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Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking

Illustrated by Edward Koren
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About The Book

Bestselling author Alan Katz, of Silly Dilly fame, knows kid humor, and he knows just what subjects are funniest—from school to siblings to sports, this assortment of spirited poetry has something for everyone. In the tradition of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky, with black-and-white illustrations throughout, this collection of more than 100 poems will have kids roaring with laughter!

About The Author

Photo Credit:
Alan Katz

Alan Katz has been a print and television comedy writer for more than twenty years. In addition to being a multiple Emmy nominee for his work on The Rosie O’Donnell Show and Disney’s Raw Toonage, he has written for children’s programming on Nickelodeon, ABC Television, Warner Bros. Animation’s Taz-Mania, and many others. Alan is the author of several adult humor books, humorous essays for The New York Times and other publications, and books for young readers. Alan lives in Weston, Connecticut, with his journalist wife, Rose, and their children Simone, Andrew, Nathan, and David. Visit him online at AlanKatzBooks.com.

About The Illustrator

Photo Credit:
Edward Koren

Edward Koren may be best known for his work in the New Yorker magazine, where he has published nearly one thousand cartoons. He has written and illustrated several children's books, including Very Hairy Harry. He taught at Brown University and received a Guggenheim Fellowship. He lives with his family in Vermont.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (October 25, 2011)
  • Length: 160 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781442402744
  • Ages: 7 - 10

Raves and Reviews

"Accompanied by Koren's impish, characteristically furry caricatures, Katz's comedic poems take aim at familiar experiences like family squabbling and avoiding homework, while offering child-centric observations about the world."
--Publishers Weekly, July 2011

"I laughed out loud when I read the poems in this book, as did my students! B&W line drawings add to the humor and make the poems appealing to older students. Quite a few of the poems include mild bathroom humor, just the right type to appeal to upper elementary and middle school students."
--Library Media Connection, Jan/Feb 2012, Recommended

"As they did in Oops!, Katz and Koren once again craft a giggle-inducing collection of 100 humorous poems. . . . This collection should prove popular with readers who’ve enjoyed the work of Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and Douglas Florian."
--School Library Journal, November 2011

"The succinct verses derive humor from puns, family dynamics, and bathroom humor as well as a generous sprinkling of general silliness. This is solid ground for amusing grade-school poetry, as demonstrated by the likes of Jack Prelutsky and Douglas Florian."
--BCCB, December 2011

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More books from this author: Alan Katz

More books from this illustrator: Edward Koren