REVENGE OF THE LUNCH LADIES, THE HILARIOUS BOOK OF SCHOOL POETRY, by Kenn Nesbitt, illustrated by Mike and Carl Gordon

Nesbitt, Kenn.  2007.  Revenge of the Lunch Ladies. (Ill. Mike and Carl Gordon).  Minnetonka, MN:  Meadowbrook Press.  ISBN 978-141694648   

OVERVIEW AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Revenge of the Lunch Ladies is a playful collection of 47 poems about school life by Kenn Nesbitt.  It is told almost entirely from the perspective of a child, with a few poems told from a teacher’s point of view. Topics range from school supplies to homework, school lunches to bad days and so much more.  Fast paced and funny, children of all ages will find something to relate to within the pages of this book.

Nesbitt has captured the school experiences common to many children.   Readers will laugh at “My Lunch,” a poem about a lunch full of forbidden treats.  They will groan at “Class Gas,” when they hear about stinky feet.  They will understand the embarrassment in “My Teacher Calls Me ‘Sweetie Cakes,’” when the teacher is also your mother.  They will marvel at how many ways you can say you are feeling bad in “What I Told Mrs. Morris When She Asked How I Was Feeling Today.”  They will be wishing for their very own homework machine when they hear, “The Marvelous Homework and Housework Machine.”  Puppy love, loneliness, best friends, and dreaded school lunches are other topics that are explored.  Poems of a few lines and others that fill the page will challenge readers to stay engaged with the couplets and other rhyme schemes, free verse and surprise endings.   Readers will want to pay attention so they can be in on the joke too.  

This book is light-hearted and playful.  It  allows children to poke fun at themselves and others with this format.  It invites children to have fun with poetry and makes poetry relevant to their own lives.    

Each page has a similar layout.  The language of the poems is very accessible to many types of readers.  More difficult words are interspersed in several poems and provide a creative use of vivid vocabulary.  A table of contents in the front makes it easy to find just the poem you need; the index in the back helps the reader track down poems by listing them in alphabetical order. 

The illustrations are black and white cartoon drawings that add a lot of humor to each poem.  They add context and playfulness.  Even non-readers will enjoy the illustrations while listening to the poems being read aloud.  The colorful cover will pique the interest of most readers and they will want to look inside.  This collection of poems will be a favorite in the hands of children.

SPOTLIGHT ON A POEM

Children learn many things in school and sometimes what they learn is not what their parents intended.  Nesbitt describes the possibilities in "My Excellent Education." 

     How to juggle.

     How to hop.

     How to make 

     my knuckles pop.

     How to whinny.

     How to cluck.

     How to talk like Donald Duck.

     How to wiggle

     both my ears.

     How to fake 

     convincing tears.

     How to yo-yo.

     Capture flies.

     Roll my tongue

     and cross my eyes.

     How to make a piggy snout.

     How to make my eyes bug out.

     These are things 

     I learned in school. 

     Education —

     ain't it cool?

IN THE CLASSROOM

The pleasing rhythm of this poem along with the myriad of skills outlined here will make it an enjoyable read.  Before reading the poem aloud ask the children to generate a class list of all of the things they have learned in school so far.  Give everyone the opportunity to share.  Introduce the poem "My Excellent Education," reading it  aloud two or three times.  Let the children respond to the poem.  Then ask the children if they want to add anything to the class generated list of things they have learned.  They will probably have new ideas to share after hearing the poem.  Allow time for children to contribute ideas.  Project the poem for all to see and read it again to the class.  Ask them to listen to the rhythm of the poem.  Have everyone join in a choral reading.  Do this two or three times so the children are very comfortable with the flow of the poem.  

EXTENSIONS

Kenn Nesbitt's poetry website www.poetry4kids.com is a must for home and school use. It is filled with poetry, games, contests, activities and so much more.  You will also find a list of Kenn's books that will delight your readers.  His playful approach to poetry can be used for daily readings, also as a springboard for writing and for independent reading times.  If you are looking for materials to hook your students into poetry you will want to include Kenn's books.