Spot the Plot: A Riddle Book of Book Riddles • Picture book

Spot the Plot:  A Riddle Book of Book Riddles
by J. Patrick Lewis • illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
July 2009 • Chronicle Books • Ages 4-8
Story:  The book's jacket flaps tell it all:
Quickie tricky
book reviews
are intended
to amuse
readers who enjoy a little quiz.


So put on
your riddle cap --
don't fall in
a riddle trap.
You could be a
little riddle whiz.


Witty and wacky poems pose riddles that challenge readers to "Name That Book." With a glass slipper here and a spiderweb there, these thirteen fun-filled poems lead young readers to the solutions. From Goodnight Moon to Madeline, children and parents alike will delight in recognizing their most cherished stories.  A great read-aloud -- kids (and adults too) can't help but call out their answers!
Story behind the story: While reading about SPOT THE PLOT, I came across a terrific piece from Sylvia Vardell on her Poetry for Children blog (a wonderful resource for all things children's poetry).  She spoke with author J. Patrick Lewis "about his choices of poem forms and he shared this nugget:"

"Prior to SPOT THE PLOT, I'd written four books of riddles on various themes. I love the form, the challenge of coming up with the obliquely perfect definition—telling the truth, but telling it slant. Riddles are inherently interactive, so they make great read-alouds at school visits. In SPOT THE PLOT, I was trying most often to tell the book riddle in as few words as possible, as in, “Her hair’s/The stairs.” Or, a new one, “This trail becomes/A trail of crumbs.” The fewer words, the better, that is, the cleverer, to my way of thinking. Just as often, though, I had to rely on a tercet or a quatrain to tell the tale, but with a hint of confusion, as in “Pre-teen plays/a starring role/as she surveys/ a rabbit hole.” But, you see, perhaps that “rabbit hole” gives too much away. Writing riddles, especially for children, which means making them all equally but not too perplexing, is damnably difficult.”

J. Patrick Lewis has written more than 60 books for children; his poetry and nonsense verse have appeared in dozens of magazines and more than 70 anthologies.  He knows poetry and what works with kids.

Lynn Munsinger is a popular illustrator of dozens of children's books, including the beloved TACKY THE PENGUIN books by Helen Lester.  

FYI:  all the review copies for this title have been sent; please check back and click on the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say. (that was fast!)