Product Description

Nothing beats a pizza
when you're in a pizza mood
because a pizza isn't anything
like any other food.

The opening refrain of Nothing Beats A Pizza is catchy and fun, just like all 32 poems found in Loris Lesynski's new book of poety. Loris's poems are about enjoying language, rhythm, and rhyme - and, most of all, your own creativity.

These poems are meant to be said aloud and shared. They are jumping-off points that invite kids to exercise their creativity with their own versions of the poems:

Leaves were here
they left their prints
in greenish grayish brownish tints
like rubber stamps along the road
an autumn message left in code

On the page below Leaves, Loris starts kids off with: "Pizzas were here. They left their crumbs ..." This is one of many invitations for kids to experiment and see what new creations they can build.

Dancing across the pages are illustrations and poems alive with humor, exploring things that are important to a kid's world: pizza, substitute teachers, homework, moods, food, and pets.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1189211 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-Lesynski is back again with her offbeat sense of humor, this time with a subject sure to appeal to kids-pizza. Problems with teachers, classmates, pets, and feelings are also included in rhyme, free verse, or rap. Most pages have ideas for creative activities that can be paired with the poems, making the book a useful addition for poetry units. The pages are filled with lighthearted illustrations that Lesynski states were done in "colored pencil, watercolor, house paint, tomato sauce, eyeshadow, rubber stamp-pad ink, and ordinary pencil." With that kind of creativity, it's easy to see how this book might stimulate students' imaginations and inspire them to write their own original creations. While this isn't Jack Prelutsky or Shel Silverstein, the verse will run a close second with reluctant readers or with anyone who enjoys zany, gooey, and sometimes downright revolting rhymes. Great poems for reading aloud with pizzazz.
Laurie Edwards, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
It's easy to see how the book might stimulate student's imaginations and inspire them to write their own original creations. (Laurie Edwards School Library Journal 20020201)

About the Author

Loris Lesynski is an author, illustrator, poet, and graphic designer. She has published four popular children's picture books: Boy Soup (1996), Ogre Fun (1997), Catmagic (1998) and Night School (2001). Dirty Dog Boogie (1999) was her first fabulous foray into poetry. As a performer with a great deal of knowledge about educational issues, Loris is very popular on the reading conference circuit and makes many author visits and appearances.

Customer Reviews

32 rhythmic poems showcasing "kid friendly" topics
Wonderfully written and illustrated by Loris Lesynski, Nothing Beats A Pizza is a delightful collection of 32 rhythmic poems showcasing "kid friendly" topics ranging from eating a pizza to snowflakes. Ruby: Ruby wakes up full of pounce/and instantly begins to bounce:/playing catching growling chasing/darting jumping running racing,/skittering up and down the halls,/chewing shoes and bones and balls,/pretending a hat is an enemy rat,/shaking it, making it ragged and flat./Then suddenly--down on the floor she'll plop,/no pause at all between GO and STOP,/and right in the middle of a yap-yap-yap/she's sound asleep in an instant nap:/that's what puppies do. Highly recommended for family, school, and community library poetry collections for young readers, Nothing Beats A Pizza is also available in hardcover (1550377019, $18.95).

Thank you, Loris!
My favourite poem is entitled, "Too many Amandas" (I wonder why?) All of the poems in this book are fun and have a sing-song rhythm to them. You'll find yourself reciting them while doing something like chores!

The poems all have a nice message for kids. This book reminded me of authors like Denis Lee and his Alligator Pie that I enjoyed when I was a kid. A wonderfully, fun book with lovely illustrations! Thank you, Loris!