Oh, Theodore! Guinea Pig Poems <small><br>by Susan Katz</small>

Oh, Theodore! has turned out to be a wonderful surprise. I picked it up at the library on a whim and the kids have just adored it. (They are currently 7 and 9.)

The book consists of series of small, kid-friendly poems that tell the story of a sweet friendship between a boy and his Guinea Pig. The poems start out whimsically, covering various aspects of life with pigs. There's no obvious direction until Theodore goes missing. Then it became clear that as a whole the poems tell a story. (By the way, don't worry, it all ends on a happy note.)

Here's one of the poems that always leaves my son giggling:

THEO-DOOR

Open
the kitchen door.
Theodore sits.

Open
the cupboard door.
Theodore sits.

But open
the refrigerator door.
Here comes Theodore.

Well, I'm sure if you've ever been around guinea pigs you'll understand the context of this little poem. Guinea Pigs will 'wheet' at the prospect of lettuce and other treats, and they are certainly smart enough to figure out where that good stuff comes from.

Wrap Up:::
In the current back seat pile, Oh, Theodore! reigns supreme as the book most fought over. And indeed it's a delightful book of short poems that children who like guinea pigs ought to enjoy. (Get it at the Library and see.)

Stacey Schuett's illustrations are warm and inviting. The verses are written in kid-friendly language with the mood running from goofy to happy to sad. A variety of topics are covered; everything from feeding and playing, to washing and cleaning bowls and water bottles. This latter might be used to emphasize the responsibility of owning a pet like Theodore. And certainly having poems to memorize and recite can be a great way to practice memorizing and reading skills.

Pam T
Somewhere in the X-burbs

Oh, Theodore!
by Susan Katz

Word Count: 795
Page Count: 48
Accelerated Reading level: 2.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 115785