Author Profile
Jack Prelutsky
23 Books
Jack Prelutsky is a celebrated American poet and the first U.S. Children's Poet Laureate. He is known for his humorous and imaginative verse that delights young readers with whimsical characters and clever wordplay. His beloved collections include The New Kid on the Block and The Dragons Are Singing Tonight.
Look closely at the world around you, because things are not always what they seem. In this wonderfully weird and brilliant collection, familiar animals have been mixed with ordinary objects to create sixteen completely new, spectacular creatures. Have you ever seen a panteater shuffling along in its denim trousers, or watched a flock of stardines swimming brightly through the night sky? Through short, catchy rhymes and incredibly detailed collage artwork, these strange new species come completely to life. The book feels like walking through a very silly natural history museum, where every exhibit makes you laugh out loud and sparks your imagination. It is a fantastic showcase of clever wordplay and artistic creativity, perfect for young readers who love to invent their own wild animals and appreciate a healthy dose of pure nonsense.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
Listen closely and you might just hear them. The dragons have gathered, and their powerful voices are filling the night sky. In this enchanting collection of poems, you will meet dragons of every shape, size, and personality. There are large, ferocious dragons that roar with fire, and tiny, gentle dragons that could fit right in your pocket. You will even encounter a mechanical dragon hiding inside a computer! Every page bursts with imaginative rhymes that capture the magical essence of these mythical beasts. Some verses will make you laugh out loud, while others might make you feel a little bit sad for a lonely creature. The rhythmic words are practically begging to be read aloud, making it easy to get swept away in the scaly, soaring, and sometimes silly world of dragons.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
44 Pages
Pack your bags and get ready for a hilarious poetry road trip right across the country. From the busy streets of Minneapolis to the deep edges of the Grand Canyon, these twenty eight rollicking rhymes take you on a journey full of non stop silliness. You might spot some frogs confidently wearing bright red suspenders, or encounter other equally ridiculous animals causing trouble in towns from Tuscaloosa all the way to Seattle. Every fast paced poem is bursting with the kind of clever wordplay and bouncy rhythm that makes reading out loud so much fun. The verses are paired perfectly with beautiful artwork, making every stop on this trip a colorful new adventure. It is a fantastic, laugh out loud collection that proves geography and nonsense are a truly unbeatable combination for young readers.
6-8 Years
68 Pages
The school bell is ringing, but this is definitely not your average day in the classroom. From the moment the bus pulls up to the final dismissal, you are in for a wild ride full of unexpected surprises. This hilarious collection of poems takes all the familiar parts of a school day and turns them completely upside down. You will read about cafeteria food that seems to have a mind of its own, recess games that get completely out of hand, and homework assignments that go horribly wrong. Every rhyme captures the familiar chaos, friendships, and funny mishaps that make school so memorable. If you have ever had a day where absolutely nothing went according to plan, you will find plenty to laugh about in these incredibly relatable and energetic verses.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
44 Pages
Not everyone you meet in a poem is going to be nice. In fact, the characters waiting for you inside this collection are downright unsavory, completely rude, and entirely entertaining. Get ready for seventeen hilarious poems dedicated strictly to the bad guys of the fantasy world. You will cross paths with cranky ogres, terrible wizards, towering giants, and an incredibly grumpy yeti. There is even a group of seven grubby goblins who have absolutely no manners at all. Instead of being scary, these magical misfits are mostly just absurd and very funny. The bouncy, rhythmic verses perfectly capture their bad attitudes and silly complaints. If you have ever wondered what a troll does on a Monday morning, this fantastically weird book has all the wonderfully grim and giggly answers you could ever want.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
48 Pages
The whistle blows, the crowd cheers, and the game is on! Whether you love hitting home runs, scoring goals, or performing perfect gymnastics routines, there is a poem in this energetic collection just for you. Exploring the highs and lows of playing sports, these snappy rhymes capture the exact feelings of being out on the field, the court, or the ice. You will experience the thrill of a big win, the frustration of a tough loss, and the pure, simple joy of just participating. From baseball and soccer to swimming and karate, the poems celebrate the dedication and fun of athletic competition. With its fast paced rhythm and hilarious observations about everyday sports moments, this book proves that reading can be just as exciting and full of action as your favorite afternoon game.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
61 Pages
On Scranimal Island, ordinary animals do not stay ordinary for long.
Jack Prelutsky fills this witty poetry collection with impossible creatures made from mixed-up birds, beasts, flowers, vegetables, and pure wordplay. The fun is in the surprise: names twist, rhymes bounce, and each strange new scranimal invites you to picture something that could never appear in a regular zoo.
