If I Had Million Onions: Illus. by Yayo [Hardcover]

Grade 4-6–Twenty-five nonsense poems are accompanied by wildly creative color drawings. Fitch seems to be aiming for the realms of wordplay masters like Shel Silverstein, Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, and J. Patrick Lewis, but too often her efforts are leaden. The selection about returning overdue library books–On a blizzardous nightstorm gallotting through slain/A traveller bravalliant who within't a name/Stampoared through the worests and mounthills and strooks–has none of the verve of the Jabberwocky. Many verses, such as A Prayer, sink into adult sensibilities–May no cats get in your sandbox/May your frisbees always spin/May your fridge be filled with oranges/May you love the life you're in. The short entries, such as Aunt Emma and Uncle Nate and Mr. Little the Whittler, are the most successful. Yayo's art expresses each poem's theme in a few exquisite strokes. The poetry in this volume lies in the drawings rather than in the written images.–Kathleen Whalin, York Public Library, ME
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This exciting new collection by Sheree Fitch poetry will tickle the funny-bones of children and adults alike. Yayo's delightful illustrations perfectly match the whimsy of these capricious poems.

Sheree Fitch is an educator, literary activist and author of award winning poetry, picture books, nonfiction, plays, and novels for all ages. Sheree currently lives in Washington D.C. She is originally from Nova Scotia, and one day plans to return to Canada.

Yayo has illustrated eight children's books, and has been nominated for the highly esteemed Governor General's Award. He is the winner of the Mr. Christie's Book Award. Yayo lives in Montreal with his wife and two sons.