Overview

What do you get when you combine a poem and a joke? A limerick! These five-line rhyming poems are funny, silly, and sly. Award-winning author Brian P. Cleary explains how limericks work—and shows you how to write your own limericks!

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9781467760355

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Cleary presents 26 limericks (and, tantalizingly, half of a 27th) for kids. The fun-loving poet continues his light romp through poetic forms in the third installment of the Poetry Adventures series (Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems, 2014, etc.), this time focusing on a cornerstone of the nonsense verse world that seems made for him: the limerick. First popularized by nonsense master Edward Lear in the mid-19th century and traditionally illustrated with a silly picture, the limerick irresistibly combines the predictability and momentum of consistent meter and rhyme with the jarring surprise of an unexpected, usually humorous twist of meaning. Case in point, a particularly hilarious example from Cleary: 'I once met an artist named Hank. / To put it quite bluntly, he stank. / Couldn't paint, couldn't sketch, / and it wasn't a stretch / to say he could not draw a blank.' Rowland gleefully presents an artiste clad in polka-dot boxers intently painting a stick figure while his pet dog, paw over one eye, hesitantly watches. Other poems here rely more heavily on punning, as in the title piece or a ditty involving a wonderfully rendered spider named Deb, 'who's become quite a singing celeb. / When I asked how she'd grown / to be so well known, / she replied, 'I'm all over the web!' ' Inviting illustrations and offbeat topics showcase limericks aplenty for amusement or poetic inspiration. Kirkus Reviews --Journal This delightful collection of limericks starts with a useful definition and a few rules for composition, as well as some information on how these humorous poems function rhetorically. Cleary offers some basic advice for readers looking to pen their own poems. Limericks are meant to be funny and concise, and there are plenty of witty verses here and several that end with puns. One example involves a boy named Sonny who has spent all of his money on joke books and after eating one for lunch declares, 'That tasted a little bit funny.' Other fun lines include 'a boy named Carmelo/[who] dreamed he ate an enormous marshmallow' and a 'young spider named Deb, /who's become quite a singing celeb.' An amusing, whimsical flavor runs through all of the selections here, and cute, colorful cartoon drawings accompany each offering, making this a wonderfully ridiculous collection. VERDICT: Educators looking for options for a unit on poetry or limericks will appreciate this one, as will fans of the format and those who enjoy silly humor. --School Library Journal --Journal Get your pencils out! Brian P. Cleary makes writing limericks easy enough for anyone. I wish I'd had this book when I was a kid; I would have started writing poems a lot sooner. --Kenn Nesbitt, Children's Poet Laureate --Other Print Steering artfully away from content either raunchy or banal, Cleary offers a sampler of 26 original limericks animated by puns and wordplay. In prefatory remarks, he attempts to lay out 'rules' for the form, but would-be rhymesters are likely to get clearer ideas about the structural and metrical ins and outs from his ensuing examples which range from the titular remark, made by an eye 'to an ear, / with a hint of disdain and a sneer, ' to a frog motorist who got a flat but 'didn't panic / she called her mechanic, / and the next thing you know, she was toad.' In cartoon images, Rowland illustrates the punch lines with a diverse cast of pop-eyed people or animal stand-ins. This entry in the Poetry Adventures series closes with annotated print and web leads, preceded by an inviting starter couplet: 'A limerick poet, Ms. Sheets, / starts poems she never completes . . .' Booklist --Journal

