Chuckles and Smiles: Children's Poems

by Raven Howell

Overview

"If thunder rolls and clouds fill skies, it helps to dream of butterflies."

In this sweet collection of children's poems, Raven Howell reveals all the little things in life that put smiles on children's faces--from playing with sock puppets, to walking barefoot on warm grass in the summer, and dreaming of butterflies during a thunderstorm. Colorful illustrations by international illustrator, Jordan Wray, evoke the warmth and joy felt during childhood, light and carefree. Written with whimsy and fun, this book charmingly reminds child and parent alike that the power of laughter delivers happiness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781735091563
Publisher:	Warren Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/16/2020
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.09(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

Editorial Reviews

“With every poem, an epiphany! With every page turn, another smile! Written in a variety of poetic styles, Raven Howell's irresistible, full-of-cheer poems muse on subjects familiar to young readers. A pleasure to read aloud!”

–Heidi Roemer, Author of Peekity Boo—What YOU Can Do!

From the Publisher

2020-09-09
A captivating use of language to spark children’s interest in words and rhymes shapes this collection of 26 short poems by Howell, a prolific picture-book author whose poetry has frequently appeared in children’s literary magazines.

A jaunty orange squirrel is a “Bulb digger, / nest rigger, / seed stacker, / nut cracker, / tree stalker, / fence walker.” A balloon wants to hear words “that lift and fly, / like float and waft, / or DRIFT and sky.” Ranging in style from couplets and quatrains to free-form poetry and nontraditional haiku, the poems are graphically designed so that certain words are capitalized and set in different colors for eye-catching emphasis. The fanciful, funny, kid-respecting tone of the poems is delightfully matched by respected Canadian illustrator Wray. Among his brightly colored images of Howell’s subjects—the seasons, trees, the wind, animals, insects, and a diverse cast of kids—are “hysterical” hyenas, a clown in a pickle jar, bare feet in summer grass, a tantrum-throwing baby lettuce, a little girl eating cake with a blue dinosaur in a chef’s hat (“Pete, My Dino”), dancing piggies with umbrellas (“Thud and Splash”), swirls of lap-threatening spaghetti, anchovies afloat over a pizza, and rosy-cheeked, sleepy mushrooms wearing “spongy caps / for little shaded buggy naps.” Lap-sitters and early readers are sure to have their favorites. This is a book made for read-aloud (and rereading) fun.

An entrancing, lively book that celebrates words and a child’s imagination. (author bio, illustrator bio)

Kirkus Reviews