The art and text are pure traditional Calef Brown in Hypnotize a Tiger: Poems About Just About Everything. These poems are logical in their abstractness. And even abstract in their logic. They are not for the younger reader as some subjects might be above the 4 to 7 aged crowd. These are more for the 6 to 10 crowd. (Yes, I realize there is overlap there, as some on the younger end of the age might have a more mature, quirky sense of humor). And, of course, adults could get a kick out of Brown’s style. It could be used in the classroom to teach that poetry is fun, and you could read one a night. The older reader (10 to young 12) might be inspired to create their own works.
The poems deal with everything from skateboarding, insects, gnomes, geese, bullies, snacks, being car sick, absurd flying skyscrapers as rockets, a realistic poem about a trucker name Wayne and even a poem about possessed gym teachers that make their students play dodge bull (with a real live bull!). Broken up into sections, you will find at least one poem you will enjoy. The Q&A at the end has its own Brown twist to it.
Most have a rhyme or at least a smooth flow to the pattern of the text, but all have some quirks. And Brown’s illustrations hide a few surprises as well.
And while Brown has their own style, if you are not familiar with it, one could liken it to such poets as Shel Silverstein or Douglas Florian. Plus, both text and illustrations are reminiscent of Jack Prelutsky.