Young readers who love silly language, clever puns, and oddball imaginary creatures will find plenty to enjoy here. The poems are playful enough for a read-aloud and inventive enough for older children to return to on their own. Scranimals is a smart, funny celebration of imagination, where language itself becomes a habitat for the wonderfully weird.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
52 Pages
Grab an umbrella, because the forecast calls for a heavy downpour of pure absurdity. You never know exactly what is going to fall from the sky in this massive, side splitting collection of humorous poetry. Get ready to tap your toes with the dancing hippopotami, try to avoid eating terrible food, and learn what it is like when your father is actually a Sasquatch. Every single page is packed with clever wordplay, bouncing rhythms, and incredibly strange situations. The poems are short, catchy, and completely impossible to read without cracking a smile. Whether you are writing a letter to a Wumbledeedumble or just trying to navigate a world where pigs fly out of the clouds, this book guarantees non stop laughter. It is the absolute perfect choice for anyone who believes that poetry should always be a little bit ridiculous.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
164 Pages
School is out, the sun is shining, and your favorite massive monster is entirely ready for an unforgettable summer vacation. Awful Ogre is back, and he is bringing his unique brand of gross, hilarious chaos to all his favorite warm weather activities. Join him as he goes on a deeply romantic picnic with a lovely ogress, wrestles with a fierce crocodile, and heads over to Grandma's house for a delightful snack of dried weasel. You can even watch him attempt some ogre yoga or take a refreshing dip in the pool with his beloved pet piranha. Packed with incredibly catchy rhymes and wonderfully bizarre situations, these poems prove that an awful summer can actually be completely awesome. Dive right into the monstrous fun and celebrate a season filled with laughs, bugs, and pure Ogre energy.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
Wake up and smell the terrible morning breath. Awful Ogre is starting his day, and it is guaranteed to be huge, horrible, and completely hilarious. Follow this massive, lovable monster as he goes about his daily routine, which is anything but normal. You will get to see how he grooms himself, watch him practice his unique style of dancing, and even read over his shoulder as he writes a very strange letter. Awful Ogre packs more excitement, bizarre emotion, and gross out fun into a single afternoon than most people do in a whole year. Through clever, bouncy poems, you will discover that even though he acts tough and awful, he has a heart that readers cannot help but love. It is a wildly entertaining look at the daily life of a truly unforgettable beast.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
43 Pages
No one else can be exactly you.
In Me I Am!, Jack Prelutsky’s joyful poem celebrates children with all kinds of interests, moods, movements, and ways of being. The book speaks directly to young readers who are beginning to notice what makes them different from everyone else, while also discovering how exciting those differences can be.
With lively language and an upbeat spirit, this illustrated poem is well suited for ages six to eight, whether read aloud or enjoyed independently. It offers a warm, simple celebration of individuality without becoming heavy or preachy. For children who like poetry with energy and heart, Me I Am! is a bright invitation to stand proudly in your own one-of-a-kind self.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Have you seen a missing hippopotamus? If so, please let us know. In this incredibly funny collection of more than one hundred poems, you are going to encounter a wild variety of animals, both real and entirely imagined. You will meet an elephant with a surprising talent for art, an octopus that handles multitasking better than anyone, and a lizard called a wiguana that is unusually covered in hair. There is even a halibutterfly that seems more than a little bit fishy. Some of the creatures are massive, some are tiny, and all of them are wonderfully strange. Packed with silly rhymes, clever wordplay, and situations that will make you laugh out loud, this book celebrates the absolute joy of nonsense. Dive into these fast paced verses and get ready for a truly bizarre animal adventure.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
The shadows are growing long, and it is time to look up. Perched high above the city, a gargoyle sits on the roof, watching the world below and sharing secrets you never imagined. This spooky yet delightfully funny poetry collection invites you to spend time with a wide variety of misunderstood monsters. Have you ever wondered what a vampire thinks about when it gets dark, or what gremlins do for fun? How about the bogeyman hiding quietly in the corner? Through clever rhymes and wonderfully eerie artwork, these famous creatures come to life in ways that will make you giggle rather than shiver. It is the perfect blend of chills and chuckles. Step into the darkness and discover the hilarious, hidden lives of the monsters who usually prefer to stay out of sight.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
Imagine trying to guess the identity of an animal based entirely on seventeen carefully chosen syllables. In this beautiful collection, traditional Japanese haiku poetry is used to describe the fascinating creatures that share our world. Each short, elegant poem offers a riddle, highlighting the unique movements, sounds, and habits of a different animal. Without ever saying the animal's name, the words paint a vivid picture that invites you to look closer and think deeply about nature. You might find yourself soaring through the sky with a bird of prey or creeping silently through the grass with a stealthy hunter. The gentle language and thoughtful observations make this a completely different kind of animal book, perfect for readers who appreciate quiet moments, clever wordplay, and the simple beauty of the natural world.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
Step right into a garden where the flowers grow tall and the animals are always ready to play. In Aunt Giraffe's wonderful green space, there is so much to see and do. You might find yourself sipping a refreshing juice box with a giant blue goose, or slurping down a massive bowl of noodles alongside some very hungry poodles. Perhaps you will sing a cheerful song with a friendly bluebird or go fishing in a pond covered in frost. This delightful collection of twenty eight short poems is packed entirely with silly situations and bouncy rhymes that are perfect for reading out loud. The bright, cheerful words are paired with beautiful illustrations, making every single page a fun new adventure. It is the perfect place to explore, laugh, and let your imagination run wild.