This delightful collection of limericks starts with a useful definition and a few rules for composition, as well as some information on how these humorous poems function rhetorically. Cleary offers some basic advice for readers looking to pen their own poems. Limericks are meant to be funny and concise, and there are plenty of witty verses here and several that end with puns. One example involves a boy named Sonny who has spent all of his money on joke books and after eating one for lunch declares, 'That tasted a little bit funny.' Other fun lines include 'a boy named Carmelo/[who] dreamed he ate an enormous marshmallow' and a 'young spider named Deb, /who's become quite a singing celeb.' An amusing, whimsical flavor runs through all of the selections here, and cute, colorful cartoon drawings accompany each offering, making this a wonderfully ridiculous collection. VERDICT: Educators looking for options for a unit on poetry or limericks will appreciate this one, as will fans of the format and those who enjoy silly humor. --School Library Journal --Journal Cleary presents 26 limericks (and, tantalizingly, half of a 27th) for kids. The fun-loving poet continues his light romp through poetic forms in the third installment of the Poetry Adventures series (Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems, 2014, etc.), this time focusing on a cornerstone of the nonsense verse world that seems made for him: the limerick. First popularized by nonsense master Edward Lear in the mid-19th century and traditionally illustrated with a silly picture, the limerick irresistibly combines the predictability and momentum of consistent meter and rhyme with the jarring surprise of an unexpected, usually humorous twist of meaning. Case in point, a particularly hilarious example from Cleary: 'I once met an artist named Hank. / To put it quite bluntly, he stank. / Couldn't paint, couldn't sketch, / and it wasn't a stretch / to say he could not draw a blank.' Rowland gleefully presents an artiste clad in polka-dot boxers intently painting a stick figure while his pet dog, paw over one eye, hesitantly watches. Other poems here rely more heavily on punning, as in the title piece or a ditty involving a wonderfully rendered spider named Deb, 'who's become quite a singing celeb. / When I asked how she'd grown / to be so well known, / she replied, 'I'm all over the web!' ' Inviting illustrations and offbeat topics showcase limericks aplenty for amusement or poetic inspiration. Kirkus Reviews --Journal Get your pencils out! Brian P. Cleary makes writing limericks easy enough for anyone. I wish I'd had this book when I was a kid; I would have started writing poems a lot sooner. --Kenn Nesbitt, Children's Poet Laureate --Other Print Steering artfully away from content either raunchy or banal, Cleary offers a sampler of 26 original limericks animated by puns and wordplay. In prefatory remarks, he attempts to lay out 'rules' for the form, but would-be rhymesters are likely to get clearer ideas about the structural and metrical ins and outs from his ensuing examples which range from the titular remark, made by an eye 'to an ear, / with a hint of disdain and a sneer, ' to a frog motorist who got a flat but 'didn't panic / she called her mechanic, / and the next thing you know, she was toad.' In cartoon images, Rowland illustrates the punch lines with a diverse cast of pop-eyed people or animal stand-ins. This entry in the Poetry Adventures series closes with annotated print and web leads, preceded by an inviting starter couplet: 'A limerick poet, Ms. Sheets, / starts poems she never completes . . .' Booklist --Journal

Cleary presents 26 limericks (and, tantalizingly, half of a 27th) for kids. The fun-loving poet continues his light romp through poetic forms in the third installment of the Poetry Adventures series (Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems, 2014, etc.), this time focusing on a cornerstone of the nonsense verse world that seems made for him: the limerick. First popularized by nonsense master Edward Lear in the mid-19th century and traditionally illustrated with a silly picture, the limerick irresistibly combines the predictability and momentum of consistent meter and rhyme with the jarring surprise of an unexpected, usually humorous twist of meaning. Case in point, a particularly hilarious example from Cleary: 'I once met an artist named Hank. / To put it quite bluntly, he stank. / Couldn't paint, couldn't sketch, / and it wasn't a stretch / to say he could not draw a blank.' Rowland gleefully presents an artiste clad in polka-dot boxers intently painting a stick figure while his pet dog, paw over one eye, hesitantly watches. Other poems here rely more heavily on punning, as in the title piece or a ditty involving a wonderfully rendered spider named Deb, 'who's become quite a singing celeb. / When I asked how she'd grown / to be so well known, / she replied, 'I'm all over the web!' ' Inviting illustrations and offbeat topics showcase limericks aplenty for amusement or poetic inspiration. Kirkus Reviews --Journal Get your pencils out! Brian P. Cleary makes writing limericks easy enough for anyone. I wish I'd had this book when I was a kid; I would have started writing poems a lot sooner. --Kenn Nesbitt, Children's Poet Laureate --Other Print Steering artfully away from content either raunchy or banal, Cleary offers a sampler of 26 original limericks animated by puns and wordplay. In prefatory remarks, he attempts to lay out 'rules' for the form, but would-be rhymesters are likely to get clearer ideas about the structural and metrical ins and outs from his ensuing examples which range from the titular remark, made by an eye 'to an ear, / with a hint of disdain and a sneer, ' to a frog motorist who got a flat but 'didn't panic / she called her mechanic, / and the next thing you know, she was toad.' In cartoon images, Rowland illustrates the punch lines with a diverse cast of pop-eyed people or animal stand-ins. This entry in the Poetry Adventures series closes with annotated print and web leads, preceded by an inviting starter couplet: 'A limerick poet, Ms. Sheets, / starts poems she never completes . . .' Booklist --Journal This delightful collection of limericks starts with a useful definition and a few rules for composition, as well as some information on how these humorous poems function rhetorically. Cleary offers some basic advice for readers looking to pen their own poems. Limericks are meant to be funny and concise, and there are plenty of witty verses here and several that end with puns. One example involves a boy named Sonny who has spent all of his money on joke books and after eating one for lunch declares, 'That tasted a little bit funny.' Other fun lines include 'a boy named Carmelo/[who] dreamed he ate an enormous marshmallow' and a 'young spider named Deb, /who's become quite a singing celeb.' An amusing, whimsical flavor runs through all of the selections here, and cute, colorful cartoon drawings accompany each offering, making this a wonderfully ridiculous collection. VERDICT: Educators looking for options for a unit on poetry or limericks will appreciate this one, as will fans of the format and those who enjoy silly humor. --School Library Journal --Journal

