Review Detail

I have mixed feelings about this one.

This is a fun collection of poems, gathered in thematic groups of different places in a child's life, home, play, school, etc. and then sub-grouped inside and outside (Home: Inside, Home: Outside, Play: Inside, Play: Outside...). The illustrations are cute, but old-timey and do not necessarily add to the experience.

Where I really struggle is with the target age, listed as middle-grade. The collection requires the comprehension and attention span of the target age, but the subject matter, illustrations, and writing style are more suited to a younger audience. This would have been a great book for earlier generations of middle grade readers, but today's kids have a maturity level higher than in previous generations.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but through the lens of a parent and librarian I believe it could be reworked a bit to either appeal to its target audience or a younger crowd, but as of now it sits on the cusp of each.