The Silly Parade and Other Topsy-Turvy Poems

K-Gr 2—Popov illustrates this collection of Russian nursery rhymes, songs, and folk poetry translated and retold by Dwyer. Dwyer's biographical note states that she is a professor of Russian studies and was inspired by Popov's art to create an "appealing [volume] for children of all ages and places." Unfortunately, the uneven text and off-putting illustrations fail to achieve that goal. The short, silly poems skew toward a young audience. Some of them are too simple, offering little payoff, challenge, or fun wordplay for readers. Longer poems occasionally suffer from confusing, inconsistent rhyme schemes or stanza lengths. The poems use Russian terms and names, but the only cultural context provided is Popov's art. His fanciful, vintage illustrations of children and animals cavorting in rural settings of isolated houses, spare plains, and dark woods create an ominous feel bolstered by the earth-toned palette. The content of the images range from whimsical to unsettling (a "topsy-turvy" procession features what can be described as a decapitated horse). All in all, this is a muddled effort that is more likely to confuse or frighten children than delight them.