Steering artfully away from content either raunchy or banal, Cleary offers a sampler of 26 original limericks animated by puns and wordplay. In prefatory remarks, he attempts to lay out 'rules' for the form, but would-be rhymesters are likely to get clearer ideas about the structural and metrical ins and outs from his ensuing examples which range from the titular remark, made by an eye 'to an ear, / with a hint of disdain and a sneer, ' to a frog motorist who got a flat but 'didn't panic / she called her mechanic, / and the next thing you know, she was toad.' In cartoon images, Rowland illustrates the punch lines with a diverse cast of pop-eyed people or animal stand-ins. This entry in the Poetry Adventures series closes with annotated print and web leads, preceded by an inviting starter couplet: 'A limerick poet, Ms. Sheets, / starts poems she never completes . . .' Booklist -- Journal (3/15/2015 12:00:00 AM) Cleary presents 26 limericks (and, tantalizingly, half of a 27th) for kids. The fun-loving poet continues his light romp through poetic forms in the third installment of the Poetry Adventures series (Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems, 2014, etc.), this time focusing on a cornerstone of the nonsense verse world that seems made for him: the limerick. First popularized by nonsense master Edward Lear in the mid-19th century and traditionally illustrated with a silly picture, the limerick irresistibly combines the predictability and momentum of consistent meter and rhyme with the jarring surprise of an unexpected, usually humorous twist of meaning. Case in point, a particularly hilarious example from Cleary: 'I once met an artist named Hank. / To put it quite bluntly, he stank. / Couldn't paint, couldn't sketch, / and it wasn't a stretch / to say he could not draw a blank.' Rowland gleefully presents an artiste clad in polka-dot boxers intently painting a stick figure while his pet dog, paw over one eye, hesitantly watches. Other poems here rely more heavily on punning, as in the title piece or a ditty involving a wonderfully rendered spider named Deb, 'who's become quite a singing celeb. / When I asked how she'd grown / to be so well known, / she replied, 'I'm all over the web!' ' Inviting illustrations and offbeat topics showcase limericks aplenty for amusement or poetic inspiration. Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (2/1/2015 12:00:00 AM) Get your pencils out! Brian P. Cleary makes writing limericks easy enough for anyone. I wish I'd had this book when I was a kid; I would have started writing poems a lot sooner. --Kenn Nesbitt, Children's Poet Laureate -- Other Print (9/4/2015 12:00:00 AM) This delightful collection of limericks starts with a useful definition and a few rules for composition, as well as some information on how these humorous poems function rhetorically. Cleary offers some basic advice for readers looking to pen their own poems. Limericks are meant to be funny and concise, and there are plenty of witty verses here and several that end with puns. One example involves a boy named Sonny who has spent all of his money on joke books and after eating one for lunch declares, 'That tasted a little bit funny.' Other fun lines include 'a boy named Carmelo/[who] dreamed he ate an enormous marshmallow' and a 'young spider named Deb, /who's become quite a singing celeb.' An amusing, whimsical flavor runs through all of the selections here, and cute, colorful cartoon drawings accompany each offering, making this a wonderfully ridiculous collection. VERDICT: Educators looking for options for a unit on poetry or limericks will appreciate this one, as will fans of the format and those who enjoy silly humor.--School Library Journal -- Journal (2/1/2015 12:00:00 AM)

