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Reviewed by David Korson for Readers' Favorite
Mark I West’s book of children’s poetry, The Peeve and the Grudge and Other Preposterous Poems, highlights the humor often overlooked in expressions many of us use daily. The titular opening poem finds a child’s parents retrieving several fictive items from the sea, which they call a peeve and a grudge. The mother keeps hers, making it her pet peeve, while the father picks up his object, thus holding a grudge. This bit of wordplay sets the tone for over a dozen poems that examine the English language from an innocent, childlike perspective. Many poems use multiple stanzas to build up to a humorous punchline, exploring literal interpretations of familiar idioms.
Packed with puns and riddled with ridiculousness, this wacky collection is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages. Catchy rhymes and colorful illustrations enhance silly themes reminiscent of Shel Silverstein’s works. The playful artwork perfectly matches the fanciful mood of the book, as it depicts the scenes in the wildest ways possible. And the imaginative poetry proves to be more than just a series of dad jokes, as West employs perfect tempo and expressive terms to bring each line alive. My favorites are Pop Quiz, which asks curious exam questions about popular soft drink brands, and Tattoos, which explains a footnote. Absurdities abound in The Peeve and the Grudge and Other Preposterous Poems, a collection of lively children’s poetry that is a riotously fun read.
