Reviews

Explosion at the Poem Factory by Kyle Lukoff

notblue's review

3.0

Ehh… I think this would’ve helped me in my 9th grade english class.

3/5

erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review

5.0

Clever, so very clever.

katymul's review

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

I'm such a sucker for a good poem pun, and I really respect authors who make deep cut jokes in picturebooks. Why not get that kid who has a deep poem knowledge? Why not go for the side joke not everyone will see? But that might provoke an interest in sestinas and whether or not that counts as iambic pentameter.

Lukoff has called all picturebooks formalist poetry, and that approaches serves him well here -- but he finds plenty of room for fun along the way.

stunnerz25's review

challenging informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.25

 

A funny story, full of wordplay, brings poetry alive as never before!

Kilmer Watts makes his living teaching piano lessons, but when automatic pianos arrive in town, he realizes he’s out of a job. He spots a “Help Wanted” sign at the poem factory and decides to investigate — he’s always been curious about how poems are made.

The foreman explains that machines and assembly lines are used for poetry these days. So Kilmer learns how to operate the “meter meter” and empty the “cliché bins.” He assembles a poem by picking out a rhyme scheme, sprinkling in some similes and adding alliteration.

But one day the machines malfunction, and there is a dramatic explosion at the poem factory. How will poetry ever survive?

Kyle Lukoff’s funny story, rich in wordplay, is complemented by Mark Hoffmann’s lively, quirky art. The backmatter includes definitions of poetic feet, types of poems (with illustrated examples) and a glossary of other terms. An author’s note explains the inspiration for the story. 

When I chanced upon Explosion at the poem factory, I was of the view that I could use it for a reading project for kids I am encouraging and hoping to get to read, love reading, and reproduce from what they have read ... if that makes sense, lol.
For a while, I couldn't get into it because it wasn't what and how I thought it would start out. I eventually got into reading it and I absolutely adore it. 
if you're looking for a new perspective to dive into for your writing project as a teen or adult, this is it for you. This would have been a 5-star read...should have easily been one if the author had reasoned adults do like simple and silly comic books. I am by no means saying this book is an easy read since you'd need a dictionary to look up things every then and now but hey, it is lovely. The glossary at the end was very helpful and the art proved to be impressive. so I will settle for 4 tacos and a quarter taco shell, which is equivalent to 4. 25 stars rating.
Favorite quotes

1.  Poems are like puzzles. You have to find the right words to fit together. 
2. 
   

bookbabe0614's review

funny informative fast-paced

4.25

lagobond's review

2.0

I really hated this book the first two or three times I picked it up. Couldn't even make myself finish it. But I wanted to like it, so I decided to give it one final try, and made it through. It ended up sparking a very interesting and educational dinnertime conversation.

So I could see this being a good tool for English teachers tasked with conveying poetry theory? poetic theory? poetics? to their students. But it would really work best as a foundation for a week-long project, because it definitely isn't a quick fun read. I would also recommend including lots of examples from other poems to illustrate the concepts. I'm an adult and it was a challenge for me to get through... I can only imagine the yawns and eyerolls this would engender in a classroom full of kids or teenagers.

I suggest starting with the glossary at the end, and reading the story afterward. Or at least opening the story with a little heads-up that yes, it'll be confusing, but we'll figure out the weird words after, and then we can re-read the story to see if it's any better.

I do love the author's obvious and endearing enthusiasm for poetry, but I don't think this book will connect with most readers.

daisycakesco's review

4.0

Would be great after an elementary poetry unit.

etiberland's review

5.0

Now available on Hoopla right now...
A wonderful, whimsical, literary, poetic wordplay-filled tale of poetry manufacturing gone awry.. (Who else was reminded of Clarissa Explains it all's poetry computer... just me? cool..cool.cool..
I especially LOVE all the back-matter with examples and definitions. A perfect teaching/program resource.

This poem.... is everything...
"I know that someday I will leave this place
and find the joys that other lands can hold.
Until then I will make the light myself."

Spoiler alert....

"The poem industry may have suffered, but poetry would survive."

shiprim's review

5.0

A perfect way to celebrate real art!

sassychortle's review

1.0

I'm really not sure who this book is written for...clearly not children. I guess for people who get advanced degrees in poetry? I've never had to sound out so many words in a picture book. I was so excited to see a kid's book about poetry. This one isn't going to encourage a love of it.