An eleven-year-old boy named Robert voices typical—and not so typical—middle-grade concerns in this unique, memorable collection of hilarious poems. His musings cover the usual stuff, like pizza, homework, thank-you notes, and his annoying older sister. In addition, he speculates about professional wrestling for animals, wonders why no one makes scratch-and-sniff fart stickers, designs the ultimate roller coaster (complete with poisonous spiders), and deconstructs the origins of a new word, snarpy. A playful layout and ingenious graphics extend the wry humor that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.
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From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 4-8–Grandits combines technical brilliance and goofy good humor to provide an accessible, fun-filled collection of poems, dramatically brought to life through a brilliant book design. The eye-catching title selection, an account of a science experiment gone astray, appears on the front cover and its messy aftermath, a squashed tomato, winds up on the back. Simple drawings, varied typefaces, unusual arrangements of text, and different colors are used to call attention to the words. Grandits crafts an 11-year-old protagonist, Robert, whose perspective throughout is authentically adolescent. He is both immature and intelligent, and delights in all things gross as can be seen in such offerings as "The Autobiography of Murray the Fart," "Spew Machine," and "Sick Day." "TyrannosaurBus Rex" features a predatory cartoon school bus munching its way along its route: "More children. More sacrifices./Yum." This book doesn't reach the masterful collaboration of Paul B. Janeczko and Chris Raschka's A Poke in the I (Candlewick, 2001), but most readers will still love it.–Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-6. Grandits stretches the definition of concrete poetry in this collection, which uses inventive shapes and typefaces to hilarious effect. Each selection is loosely tied to Robert, a kid with ordinary concerns: homework is boring; he would like a new pet; he is crushed when he misses his lay-up in basketball. But Grandits finds wild humor in such things, and the resulting poems will make most kids howl with recognition. There's the pious thank-you letter to an aunt that comes with truthful footnotes: "In the history of sweaters, there has never been an uglier waste of yarn." Then there's the arc of text describing Robert's rocket, constructed from his sister's algebra homework, which showers numbers and mathematical symbols as the explosion hits. "The Autobiography of Murray the Fart," written in lines that flow from a soda can-shaped block to a thin line that turns into intestinelike loops, will, like the other selections in this winning, highly creative collection, convince readers that poetry can be loud, outrageous, gross fun. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a GREAT book!
Dec 5 2004
By Thomas W. Jones
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
My kids grew up reading "Where the sidewalk ends", by Shel Silverstein. Anyone who enjoyed that book will love "Technically, It's Not My Fault"! It's absolutely amazing! John has crafted some of the wittiest poems into the cutiest "concrete forms" imaginable. You have to see them to appreciate them. Don't think poetry. Think more like an ornery 11 year old boy's view of the world! Considering the low price on this book, there's no excuse for any child growing up to not have this book! Buy it. You won't regret it!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good poetry book for young kids.
Nov 11 2006
By J. M. Freeman
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
I got this for my son, and he enjoys its offbeat teenage humor. I enjoy that he is seeing reading and writing presented in a different way.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
funny and smart and true.
Nov 30 2004
By Sharyn November
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I love this book -- not only is it funny and totally nails the 11-year-old boy experience, it is also in a format (concrete poetry) that is user-friendly and may well encourage readers to write concrete poems of their own.
I gave away my copy and now need to buy another one!
I gave away my copy and now need to buy another one!
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 9 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
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