(Book Cover: Prelutsky, Jack. 1994. New York: Greenwillow Books. Ill. James Stevenson. Photo Source: Barnes and Noble Online Catalog. http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=pizza+size+sun, accessed October 6, 2008.)
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Prelutsky, Jack. 1996. A pizza the size of the sun. Ill. James Stevenson. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 0-688-13236-7.
2. ABOUT THIS BOOK: A pizza the size of the sun is a compilation of 105 poems by renowned poet, Jack Prelutsky.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS: This collection is simply set forth in a one hundred fifty-nine page book filled with silly, fun and sometimes unusually formatted poetry, well illustrated with line drawings. Poetry collections are often browsed and to support this browsing, an "Index to Titles" is found at the end of the book. An additional, and interesting, feature is an "Index to First Lines". These elements make this book very user friendly.
Mr. Prelutsky uses a variety of styles in this book of poems. Many of the poems use rhyming words. Sometimes these words are at the end of every line as is found in “The Manatee” and other times it is every other line that rhymes, as in “I Sailed on Half a Ship”. While some authors might find rhyming to be a challenge, Mr. Prelutsky seems to use it with ease. His rhyming never seems forced or contrived. The rhythm of the book is fairly steady throughout with the use of short lines that have a four-four time (to use a music term) about them. This rhythm is carried throughout the book and can be applied to practically every poem.
Mr. Prelutsky also makes great use of sound in this book. A wonderful example of assonance is found in “I Made Something Strange with My Chemistry Set” wherein Mr. Prelutsky uses the words gluey, blue, stew, move, oozed, room, soon, too, undo, and route to create a wonderful tale of what happens when things go wrong with a chemistry experiment. An example of consonance can be found in “The Improbable Emporium” in lines such as the following: “there’s a saddle for your sea horse/ in an aqueous display,/ sets of sandals styled to suit your centipede.” “The Improbable Emporium” is also a perfect example of the way in which Mr. Prelutsky pays close attention to the choice of words in his poems. His words are chosen for the images they bring to the reader. For example, in “The Improbable Emporium” it is written: “There are ottomans for otters/ special piccolos for pigs,/ tubes of oil to stop the loudest mouse’s squeak,/ . . .” These bring about vivid images to the reader. Mr. Prelutsky’s word choices could also help develop vocabulary in younger children.
The reader is assisted in developing the images from these poems by the simple line drawings of the illustrator, James Stevenson. Throughout the book and for each poem, Mr. Stevenson draws doodle-like drawings that are excellent interpretations of the words of Mr. Prelutsky.
Mr. Prelutsky writes simply so that his readers will find laughter and joy through his poems. Consider the laughter that would come from children listening to a teacher read “I Often Repeat Repeat Myself” wherein Mr. Prelutsky writes: “I often repeat repeat myself,/ I often repeat repeat./ It gets me in a jam a jam,/ but that’s the way I am I am,/ . . .. Other funny poems include those that are written backward, as if needing to hold the words up to a mirror to read, and one in which that the words meander all over the page.
Overall, this is a good book of poetry to be read a little at a time to elementary age children. It could be used in the course of transitions during the school day or as a starter to each day at the end of the morning announcements. As with most compilations of poetry, it is not a book to be read from cover to cover in one sitting; but instead, should be savored over a long period of time.
4. BOOK REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
THE HORN BOOK, 72 (Sept./Oct. 1996): 605: “Poems in varied typeface and placement in an open format combine with the economical line of well-placed sketches to create a fast-paced and accessible collection that's loads of fun." (Source: Book Review Digest Plus, WilsonWeb database, accessed via TWU Library Online)
BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS, 50 (Sept. 1996) 25: "Stevenson's line-and-wash illustrations are breezily slapdash but expressive. . . . He's particularly inventive at illustrating creatures that never were." (Source: Book Review Digest Plus, WilsonWeb database, accessed via TWU Library Online)
BOOKLIST, 93, (Sept. 15, 1996) 241: Prelutsky is up to his old tricks, using verbal sleight of hand to create another magical {collection} of light verse. " (Source: Book Review Digest Plus database, accessed via TWU Library Online)
5. CONNECTIONS IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY SETTING:
• Write the first lines of the poems from this book (remember, “Index to first lines” is in back of book) on colored paper and hang them from ceiling or place them on a bulletin board in the library or classroom. Each day, a student can choose a first line from the ceiling or bulletin board and the librarian or teacher can read the corresponding poem. (Kristen George’ website, http://www.kirstinegeorge.com/celebrate_poetry.html, accessed October 13, 2008).
• Turn the poems into songs and have a class sing-a-long.
• The poem “A Dizzy Little Duzzle” is written in a curvy, meandering way on page 137 of this book. Type the poem, in normal format, on a separate sheet of paper for each student. Using any method available, place the words of the poem in its original curvy, meandering format on the floor of the library or classroom. Give each student a copy of the poem. Lead the students on a poem “walk” by having the students read the poem out loud as they walk along the words of the poem as they would walk a labyrinth.
Other Related Items:
• Jack Prelutsky’s website. A terrific source of fun for elementary age children. A terrific source of activities and information from teachers. http://www.jackprelutsky.com/, accessed October 13, 2008.
• Prelutsky, Jack. 1986. The new kid on the block. Performed by Jack Prelutsky (audiocassette). Connecticut: Listening Library.
• Prelutsky, Jack. 1984. The new kid on the block. Ill. James Stevenson. New York: Greenwillow Books.
• Prelutsky, Jack. 2008. My dog may be a genius. Ill. James Stevenson. New York: Greenwillow Books.
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