6-8 Years
68 Pages
Something big has definitely arrived, and it is bringing a massive dose of laughter right along with it. In this spectacular collection of funny verses, you will meet a bizarre and lovable cast of characters that will stay with you long after you close the cover. Prepare to cross paths with four extremely vain tortoises, a highly cultured rat, the incredibly strong Super Samson Simpson, and a piece of meatloaf that is so tough it can completely ruin an ax. From flying hotdogs to peculiar pets, the imagination in these pages knows absolutely no bounds. The bouncy rhymes and catchy rhythms make these poems incredibly easy to read aloud, memorize, and chant with your friends. If you enjoy pure silliness, strange situations, and words that make you giggle, this book is an absolute must read.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
160 Pages
Step right up and meet the strange, silly, and undeniably hilarious cast of characters waiting inside these pages. From the mysterious Baloney Belly Billy to the delightfully odd Gloopy Gloopers, every turn of the page introduces a new, unforgettable face. This wildly popular collection of poetry is packed with bouncy rhythms, catchy rhymes, and situations that are wonderfully absurd. Whether you love reading about mischievous kids, peculiar monsters, or everyday events gone completely wrong, there is a poem here to make you smile. Jack Prelutsky has a special talent for turning the English language upside down and backwards, creating verses that are as fun to read aloud as they are to read silently. Grab a comfortable seat and get ready to laugh your way through one of the most entertaining poetry books you will ever read.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
159 Pages
How hungry do you have to be to eat a pizza as massive as a star? Get ready to stretch your imagination and your laugh muscles in this enormous collection of wildly funny poetry. From food that defies the laws of physics to strange creatures doing impossible things, these rhymes celebrate the absolute joy of pure nonsense. You will find yourself reading about ridiculous situations, peculiar people, and ideas that are so silly they actually make perfect sense. The bouncy rhythms and incredibly clever wordplay make these verses impossible to read without smiling. Whether you are reading silently in your room or chanting the lines out loud with your friends, the energy inside these pages is completely contagious. Open the cover, grab a huge slice of fun, and let the laughter begin.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
164 Pages
Prepare to have your mind entirely boggled by a zoo unlike anything you have ever experienced. In this brilliantly ridiculous poetry collection, ordinary objects and familiar animals have crashed together to create completely new, laugh out loud species. You will stand in awe of the bold Umbrellaphant, marvel at the strange mechanics of the Clocktopus, and try to wrap your head around the Shoehornets buzzing through the air. Every clever, bouncy rhyme acts as a hilarious field guide to these impossible creatures, explaining their strange habits and bizarre appearances. It is a true celebration of wordplay and wild imagination that will have you trying to invent your own object animals. With its snappy rhythm and pure, unadulterated nonsense, this book is an absolute delight for anyone who loves to look at the world from a very silly angle.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
The lights are out, the door is closed, and everyone in the house is completely convinced you are fast asleep. But the truth is, the best part of the night is just beginning! This relatable and extremely funny collection of sixteen poems captures exactly what happens when you are supposedly resting. Whether you are staring at the shadows on the ceiling, listening to strange noises in the dark, or simply feeling way too energized to close your eyes, these verses perfectly describe the struggle of bedtime. You will laugh out loud at the clever tricks and runaway thoughts that keep a restless mind wide awake. With its snappy rhymes and completely honest take on nighttime adventures, this book proves that being awake in the dark can actually be incredibly entertaining.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
52 Pages
A lion roars, tortoises plod, elephants lumber, and swans glide through one of classical music’s most playful animal parades.
In this lively picture-book adaptation of The Carnival of the Animals, Jack Prelutsky’s rollicking original verses invite you to hear Camille Saint-Saëns’s famous composition in a fresh, funny way. Each poem captures a different creature with rhythm, wit, and motion, turning music into words you can almost see and poems you can almost hear.
Perfect for young readers who enjoy animals, poetry, and music, this book offers a spirited introduction to a beloved classical work without feeling like a lesson. It is a joyful read-aloud choice for home, classroom, or any child ready to let language and music march together.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
41 Pages
Welcome to Diffendoofer School, a place where learning is anything but ordinary! Your teachers might teach you how to yodel or how to tell a cactus from a cow. But there's a big problem: if the students can't prove they've learned how to think for themselves, the whole school will be sent to dreary Flobbertown! Luckily, the amazing Miss Bonkers is here to help. She believes in every student's unique way of seeing the world. Can the students of Diffendoofer School show everyone that thinking differently is the best way to learn, and save their beloved school? Join in this wonderfully wacky adventure, filled with Dr. Seuss's unforgettable rhymes and playful spirit, completed by Jack Prelutsky. It's a celebration of creativity, individuality, and the joy of learning to think for yourself!
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
57 Pages
A Collection of Poems
Get ready to laugh out loud with a collection of super silly poems that will make you look at homework, pets, and everyday life in a whole new way! Imagine your dog actually doing your math problems, or what it would be like if your cat wrote a poem. This fantastic book brings together funny and clever verses from some of your favorite poets, including Jon Scieszka, Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and Eve Merriam. Each poem is a little adventure, perfect for reading by yourself, sharing with a friend, or enjoying with a grown-up. Dive into a world where anything can happen, and every page promises a smile and a giggle. It's the perfect way to discover the joy of poetry!
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