This delightful collection of limericks starts with a useful definition and a few rules for composition, as well as some information on how these humorous poems function rhetorically. Cleary offers some basic advice for readers looking to pen their own poems. Limericks are meant to be funny and concise, and there are plenty of witty verses here and several that end with puns. One example involves a boy named Sonny who has spent all of his money on joke books and after eating one for lunch declares, 'That tasted a little bit funny.' Other fun lines include 'a boy named Carmelo/[who] dreamed he ate an enormous marshmallow' and a 'young spider named Deb, /who's become quite a singing celeb.' An amusing, whimsical flavor runs through all of the selections here, and cute, colorful cartoon drawings accompany each offering, making this a wonderfully ridiculous collection. VERDICT: Educators looking for options for a unit on poetry or limericks will appreciate this one, as will fans of the format and those who enjoy silly humor. --School Library Journal --Journal Get your pencils out! Brian P. Cleary makes writing limericks easy enough for anyone. I wish I'd had this book when I was a kid; I would have started writing poems a lot sooner. --Kenn Nesbitt, Children's Poet Laureate --Other Print Cleary presents 26 limericks (and, tantalizingly, half of a 27th) for kids. The fun-loving poet continues his light romp through poetic forms in the third installment of the Poetry Adventures series (Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems, 2014, etc.), this time focusing on a cornerstone of the nonsense verse world that seems made for him: the limerick. First popularized by nonsense master Edward Lear in the mid-19th century and traditionally illustrated with a silly picture, the limerick irresistibly combines the predictability and momentum of consistent meter and rhyme with the jarring surprise of an unexpected, usually humorous twist of meaning. Case in point, a particularly hilarious example from Cleary: 'I once met an artist named Hank. / To put it quite bluntly, he stank. / Couldn't paint, couldn't sketch, / and it wasn't a stretch / to say he could not draw a blank.' Rowland gleefully presents an artiste clad in polka-dot boxers intently painting a stick figure while his pet dog, paw over one eye, hesitantly watches. Other poems here rely more heavily on punning, as in the title piece or a ditty involving a wonderfully rendered spider named Deb, 'who's become quite a singing celeb. / When I asked how she'd grown / to be so well known, / she replied, 'I'm all over the web!' ' Inviting illustrations and offbeat topics showcase limericks aplenty for amusement or poetic inspiration. Kirkus Reviews --Journal Steering artfully away from content either raunchy or banal, Cleary offers a sampler of 26 original limericks animated by puns and wordplay. In prefatory remarks, he attempts to lay out 'rules' for the form, but would-be rhymesters are likely to get clearer ideas about the structural and metrical ins and outs from his ensuing examples which range from the titular remark, made by an eye 'to an ear, / with a hint of disdain and a sneer, ' to a frog motorist who got a flat but 'didn't panic / she called her mechanic, / and the next thing you know, she was toad.' In cartoon images, Rowland illustrates the punch lines with a diverse cast of pop-eyed people or animal stand-ins. This entry in the Poetry Adventures series closes with annotated print and web leads, preceded by an inviting starter couplet: 'A limerick poet, Ms. Sheets, / starts poems she never completes . . .' Booklist --Journal

Author Information

Brian P. Cleary is an American humorist, poet, and author. He is best known for his books written for grade-school children that explore grammar, math and poetry in humorous ways. In his role in the digital division of American Greetings, he's put words in the mouths of Dolly Parton, Christina Aguilera, William Shatner, Meghan Trainor and more. The multi-million selling author has performed poetry workshops in 500 elementary schools across the county. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio. While studying for a degree in Manchester, Andy Rowland accepted his first drawing award, the Macmillan Children's Book Prize. Years later, he has more than twenty published books to his name. He lives in England.

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