from the lawn.

Your house is silent, dark and lone.

Your window says no one is home.

I tried hard not to cry

When you waved a last good-bye.

How will I face each empty day

Without my friend who moved away?

There are 14 poems in this collection compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins.  Other experiences depicted are the death of a beloved pet, stage fright, first day of school, away at camp, missing a ball during an important play, a scary experience at the fair, and much more.  

These poems can be enjoyed for the sheer amusement they prompt and the familiar experiences they illustrate.  They can also be beneficial for learning.  Using the first-hand experiences of fictional characters, parents can talk to their children about their fears and insecurities or discuss the importance of empathy for others.   I recommend Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disaster Poems for ages 5 and up.  

This post is linked up with Poetry Friday hosted by Dori Reads.  Click HERE to check out all the posts for this week.