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"I love the sounds of words as well as the meanings," poet Jack Prelutsky says. His new book of poems, It's Raining Pigs & Noodles (HarperCollins; 2000), is a mouthful of fun. Just say Wumbledeedumble, to name one of his crazy characters. How does he think of such things? "I get wonderful mail from kids," he says. "And some of it just pops into my head. It's unpredictable." The wily wordsmith likes reading to kids on his book tours and sometimes even sings his rhymes!
Prelutsky, who also wrote A Pizza the Size of the Sun, carries a notebook everywhere. Many of his poems are about his friends or experiences. Some keep you guessing, like the Noodles ditty below.
My Father's Name Is Sasquatch
My father's name is Sasquatch,
my mother's name is Yeti.
They often feast on frozen fish,
but I prefer spaghetti.