It's Raining Pigs & Noodles

by Jack Prelutsky, James Stevenson (Illustrator)

Overview

The master of mischievous rhyme, Jack Prelutsky, and his partner in crime, James Stevenson, have whipped up a storm of more than one hundred hilarious poems and zany drawings. Grab your umbrella—and make sure it's a big one!

It's raining pigs and noodles,
it's pouring frogs and hats,
chrysanthemums and poodles,
bananas, brooms, and cats.
Assorted prunes and parrots
are dropping from the sky,
here comes a bunch of carrots,
some hippopotami.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060763909
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	12/26/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	162,297
Product dimensions:	8.96(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.67(d)
Lexile:	AD1090L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Jack Prelutsky is the best-selling author of more than fifty books of poetry, including The New Kid on the Block, illustrated by James Stevenson, and Stardines Swim High Across the Sky, illustrated by Carin Berger. Jack Prelutsky lives in Washington State.

James Stevenson is an op-ed contributor to the New York Times. His popular column, "Lost and Found New York," has appeared regularly in the newspaper since 2003. He was on the staff of The New Yorker for more than three decades; his work includes 2,000 cartoons and 80 covers, as well as reporting and fiction. He is also the author and illustrator of over 100 children's books. He lives in Connecticut.

Read an Excerpt

It's Raining Pigs and Noodles

It's raining pigs and noodles,
it's pouring frogs and hats,
chrysanthemums and poodles,
bananas, brooms, and cats.
Assorted prunes and parrots
are dropping from the sky,
here comes a bunch of carrots,
some hippopotami.

It's raining pens and pickles,
and eggs and silverware.
A flood of figs and nickels
is falling through the air.
I see a swan, a sweater,
a clock, a model train--
like this so much better
than when it's raining rain.

It's Raining Pigs & Noodles. Copyright © by Jack Prelutsky. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

Editorial Reviews

The reigning czars of silliness are back on the warpath, wreaking poetic havoc with yet another deliciously sly volume. Hats off to these two glorious goofballs!” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Sure to tickle readers young and old.” — The Horn Book

“The verse is fresh and catchy with sparkling wordplay and unexpected rhymes, and line drawings the humor with verve.” — School Library Journal

“Unabated chaos that celebrates imagination.” — ALA Booklist

From the Publisher

Sure to tickle readers young and old.

The Horn Book

Unabated chaos that celebrates imagination.

ALA Booklist

As a child, Jack Prelutsky thought poetry was one dull thing. But once he was introduced properly to its refracted wonders, he began creating his own wacky, luminous verse. Fans of his Pizza the Size of the Sun will welcome this new addition to the Prelutsky oeuvre

Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Following A Pizza the Size of the Sun, the reigning czars of silliness are back on the warpath, wreaking poetic havoc with yet another deliciously sly volume. The titles alone are a treat: "Never Poke Your Uncle With a Fork"; "I'm Ironing My Rhinoceros"; "Waffles Give Me Sniffles." Prelutsky trips the light verse fantastic across territory that's familiar yet fresh. He gleefully descends to the depths of gross-out humor ("Worm puree, oh hooray!/ You're the dish that makes my day"), engages in nimble wordplay ("There's no present like the time," he notes in "I Gave My Friend a Cuckoo Clock") and once again proves himself king of the final one-two punch (a knight confesses to ineffectuality in an ode closing with this couplet: "My name is famed through all the land/ I'm called Sir Lunchalot"). The sassy selection of nonsense rhymes and puckish poems will further endear Prelutsky to his many fans. Meanwhile, partner-in-crime Stevenson peppers the pages with his inimitably impish sketches, from pigs in kilts on stilts to fleas on a circus trapeze. Hats off to these two glorious goofballs! Ages 5-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The team behind The New Kid on the Block offers a bounteous volume of verse. In a starred review, PW said, The reigning czars of silliness are back. Hats off to these two glorious goofballs! Ages 5-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 5

Jack Prelutsky has set to music and performs 28 of his poems from the book of the same title (Greenwillow Press, 2000). Humorous throughout, there is a lot of variety, both in the poetry and in the music. Some of the pieces are nonsensical, such as the title poem that lists many ridiculous items it could pour instead of rain. There are funny story poems such as "I Chased a Dragon Through the Woods," and thoughtful poems such as "Plooters" which sarcastically admonishes those who "don't care, we make messes everywhere." And of course there are his exuberant wordplays, like "Is Traffic Jam Delectable?" Prelutsky perfectly matches the tone of each poem with the style of music, ranging from blues to bluegrass. With a wide assortment of accompanying instruments (mandolin, banjo, violin, guitar, harmonica and clarinet), some of the songs have a Celtic, Mexican, or Eastern European flavor. The poem titles are printed on the CD only, making it impossible to read them while listening. A great way to introduce children to poetry or to enliven a poetry unit.-Cynthia Grabke, Halifax Elementary School, MA

School Library Journal

When kids feel silly, outrageous thyming poems can be great companions. Poet Jack Prelutsky and illustrator James Stevenson have teamed up again to offer more camraderie. It's Raining Pigs and Noodles is their fourth volume of funny, clever and just plain goofy verse...most kids will love it.
—The Christian Science Monitor

Karen Carden

Prelutsky sets selected poems to music in this playfully performed collection. He uses a variety of cheerful, folksy instruments, such as banjo, mandolin, and penny whistle, to augment his pleasant vocals, which bring to mind Pete Seeger’s work. Prelutsky's verses are uniquely his own, though, and quite unpredictable. Listeners join him in many adventures—from chasing dragons to misbehaving while parents have the flu. “Perhaps I'll make a mudpie in my sister's stupid hat/attach my mother's earrings to the puppy and the cat." There's a harmonica-backed hiccup number and others about raising a virtual chicken and refusing to eat something disgusting. They’re all bound to entertain kids and adults alike. Prelutsky's upbeat music and exuberant wordplay are sure to delight and invigorate his listeners. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

JUN/JUL 08 - AudioFile