New York Times bestselling children’s author Karma Wilson has released a humorous collection of short poems for kids titled What’s The Weather Inside? [McElderry, 2009]. Wilson, who is best known for her children’s picture story books such as Bear Snores On [Simon & Schuster, 2002], branches out into the world of poetry with over 120 children’s poems written in the silly and down-to-earth style of Shel Silverstein.
Poems for Reluctant Readers
Wilson begins the book with a challenge to all the readers who “think poems are stupid and poetry’s a bore” to turn the page and keep reading with a poem aptly titled, "I Dare Ya". She captures reluctant readers’ attention right from the start and motivates them to read her other poems after all, very few grade school kids – or adults – can resist a dare.
Funny Poems for Kids
All of the topics Karma Wilson tackles in her poetry are ones that young kids can easily relate to including thoughts on troublesome siblings, the inner workings of pets’ minds, and new twists on familiar nursery rhymes. Barry Blitt’s illustrations beautifully complement the tone of Wilson’s poems and What’s The Weather Inside? feels like a book written just for kids by someone who truly understands them. It is a collection of poems that children will curl up with and laugh with and then think to themselves, “Yes! That’s exactly how I feel.”
Thoughtful Poems for Kids
Along with the funny poems, Wilson has included more thoughtful selections such as the poem, "Critics" which outlines the story of a young writer who “wrote a story, a wonderful story – the bestest story” he ever saw. The narrator of the poem keeps changing the story based on the advice of some of his critics and ends up with a story that’s a “terrible bore”, a situation many kids have experienced.
Poems for Elementary Age Kids
Fans of Karma Wilson’s Bear series may be surprised to find out that the poems in What’s The Weather Inside? are geared for elementary children ages 6 – 10, not preschoolers, and have a reading level of ages 9 – 12. Many of the poems may contain words or subject matter – such as the word “stupid” – that may not be appropriate for younger children.
Karma Wilson, along with illustrator Barry Blitt, has created a collection of thoughtful and funny poems for kids that is sure to be a hit with elementary aged children. The poems are written in a matter of fact, silly style that captures kids’ attention and entices them to keep reading to see what Wilson will say next. In fact, the book does not conclude with an ending, but a “So long for now, my friend” inviting the readers to “take a look” if and when they choose to write another book.
For a poetry project that parents and teachers can do with kids read: How to Make Vacation Poetry Scrapbooks
For articles on how to write different types of poems with kids read: A Poetry Guide For Elementary Students and Write ABC, Haiku, Quatrain and Concrete Poems.
Megan Sheakoski - Megan Sheakoski is a teacher, mom and writer whose ideas have been featured in college text books, graduate courses, on websites and on ...
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