I Saw an Invisible Lion Today: Quatrains

Gr 3–5—Cleary's upbeat introduction to the quatrain, or four-line poem, is a forthright invitation to rhyme. A clearly stated two-page description of possible rhyme schemes is followed by 22 appealing four-liners, each with its rhyme scheme listed right under the title. Cleary makes creating and rhyming poetry seem simple. All kids need to do is choose a topic and style, decide on a rhyme scheme, and begin writing. Tackling subjects such as adjectives, lies, the outdoors, bathrooms, and a birthday, the author's own poems demonstrate that no topic is too mundane, ridiculous, or unspeakable to put into verse. Most selections in this collection have only two rhyming lines (ABCB). A one-page "Further Reading" add-on offers several titles that include tips on writing quatrains and some websites that feature the four-line poems, along with sample topics, instructions and prompts, and tips on crafting nonsense verse. Watson's colorful, whimsical cartoon characters tumble, strut, dance, and ride across the pages, adding charm to the text.