Mr. Toad and Other Poems

The great poet Alexander Pope was asked by a prince to write a poem for a dog's collar. He wrote just 15 words encapsulating a royal dog's entitlement--from the dog's perspective! In this volume of more than a dozen poems, readers learn that poems don't need to be serious. They are introduced to lighthearted wordplay and singsong rhyme schemes that are fun to repeat over and over. With entries from Christina Rosetti and William Shakespeare, among others, the writers included are some of the best, but the works offered are understandable and enjoyable for young readers.