Who Swallowed Harold?: And Other Poems About Pets

Susan Pearson writes this book full of poetry about having different kinds of pets. One poem that I really enjoyed in this book is "Do Goldfish Pee?". In this poem, Pearson asks the readers a bunch of questions such as "Do fish pee a lot?" and "Is it hot?". It is a very silly poem, but it really got me thinking because I truly did not know the answer (I googled it, they pee through their gills).
Nonetheless, I really liked how Pearson asked those questions in her poetry, and she does it for a few poems throughout the story. Doing so captures the readers attention, having them question themselves if they know the answer, and if they will find out at the end of the poem.

This was one of the most incredibly illustrated picture books I found, and it also happened to be a poetry book. Slonim's illustrations are so animated and charming that they could be their own Pixar movie or Saturday morning cartoon show, but they are definitely not computer animations. One aspect of the great appeal is the very large scale he uses which is as engaging as it is visually appealing, a single snoozing bulldog or insect-nabbing iguana each take up all but a couple square inches of two full eight-by-eleven pages in stunning bold colors.

Who Swallowed Harold? is a collection of poems about pets. The poems are very humorous and silly. One poem asks the questions "Do goldfish pee?" and then the asker finds himself fearing how much pee is in the sea. While that is the silliest of the bunch, all of the poems keep the reader giggling from beginning to end.

"Who Swallowed Harold?" is filled with goofy animal poems that vary in length and reading level. My favorite is "Do Goldfish Pee?" I cracked up over this poem, so I know many young readers would as well. I think that this could be used as a reward or something to I could use to close my lessons. I remember when I was in second or third grade, my teachers would say, "If you all are quiet and we get done all the work we have planned for today, I will read a story out of Chicken Soup for the Soul." We all made sure we remind quiet and stayed focus in the hopes of having a chapter read to us at the end of class. Some of these poems are very still, so I think to use it at the end of a lesson would be the best option.

Who Swallowed Harold? written by Susan Pearson, illustrated by David Slonim
This colorful picture book has 18 silly poems about pets. The book begins with the first poem about a boy wishing he could have a pet, taking the reader through the last poem about a pet turtle swimming in the toilet. The illustrations are bold and bright, and follow the action packed poems to the end of the book.

I enjoyed reading this book of silly poems to my class of four and five year olds. I think my favorite poem was Do Goldfish Pee? After we read all 18 poems, the children requested we read it again.

Extension Activity: Rhyming Game
Materials needed: ball
rhyming words (same word family)
example:at, bat, cat, fat, hat...
Write (brainstorm with students) show more list of rhyming words on chart paper, then the class stands in a circle, the teacher says first word, then bounces ball to a student who then repeats first word and says word that rhymes with first word, after both words are said, the first student bounces ball to another student, who then repeats first and second word and adds third rhyming word. This continues until all students have had a turn. This activity is a small group activity for young students, or can be large group activity for older students (may use for than one set of rhyming words). show less

This is a poetry book about pets. Some are sad and some are funny. There are all different types of pets in this poetry book. It is filled with rhymes and consonance. I think the voice of these poems are narrative. It is someone else telling the story of these pets.

This book is composed of a collection of poetry about pets. Many of the poems have rhyme in them. All of the poems are about pets. The animals range from cats and dogs to iguanas and guinea pigs. All of the poems were very fun to read. The words were very easy, therefore beginning readers should not have a problem with this book. The illustrations were very basic, but they fit with each poem. I would read this book to my students when talking about poetry.